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mommy+2
I have a three month old and a two year old and wanting to know how you manage your time with chores, cooking and finding time for your children. I want my house to stay presentable to guest, but I dont know how to manage my time. Help Please
Answer
My kids are pretty much the same age as your - I have found that the best way to keep up is to just stay on top of things. Here's an example of my typical day:
5:30 (ish) - Wake up, shower, get dressed, start some laundry, have breakfast or a cup of tea while reading the newspaper or a book.
7:30 (ish) - Kids wake up, I get them up, bathed, dressed, make and feed them breakfast.
After breakfast time we usually go outside and play if the weather is nice (not right now - there's a ton of snow on the ground), or we play indoors by learning or reading or just being silly. I've been working with my two year old on her letters, colors, shapes, animals, animal sounds, and different objects (tree, grass, flower, sky, ect...).
During the morning time I also do some housework like finishing up laundry and cleaning if my daughter is pretty absorbed in playing something (the baby doesn't do much so she just hangs out on the play mat or in her playpen looking at colorful toys and batting at toys).
I then play with the kids a little more or we go for a walk.
I either make lunch for the kids or we pack a lunch and go meet my husband at work for lunch and eat with him.
After lunch, we run errands if needed, buy groceries, go to the park, to the library, for a walk , or to playgroup or other community activities for kids, or we just stay home and play outside or inside or read some more, do some learning activities, ect.
During the afternoon I usually finish up housework. My 2 year old daughter then goes down for her nap at 2 or 3:00, depending on her mood that day, and during this time I have a few hours to myself. During this time I finish up any remaining housework, do yardwork, spend time doing some of my hobbies (I love to scrapbook and crochet), read a book, hang out outside for awhile, and just have some ME time.
The girls wake up from their naps at around 5:00 p.m. I get them up and started on an activity of some sort while I make dinner, or sometimes I let my 2 year old "help" me make dinner...lol.
When my husband gets home at 6:30, supper is on the table, we have a nice dinner together as a family and then I clean up the supper mess, clean the kitchen, do the dishes and get all that stuff cleaned up.
We then have about 2 or 3 hours to spend together as a family and this is mostly spent playing, but occasionally we have a movie night where we put in a kid - friendly movie and make some popcorn (a fun treat at our house for our 2 year old daughter), and just have fun. I also straighten up the house a little at this time if needed.
At 8:30, it's bath time and bedtime story time and then bedtime for our girls, and then my husband and I have an hour or two to spend together just the two of us before we go to bed for the night.
It's all about just staying on top of things and not letting stuff pile up. Do a little here and there - let your two year old "help" you and yes play with them, but also let them play on their own a little bit so that you can get your work done too. If you straighten up the house at night after the kids are in bed, then it will be clean in the morning and then just keep on top of it during the day - throw in a load of laundry here and there, pick up the house as it becomes messy, do the dishes when your kids are involved in something, do the deep cleaning during nap time. You'll find that it's easy if you just keep on top of things! Give it a try - it sounds impossible - but it's not. It took me awhile to figure it out too - but don't worry, you'll find a groove that works for you - just stick with it!
My kids are pretty much the same age as your - I have found that the best way to keep up is to just stay on top of things. Here's an example of my typical day:
5:30 (ish) - Wake up, shower, get dressed, start some laundry, have breakfast or a cup of tea while reading the newspaper or a book.
7:30 (ish) - Kids wake up, I get them up, bathed, dressed, make and feed them breakfast.
After breakfast time we usually go outside and play if the weather is nice (not right now - there's a ton of snow on the ground), or we play indoors by learning or reading or just being silly. I've been working with my two year old on her letters, colors, shapes, animals, animal sounds, and different objects (tree, grass, flower, sky, ect...).
During the morning time I also do some housework like finishing up laundry and cleaning if my daughter is pretty absorbed in playing something (the baby doesn't do much so she just hangs out on the play mat or in her playpen looking at colorful toys and batting at toys).
I then play with the kids a little more or we go for a walk.
I either make lunch for the kids or we pack a lunch and go meet my husband at work for lunch and eat with him.
After lunch, we run errands if needed, buy groceries, go to the park, to the library, for a walk , or to playgroup or other community activities for kids, or we just stay home and play outside or inside or read some more, do some learning activities, ect.
During the afternoon I usually finish up housework. My 2 year old daughter then goes down for her nap at 2 or 3:00, depending on her mood that day, and during this time I have a few hours to myself. During this time I finish up any remaining housework, do yardwork, spend time doing some of my hobbies (I love to scrapbook and crochet), read a book, hang out outside for awhile, and just have some ME time.
The girls wake up from their naps at around 5:00 p.m. I get them up and started on an activity of some sort while I make dinner, or sometimes I let my 2 year old "help" me make dinner...lol.
When my husband gets home at 6:30, supper is on the table, we have a nice dinner together as a family and then I clean up the supper mess, clean the kitchen, do the dishes and get all that stuff cleaned up.
We then have about 2 or 3 hours to spend together as a family and this is mostly spent playing, but occasionally we have a movie night where we put in a kid - friendly movie and make some popcorn (a fun treat at our house for our 2 year old daughter), and just have fun. I also straighten up the house a little at this time if needed.
At 8:30, it's bath time and bedtime story time and then bedtime for our girls, and then my husband and I have an hour or two to spend together just the two of us before we go to bed for the night.
It's all about just staying on top of things and not letting stuff pile up. Do a little here and there - let your two year old "help" you and yes play with them, but also let them play on their own a little bit so that you can get your work done too. If you straighten up the house at night after the kids are in bed, then it will be clean in the morning and then just keep on top of it during the day - throw in a load of laundry here and there, pick up the house as it becomes messy, do the dishes when your kids are involved in something, do the deep cleaning during nap time. You'll find that it's easy if you just keep on top of things! Give it a try - it sounds impossible - but it's not. It took me awhile to figure it out too - but don't worry, you'll find a groove that works for you - just stick with it!
How can I prepare my 2 large dogs for a baby coming in 8 months?
J W
My Husband and I have 2 3-year-old dogs that we just adore. We have a lab and a samoyed mix. They are both very sweet to us, but have NEVER been around small children... They get wild (jumping & sniffing) around people they don't know, but are angels when it's just us alone. Does ANYONE have ideas about how to prepare them for a baby coming?and NO we are NOT getting rid of them :)
Answer
Congratulations! :-)
There are actually several things you can do to prepare them for the new arrival. First and foremost, since they haven't been around small children, I would strongly suggest that you begin to socialize and condition them to little ones and the movements and noise that they make. There are some really GREAT sites on the net that provide sound clips of babies and toddlers crying, laughing cooing, eating, etc., or you could buy cd's which contain these wonderful sounds.
Work with your dogs to teach and reinforce basic obedience (sit, lay down, stay, off, etc), and if they don't already know, it would be very wise to teach them to be "easy", "leave it", and "out" or "drop it" (to release anything they may get a hold of that you don't want them to have such as diapers, toys, and other items belonging to your child). Work with them on NILF (nothing in life is free), to reinforce desired behaviors through out your daily routine. If done consistently, this will also help with the jumping.
As baby's arrival draws nearer, start to introduce them to baby furnishings, by allowing them to sniff (but not jump on or mouth) crib, bassinet, swing, highchair, etc... and don't simply put the stroller and car seat out where they can sniff it... USE them. Push the stroller as you walk your dogs, push it around the house and outside. They need to learn to relax around these things BEFORE baby is in them. Put the car seat in your car when you go places with your dogs, and teach them that it is off limits. (I doubt you'll be traveling with your dogs and child in the back seat together, but I suggest this just in case.) Also, put baby blankets down on the floor and substitute baby with a lifelike doll. Lay these on the floor and teach your dogs that it is NOT okay to be near them or play when they (blanket and baby) are on the floor.
After your little one has blessed you with his/her presence, have your hubby/bf or a trusted friend/family member take home (and this will sound gross) soiled diapers from the hospital and allow your dogs to smell them. They do not have to be near these to smell, as dogs have much better sniffers than we humans do, they can do this from across a room. If the hospital will allow, also take the blanket that baby has been wrapped in for a couple of days home for your dogs to smell.
Newborns are susceptible to many things. Please do not allow your dogs to be "right on top" of your baby while they sniff, or to lick your baby. Dogs carry germs that could affect your baby's health. If you and your husband are strong leaders, and you have dogs with sound temperaments, your dogs should not have an issue with jealousy. Bring this baby into your home as another leader of their pack. Always hold your baby above the dogs, and don't be afraid to give commands and issue corrections while holding your child. The dogs will see the baby as an extension of you which will help them see him/her as a leader. Also, if you don't already know about kid & dog safety, please learn everything you can before your little one is born. I can give you some great links on this subject if you want to email me. Or you can google "dog bite prevention" and "Kids & Dog Safety".
Talk with your doctor and your vet about other ways to prepare your dogs for the new arrival. It would also be a good idea, while you're pregnant, to attend a basic obedience class with your dogs. I mean YOU, mom to be, as this will help you maintain your role as their leader even when your energy levels start to decrease and you're unable to walk them or exercise them safely by yourself.
Lastly, thank you for not getting rid of them. I won't lie to you, not all dogs will accept a new baby in the home. I had one who was a complete sweetheart before my son was born. We did all of these things with both him (a mix) and our APBT. As hard as we tried, this dog became anxious and nervous with having the baby around and finally bit my niece. Sadly, we had to have him put down because he was too unstable to have around small children and we weren't about to re-home a biter. Now I may get a few thumbs down for "admitting" that, but I feel I should let you know that it is possible that some dogs will react badly to "new additions" no matter how much you try to prepare them. And it doesn't make a bit of difference what breed the dog is. I hope I didn't scare you either, as this is not my intention.
I hope this helps, and again... Congratulations! :-)
Congratulations! :-)
There are actually several things you can do to prepare them for the new arrival. First and foremost, since they haven't been around small children, I would strongly suggest that you begin to socialize and condition them to little ones and the movements and noise that they make. There are some really GREAT sites on the net that provide sound clips of babies and toddlers crying, laughing cooing, eating, etc., or you could buy cd's which contain these wonderful sounds.
Work with your dogs to teach and reinforce basic obedience (sit, lay down, stay, off, etc), and if they don't already know, it would be very wise to teach them to be "easy", "leave it", and "out" or "drop it" (to release anything they may get a hold of that you don't want them to have such as diapers, toys, and other items belonging to your child). Work with them on NILF (nothing in life is free), to reinforce desired behaviors through out your daily routine. If done consistently, this will also help with the jumping.
As baby's arrival draws nearer, start to introduce them to baby furnishings, by allowing them to sniff (but not jump on or mouth) crib, bassinet, swing, highchair, etc... and don't simply put the stroller and car seat out where they can sniff it... USE them. Push the stroller as you walk your dogs, push it around the house and outside. They need to learn to relax around these things BEFORE baby is in them. Put the car seat in your car when you go places with your dogs, and teach them that it is off limits. (I doubt you'll be traveling with your dogs and child in the back seat together, but I suggest this just in case.) Also, put baby blankets down on the floor and substitute baby with a lifelike doll. Lay these on the floor and teach your dogs that it is NOT okay to be near them or play when they (blanket and baby) are on the floor.
After your little one has blessed you with his/her presence, have your hubby/bf or a trusted friend/family member take home (and this will sound gross) soiled diapers from the hospital and allow your dogs to smell them. They do not have to be near these to smell, as dogs have much better sniffers than we humans do, they can do this from across a room. If the hospital will allow, also take the blanket that baby has been wrapped in for a couple of days home for your dogs to smell.
Newborns are susceptible to many things. Please do not allow your dogs to be "right on top" of your baby while they sniff, or to lick your baby. Dogs carry germs that could affect your baby's health. If you and your husband are strong leaders, and you have dogs with sound temperaments, your dogs should not have an issue with jealousy. Bring this baby into your home as another leader of their pack. Always hold your baby above the dogs, and don't be afraid to give commands and issue corrections while holding your child. The dogs will see the baby as an extension of you which will help them see him/her as a leader. Also, if you don't already know about kid & dog safety, please learn everything you can before your little one is born. I can give you some great links on this subject if you want to email me. Or you can google "dog bite prevention" and "Kids & Dog Safety".
Talk with your doctor and your vet about other ways to prepare your dogs for the new arrival. It would also be a good idea, while you're pregnant, to attend a basic obedience class with your dogs. I mean YOU, mom to be, as this will help you maintain your role as their leader even when your energy levels start to decrease and you're unable to walk them or exercise them safely by yourself.
Lastly, thank you for not getting rid of them. I won't lie to you, not all dogs will accept a new baby in the home. I had one who was a complete sweetheart before my son was born. We did all of these things with both him (a mix) and our APBT. As hard as we tried, this dog became anxious and nervous with having the baby around and finally bit my niece. Sadly, we had to have him put down because he was too unstable to have around small children and we weren't about to re-home a biter. Now I may get a few thumbs down for "admitting" that, but I feel I should let you know that it is possible that some dogs will react badly to "new additions" no matter how much you try to prepare them. And it doesn't make a bit of difference what breed the dog is. I hope I didn't scare you either, as this is not my intention.
I hope this helps, and again... Congratulations! :-)
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