I really like the Lazy Genious Podcast. I enjoyed the book too - great principles to go by. It made me realize another reason I struggle with babytimes - I am generally really good at following her rule of "go in the right order". But, with babies, it's so hard to figure out the right order. Last night I left two almost asleep babies with Andy while I came downstairs to finish the house. The "right order" would be cleaning lounge (easy), Dining room (middle-easy) then kitchen (because lots of things from the lounge and dining room need to go elsewhere, including the kitchen. However, what if I only have 10 minutes? The kitchen is arguably the most important (because the dishwasher needs running and food needs putting away) but doing that first and then having time to do the lounge and dining room will make the whole process take longer. Also, what if I want a snack? Previously the right order was clean then snack, but now snack trumps clean... or does it?
As another example - our house is currently exploding with stuff. I need to get some clothes to the baby bank (donation center for baby things) to drop off, but every week the babies grow out of more things. I also need to get the size 2-3 clothes out of Lilah and Isaac's room as Lilah is definitely in 3-4. The right order would be to declutter first, then put their new/next size in. But I do not have the ability to go to the baby bank. So things are coming into our house faster than they are leaving. I do not like it.
I did realize that we have 1 large box of each of the following:
0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months, 2-3 years, 3-4years, and 4-5 years. The good news is that in one year we should be done with FOUR BOXES and only have created one more (5-6). Horray!
Speaking of the right order, I am currently posting while Nora is asleep in the pram (fitfully, and requiring strategic rocking) and Audrey is in a wrap on me (because she never naps and is soooo tired). In the time it took to post this I could have unpacked their 3-6 month clothes into their next-size drawer. Or, Nora could have woken up while I was upstairs and then I wouldn't have clothes done or a blog post written.
It's almost time for babies to wake up. Perhaps the right order for now is watching more Ugly Betty while rocking the pram.
Yep, it feels to me that Ugly Betty is the top priority right now. Yes you *could* spend all of your non-baby caring hours cleaning the house but...that's no kind of life and anyway the house will just get messy again.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as someone whose only parental responsibility is feeding and interacting with two teenagers, I didn't get enough down time this week. Our house needs to be cleaned and it will not clean itself but...the mess isn't going anywhere. Ima take a few hours to drink my coffee and have breakfast and then hang out with the family instead.
I should have added that I really enjoy decluttering. Also I don’t actually clean house but hubs and I do try to keep surfaces clear and put away toys so our floor isn’t a trip hazard. I haven’t swept a floor or vacuumed since the twins were born.. as long as I always wear slippers I can’t tell how gross my floor is (unless I look)
DeleteCoffee and family morning is definitely the right choice too! -rachel
DeleteUgly Betty for sure. Seems like the right order is whatever keeps the babies alive and your sanity relatively intact.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have watched a lot of ugly Betty but haven’t had much time to putter in my house recently. However it is true that the main goal is to survive the day!
DeleteDo what feels right!! Ugly Betty it is. I admire that, with twin babies, a toddler and a pre-schooler, you are even considering what order is right. Btw, I also love Kendra's podcast. I just don't follow her tips. But it sure is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI really like her “name what matters” idea too. It helps me make better choices. I don’t do everything from her podcast but
DeleteIt is inspiring
I agree with whatever will make you feel the best in that moment. Sometimes it's a snack, sometimes it's a show, and sometimes it's actually cleaning up.
ReplyDeleteAny I am so eager to start getting rid of boxes but have only managed the postpartum supplies so far. Other things are piled up but not out the door yet. Partly because I get very nervous about starting a sorting project I can't finish right then and then having a giant mess. But I did manage to get all the 3T clothes that had been on my dresser for months put away properly a few weeks ago.
- Kat
I think I didn't do a good job explaining my conundrum... what would make me feel best is definitely decluttering, but what will make me feel worst is leaving the pram and having the baby wake up 2 minutes later. So although Ugly Betty is not particularly enjoyable for me (I watch at least 2 episodes a day, one at night and one while rocking a pram), it's not as crushing as starting something and not getting a chance to work on it at all.
DeleteIn theory I could go sort the box of 3-6 right now (babies fitfully asleep, Isaac and lilah "playing" in the lounge) but if I go upstairs now the 3 and 5 year old are likely to start yelling which would quickly end my 3-6 box sort. And that feeling of thinking I have a minute to do something and then having that minute disappear is worse to me than not starting at all.
I 100% get that feeling. That is why I often don't attempt to do anything meaningful, and don't even suggest taking a nap because that is a guarantee that Arden will wake up within 5 minutes.
Delete"sleep when the baby sleeps" is great advice when combined enthusiastically with "wake every 15 minutes like the baby does!"
DeleteAs we say in the world of running, rest days are just as important as training days! I say rest while you can!!
ReplyDeleteI am with Kyria. Rest when you can. Ugly Betty it is!
ReplyDelete