When I first read Life as a Mom’s post about “Get a new Habit Going”, I smiled to myself… I had just finished typing my takle it tuesday post with many of the same goals!
To TAKE CONTROL of my HOUSE!
When Madeline was born in September, all previous cleaning patterns went out the window! (You can read about it in detail in my original post!)
My goals were to create a Morning and Evening Schedule for our boys to get dressed and brush their teeth each day and to create a Household Cleaning Schedule so we weren’t playing catchup on the weekend instead of spending family time together.
Here were my original plans…
Weekly Cleaning Schedule
Monday – Kitchen
Tuesday – Living Room/Dining Room
Wednesday – Kids Bedrooms
Thursday – Master Bedroom
Friday – Bathrooms
New Morning Schedule
0600ish–Wake up – Nurse the baby.
Make my bed
Make Coffee and read emails
0700ish–Boys to Rise and Shine
Time for Breakfast
Brush our teeth
by 0900–Everyone gets dressed
New Evening Schedule (24 hour clock)
1900ish–Clean up toys and Vacuum
Take a Bath
Brush our teeth
Pajama time
Story/song then Lights out Boys!
—-Clean up Dinner dishes, start dishwasher
Walk Cookie-dog
Take out trash
Take a shower
Blog/internet no later than 2200
SO how did I do?
Week 1 — I followed the boys’ schedule twice… and only my Kitchen was cleaned.
Week 2 — I did a lot better with the boys… but not with cleaning my house.
Week 3 — I wrote myself a reminder note on the stove and I cleaned 4 out of 5 days… but the boys and I barely got out of our pajamas (except to go to the commissary dressed as batman)
Week 4 — I created routine posters for my boys and I was MUCH better about sticking to their routines! I also did most of my cleaning early in the week because we were expecting company on Thanksgiving day — but it was much easier because I’d cleaned pretty well the previous week!
What have I learned?
– I am a VISUAL person.
If I don’t see an hourly a daily reminder, it probably won’t happen!
– Cleaning one room a day is great with small children!
I don’t have to do the entire room all at once.
I can easily supervise superheros while I clean.
AND I can see the results right away.
– It is WAY better to get up earlier before the kids, than to stay up later!
I am much more pleasant after my first cup of coffee.
This way I don’t end up surfing WAY past my bedtime!
How do you manage keeping your house clean while being a SAHM?
Do you have a routine schedule for your children?
I would love to hear your thoughts! 
This post has been linked to “Get a New Habit Going Challenge”
hosted by Life as a Mom.
November 30, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I had to create a schedule, too. And when I stick to it, I have an awesome week. It's flexible enough to allow me to take a catch up day and, well, catch up. It's rare for me to have a "perfect" week, but my house stays relatively clean and I know every room gets deep cleaned at least once a week.
I have it listed out here:
http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/my-schedule/
November 30, 2009 at 5:00 pm
You have an amazing schedule Hallee!! Eventually I want mine to be as detailed as yours!
Thanks for stopping by!
December 2, 2009 at 10:01 pm
How do you clean while working fulltime and have three active outside the house children.
Today's schedule after I get home from work.
*5:10 arrive home
*5:11-14 quickly greet the children
*5:15-20 quickly talk with their sitter over issues.
*5:21-22 tell Jalen to grab his stuff for baseball practice, go to the potty
*5:23-25 say bye, and drive Jalen to practice
*5:26-45 stay and watch Jalen practice
*5:46-50 go home grab McKenna for cheer practice
*5:51-7:00 drive back to Jalen's practice and watch
*7:01-7:10 race home, go to the potty, and grab Devon
*7:11-7:45 go back to Jalen's practice, Devon starts practicing and Jalen finishes.
*7:46-8:00 Jalen and I leave to pick up McKenna
*8:01-05 drop Jalen and McKenna off at home, go to potty
*8:06-9:30 drive back to Devon's practice. Stay and watch
*9:31-11:30ish drive home, cook,eat and review homework, study,quiz, supervise showers, clean kitchen from dinner, kisses goodnight, laundry,
*11:40-12:00 shower and "me" time
I'm tired typing it out!
This has been my day every Wednesday since the end of July. One or more of my children have an activity every day after work and on the weekends. When they don't then it's school projects. One twin right now has THREE projects going and was told of TWO MORE that will be due in the coming month!
Any helpful hints on how to keep a clean house?
~ingrid
December 3, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Good news! Only Devon had practice! They other two had their practices! YES, it was a good night!
~ingrid