Hi everyone. I'm a single mom of 2 kids, 8yo girl and 3yo boy. I work an hour and a half away one way. I just got a job as an assistant to a busy exec.
My dilema: My daughter and son want to do some extra curricular activities but I can't seem to take time - I just don't know how other parent's do it! My ex won't do ME any favors, and I dont' get home until almost 7, sometimes later if I hit traffic. By dinner, baths and bed - it's 10pm! Weekends are laundry, house, grocery, and then a few hours to play and spend one on one time but that's pretty much it!
Even dinner is time consuming (the cooking).
How do you guys do it? I can't take time off for events all the time, practices and such - and I don't know what kind of activities don't cost a fortune. Every penny is pretty much accounted for on payday.
Ug. I feel like I should be doing more for my kids - but I need more hours!! 3 or four would suffice!!!
help...
Hi T.,
A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF:
i I have a 4 month old daughter and I work 2hrs one way, so I know the trouble of trying to find time to spend with your kids. I pick my daughter up around four at my moms and have to put her down around seven. Her father and I live together, but he also works an hour away and works different hours each day. So I basically don't have any help after I pick her up.
We all have the "not enough time in a day" thing...geese, I think you are doing what you have to do in order to keep your fam together...you all have been through alot i would imagine being a single mom too, man I dont know how you do it...Do you have fam around that could help u out, and take the kids on little afternoon trips, or to the park...something??? I think you are doing a great job...and ...explain to them that once things get into a routine that you as a fam can go out and do more things...just tell them that you are trying to save $$$$ so you all can have fun...Too let some of the work of laundry and such off of you, teach your daughter how to help out around the house too...It doesnt hurt to show her how to do simple things...like seperating laundry, cleaning bathroom, and straighting up the house, so that you can worry about the more important things...
Thats hard when you work far away. I feel ya! If you have family close by then I would enlist thier help in shuffling the kids to and from practice and just make an effort to make it to the games/preformaces.
I know cooking can take a lot of time and have you tried to cook huge meals so that you have leftovers for a few days? or you could cook extra and then freeze it so that later you can just defrost it so it cuts down on some time some days.
as for low cost activitys sometimes communtiy's have things posted in like thier communtiy centers or librarys. There's probably some activities at your oldest school that are free or low cost. Try girl scouting, that's kinda of a way to get them involoved in a lot of diffrent things for close to no money. And since you can't actully go on the trips and stuff, volunteer supplies or your house for sleepovers. Good luck!
Hi T.,
Depending on where you live, my service as a Mother's Helper can assist you with all that you need to have done at home. My profession as a Professional Organizer helps people get their schedule on track and also provides them with the serivce of The Mother's Helper. I know it is tough to juggle all the duties of home and work life. You need help, because noone can do all that alone. There is no easier answer. Good Luck
Sincerely,
N. S.
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I know how hard it can be. I was there for many years. One way to save a little time is cook ahead on the weekend as you are doing chores and freeze the meals into the right portions. I use a giant crockpot so there is not much involved. It saves a little time on weeknights.
Good Luck!
