How do working moms do it all? I make no claim to know the answer, but I can tell you what works for me and my family. We are constantly making changes in an effort to make our schedules run smoothly. Here are a few tips on how to balance work, raising kids and being a super couponer.
Shopping
- Generally I only shop one time per week. I don’t chase every deal- there is no way I could keep up if I did. Remember that there will always be another deal.
- When I do go shopping, I usually go by myself. I wait until the weekend so that hubby can watch the kids. This makes shopping less stressful and faster. If you don’t have this option, read up on tips for shopping with kids.
- Be organized before you shop.
Household Chores
- Enlist the help of your family members. Hubby does a fair share of cleaning, laundry and watching the kids. Since both of us work, we share the household chores. It took a long time for us to get to this point- lot’s of conversations!
- Make a chore chart for your kids. Even at a young age, kids can help around the house. My boys love helping out- they can help put their laundry away, clean their rooms and even use the dust buster.
Communication
- Communicate with your significant other about what needs to be done. Our work schedules vary which means we never know who is going to pick up the kids or start dinner. We have to stay in contact throughout the day and have a flexible plan. That is why menu planning has become so important!
Routine
- Get into a routine with the kids. During the work week, we do about the same thing every morning and evening. The kids know what to expect and so do we. For example, our evenings go like this- cook dinner, eat as a family, one parent gives bath the other cleans up dinner, watch a show like Funniest Home Videos, read books and then bed.
- Evaluate the routine and make changes when needed. Our morning routine changes every few months to fit our babysitting and work schedules.
Do What Works for You
- I think one of the biggest things we get caught up in is trying to model another person or family. What works for me, might not work for you. I see this often in the couponing world. It may not be realistic for you to save 90% on your shopping trip- I know it is not for me since I only shop once every week or two. Realize that most of the time these 90% savings trips are usually only one of the several trips these people make per week.
- This is also true for parenting- there are multiple ways to parent. Take tips into consideration and then rework it into what works best for your family. The is not one right answer.
I have found that balance is constantly changing as life changes. What works one week, may not the next. I am a planner by nature. Parenting has taught me that you can’t always plan. there needs to be some sort of flexibility as you never know what will be around the next corner!
What are your tips for balancing it all?
Photo credit Topfer
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Renae is a married working mom of two handsome boys. She works as a registered dental hygienist by day and blogs here at How to Have it All by night. She enjoys cooking from scratch, working in her vegetable garden and functional training.
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Just wanted to tell you how much I like your new site. The design is so pretty too!
Thank you Dana! Glad you stopped by!