Struggling with structure
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@Karen Velazquez that’s what I typically do but it just isn’t working anymore. It leaves me with hours of cleaning at the end of the day that I can’t even get done all the way because one of my baby ends up needing me an hour after my toddler goes to bed.
I'm with Karen, I don't clean up till my husband is home to help with the kids (20 months and 2 months). I also try to prep a few days of food at once for lunch and breakfast so I don't have to take as much time making food. When kids are both napping I eat my lunch and relax or else I'd get no time at all for myself and that hour of no one touching me and having a hot meal is important for my sanity 😆 we run of caffeine, dreams, and ms Rachel here.
I can say that I am blessed with an extremely independent toddler who has been helping cook in the kitchen since he was a year old. He also "helps" put dishes in the dishwasher at night 😆 and he loves the vacuum. I also baby wear a lot with my daughter.
Start teaching your toddler how to “clean up, clean up” some of their toys through out the day. It’ll help you so much if they get into the routine that some toys have to go back to their spot. Assign cubbies or baskets around the areas where they play and show them they go there. My daughter now knows where toys go and where dog/cat toys go lol It’ll make cleaning and picking up toys at the end of the day. Wash dishes after lunch and you’ll have clean ones for dinner. Let them play while you clean up or watch a little bit of tv to stay entertained and they can help pick up too. Set up a night time routine. Set a timer. We start bed time around 7-7:30 the latest so they can be in bed by 9. My husband & I watch tv from 9-11 on the days he’s home but he’s gone several days out of the week.
I try to have my toddler involved whenever I can, and she wants to This includes her putting dishes, toys, clothes etc away, but also helping with her baby sister. She loves bringing the bottle, wipes, diapers and so on She is also very independent, so it’s a little easier I try to keep a schedule with meals, and bedtime but everything else is super spontaneous.
I prep veggies and fruit and sometimes breakfast for the week I have breakfast easy and if I have time lunch just to heat up I use to clean up after toys and food I just wait till after dinner I let them play while you clean up and do bath time If it’s a bad day let them watch tv
I leave any dishes till the evening, I’ll pick up toys if I start tripping over them but otherwise it’s all left till the 30 minute “reset” once the boys are in bed x
It’s gonna sound bad but I don’t clean until the end of the day, I make breakfast and lunch at the same time and just put everything in the sink until I have time to do it. When they take their nap is when I make dinner so I don’t have to worry about it later.