Modern Housewives

One of the questions I’m always asked is, “What do you do all day?” People seem to think that staying home involves marathon sessions in front of the T.V., coffee dates with the girls and shopping. The last marathon session I had in front of the T.V. was when I sat on the floor in front of it meticulously cleaning all of the knick-knacks in our livingroom. The last coffee date I had with the girls was at my house while we baked cookies and cakes and cupcakes and pies for a bake sale. The last shopping binge I went on included Sams Club, Wal-mart and my local grocery store.

I’m a 26 year old stay at home mom. I have a 6 year old son who’s in first grade and I’m 8 months pregnant. My day revolves around keeping our household together. I want to offer up any and all advice that I have to help other young/modern/new housewives so that guilt is no longer a feeling that they think is normal. Everyone is entitled to do as they wish with their lives. I value everyone out there who either stays home, works outside of the home or works at home. I just happen to be focused on the ones who stay home. Please enjoy.

One of the first things that needs to get done when it comes to staying home is setting up a schedule of daily and weekly things that need to get done. It is very easy to fall into the mind set that since you stay home now, you have all the time in the world. Most of the time you will find that this isn’t the case. To set up a weekly schedule you need to do the following:

1. List all of the cleaning jobs that need to get done every single day
2. List everything that you do weekly. Include cleaning and errands and list all of the rooms in your home.
3. List all of the days in the week on a piece of paper and next to those, equally divide the rooms in your home leaving 2 free days during the week.
4. Equally list the errands and weekly jobs next to the days of the week.

Here’s my weekly schedule:

• Monday: Kitchen, Laundry Room, Cat box, Trash, Menus, lists
• Tuesday: Bathrooms, dining room, bills, groceries
• Wednesday: Livingroom, play room
• Thursday: Bedrooms
• Friday: Office, entry, vacuum, mop, errands
• Saturday and Sunday: Off

I don’t list individual chores like dusting, glass, or changing sheets as I automatically do them on the specified day. Remember to only do what you can and don’t be perfect about it. You will find a method that works for you. I hope you can take these ideas and create and plan and home that’s just the way you want it.