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JKinCT
Gonna be a big sister!
Member since 11/07 1559 total posts
Name: Korin
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FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
When I come home from work, I feel like it's non-stop until I put my head on my pillow. I need to know if there is something I can do better, or if this is just normal and I should get used to it.
This is what my evening looks like: 5:30 - Leave work 5:40 - Pick up DD at Daycare 6:00 - Home/Play with DD/Feed DD (Food, not bottle) 6:45 - Bath 7:00 - DH Feeds DD (bottle) and puts her to bed while I make dinner for us 7:45/8:00 - Dinner 8:30 - Clean up dinner, clean bottles, make lunch for the next day, make bottles for the next day 9:30 - maybe sit down and watch a dvr'd show, or fold laundry, or actually have a conversation with DH After 10:00 - bed
I don't clean anything around the house during the week. I barely get to have a phone conversation anymore.
To make a good dinner it takes me a long time. I am open to any suggestions that can speed up the dinner making process.
If this is how it's going to be, I can accept that. I just need to hear that I am semi-normal!
Thank you!
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Posted 2/24/11 9:59 AM |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
LeShellem
A new beginning
Member since 2/07 3600 total posts
Name: LeShelle
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
This was my schedule as well and I knew I had to change something. I now cook for the entire week on Sunday after church. So when I come home from work and pick DS up. Its some playtime and basically just warming up food for DS. He eats, bath and then watch a little tv before bed. When he's in bed I get dinner ready for DH and I and generally the only thing I am making is a salad. DS is old enough to eat on his own so that frees up some time to clean a little or fold laundry. DS loves the vaccuum so sometimes when he gets home I vaccuum while he pretends to vaccuum with his lawn mower. It's not easy but knowing dinner is just a microwave away clears up some time.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:06 AM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name: Veronica
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
No suggestions. It just sort of works itself out. I know moms who premake dinners freeze them and then just warm them up during the week.
We aren't that kind of couple.
Then again, AJ never went to bed so early (not that its anything to brag about). When she was smaller she'd nap around 7pm for an hour, but for a feeding then out around 10pm.
In NY I go home around 7pm so it was my only chance to see her. Things did get better.
Now she's 2 and its
6:00-6:15 home 6:15-7:00 feed her something (anything!) 7:00-7:30 play, cuddle, run, outside, watch Mickey and more snacks 7:30-8:00 Bath (every other night) or quiet time with Mickey 8:00-9:00 dinner (make/serve/eat) She'll join us too 9:00 - feed the cats, clean up AJ and change her 9:30 - last sippy of milk and night time 10:30 - move her into her bed 11:00 - I crash
You just need to figure out a routine that works for you. It will happen.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:11 AM |
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Salason
♥
Member since 6/05 9878 total posts
Name:
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
Oh I'm with you... I dont get anything done at night and on weeknights DH and I just dont get to hang out alone. And phone conversations have completely ended. I'm the queen of texting on the train now to try to keep in touch with anyone
6:10pm - DH gets home, changes and starts dinner (whatever Ive listed for the week so there's no delay in figuring out what to have or defrosting) 6:30 - I get home, change, set table, attempt to go through mail 6:45-7:30 - Eat dinner & clean up 7:30-8 Playtime for all & bottle for DD 8-8:30 bathtime (they bathe together so we're all in bathroom to get more time together and then we each take a kid to dress) 8:30-9 books/bed 9 Shower/blow hair out 10 TV in bed for 30-45 min 5:30am wakeup and do it all again
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Posted 2/24/11 10:18 AM |
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Babyin10
LIF Infant
Member since 8/09 137 total posts
Name:
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
Definately try to make dinner on the weekends! You can usually make 3 dishes (lasagna, sheperad's pie etc) that will last either the full work week and sometimes into the weekend. I have to get back into the habit of doing that!
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Posted 2/24/11 10:24 AM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name: Erica
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
I'm lucky DS goes to sleep early and I rarely cook now. DH helps out with the meals or my mom is always dropping stuff off Plus, DH has been working on LI a lot and staying at his parent's so it's just me. I'm happy with a bowl of cereal, pasta or leftovers.
My schedule:
4 - 4:30 - leave work 4:45ish - pick us DS from daycare 5 - 6:15 - feed DS dinner, milk in sippy, play time (I do some cleaning if he's playing on his own. DH usually helps with this and then I do a big clean on the weekend, which isn't too bad b/c I keep up with it) 6:20 - 7PM - bath time, snuggle while watching TV, brush teeth, books then bed around 7 7 - 7:30 - sometimes workout on treadmill or clean (DH does the laundry in the house) 7:30 - 8 - dinner with DH and we watch Jeopardy (we DVR it and watch it on the TV in the kitchen) 8 - 9:30 - put mine and Mason's stuff together for next day, shower, relax, TV and pass out around 9:30ish (depending on the shows.. LOL)
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Posted 2/24/11 10:25 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name: remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
well, now that my son has decided 6:30-7 is his bed time it's been crazy. this is the first full week of the change.
I've been able to get in to work early enough though since he changed his w/u time to 6 though.
so it's
5:00 pm- leave work 5:30 walk through the door, snuggle up the boy 5:33: start dinner 6:15 ish: dinner 6:45: clean up, diaper change, jammies 7:00 bedtime for baby boy. 7:30 clean up toys 8:00 tea and crumpet with dh 9:30-10:30 bed.
dinner is either something that is cooked start to finish in 30-45 minutes OR something I've cooked over the weekend and frozen. so far this week we've had pasta with sausage and peas (30 minutes soup to nuts) lentil soup (made this weekend and frozen) tonight it's pizza make with sauce I had frozen and store bought pizza dough (I get it at whole foods but you can get it at the pizzeria too) also done in 30 minutes)
if my husband is home in time we eat together, if he's not home, I feed my son and get him down and then we eat after that. I hate this, b/c I prefer to eat as a family, but I need to get my son to sleep. we've started eating breakfast together instead.
ETA: is your dh home in time for bath time? if so, I would give that duty over to him while you cook, unless you love it (I loved bath time at that age)
when dh comes home, he is in charge of entertaining my son. it gives me time to get things done as efficiently as possible. of course I still play with and interact with him while I am cooking or doing whatever, but when he starts getting "needy" or wants me to pick him up, dh is the one who regains control of the situation.
I get the morniings with him and I do bedtime. so this is "dada" time for them to play snuggle and bond.
Message edited 2/24/2011 10:31:12 AM.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:26 AM |
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Deeluvsvinny
DONE
Member since 10/08 4952 total posts
Name: Whatever
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
Is your Dh helping? What time does he get home?
DH picks up DD at the sitters. I get home anywhere betweeen 5:15 and 6:30.
Dh gets DD home about 6, so one of us will feed her while the other starts dinner. We make simple things for the two of us during the week.
So, it's 6pm- feed DD- she self feeds and I pull her high chair into the kitchen while we're cooking, getting our dinner ready. 6:15-7 is for play time, bath time (every other night) and bottle. Usually by 7-7:30 she's in bed. DH & I eat then. Sometimes we use paper plates and plastic cups to cut down on washing time.
We then hang out/relax. I'll clean one or two things a night and starighten up DD's toys. DH does the laundry. We go to bed between 10-12 (we both shower at night).
It's tough and I feel like I'm ALWAYS doing something, but I do give myself lazy nights where we take care of DD and then order in and veg out in front of the TV. The weekends are family time- we do stuff together and run errands and cook together (these are bigger, more complicated meals).
It's hard and you have the find the balance that works for your family.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:29 AM |
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TreAnt427
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Member since 8/06 8652 total posts
Name: Tracy
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
I get off work earlier so I have a little more time in the evenings.
4:00 Leave work, pick up DD on the way home
4:30 Get home, DD goes in for a quick nap. I will either do a few things around the house or sit and watch tv for a little while
5:30 DD gets up, we play, then she eats
6:00 start dinner
7:00 DH gets home and we eat. (DD sits in high chair at the table with us, sometimes she eats with us if she hasn't already)
7:30-8 - bath (if its bath night) bottle, and bed
After 8 DH and I watch TV. Go to bed around 10.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:32 AM |
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JennCo
My greatest joy is my baby boy
Member since 1/07 2772 total posts
Name:
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
that pretty much sounds like my nights during the week, except DH usually gets home as I'm putting DS to sleep.
Only suggestion I have is to get a crock pot! Those things are a lifesaver, you come home from work and bam - instant dinner, it's great.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:33 AM |
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babyfever08
Love my babies!
Member since 11/08 3938 total posts
Name: Antonella
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
It is a race from home to bedtime for me. I get out of work by 4:30, don't get home until 5:30-6pm. DH picks me up from the train station, and we get DS from MIL's house. Rush home to cook dinner, and feed DS. DS is attached to me the whole time, and hugs my leg the entire night. He usually sleeps at 9pm, and at that time I usually clean, do laundry, and get everything ready for the next day. There really isn't time for me to just relax. We are out the door the next morning by 6:45-7am, and the day starts over again.
This is why I live for the weekends!
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Posted 2/24/11 10:37 AM |
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BethanyLynn
Love these munchkins
Member since 10/09 6295 total posts
Name: Bethany
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
Totally normal! Im home by 4 but from then on its a mad rush to make dinner, feed DD, bathe DD, play a little, put her to bed, clean up and then Im in bed by 9 the latest.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:54 AM |
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Waste06
Waste not, want not
Member since 6/06 7219 total posts
Name: Lois Mom Mommy Mama Ma
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
My schedule is similar to yours, except I have less time at home and I don't cook.
5:30 Leave work 6:00 Pick up DS 6:30 Home, change out of work clothes 6:40 Gobble down dinner that DH cooked 6:45 Play with DS on floor, while DH cleans up after dinner 7:00 Get bath ready on bath nights, give bath and play a bit w/DS 7:30 DS gets bottle, snuggle time in living room, DH cleans up bathroom 8:00 DS in bed, I immediately get clothes for next day and start ironing
By 9:00 we may watch some DVRd shows, in bed by 10:00.
After work, my job is to take care of DS. DH's job is to take care of ME. (i.e. feed me, clean up dishes, kitchen, bathroom, toys, all while I'm tending to DS). After DS is asleep, I tend to DH.
Message edited 2/24/2011 10:58:28 AM.
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Posted 2/24/11 10:57 AM |
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JKinCT
Gonna be a big sister!
Member since 11/07 1559 total posts
Name: Korin
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
DH and I work together, and we come home together. He is a big help. He plays with her when I am getting her food ready when we get home. He will help me after dinner by washing dishes and bottles. I give her a bath and put her pjs on, he gives her the last bottle and puts her to bed. I love bath time and don't really want to give that time up.
That schedule is the average day. We do have our days where the routine is done by 8:30, but those are easier dinners or leftovers.
I think I really need to look into making dinners for the freezer or crockpot recipes. I think that is what is bothering me. I wish that dinner could be easier.
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Posted 2/24/11 11:04 AM |
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jerseychick
LIF Adult
Member since 4/09 3923 total posts
Name:
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
This is on a good day: 5:00ish get home. As soon as we get home, I take a shower and give her a bath. I am a teacher and need to rid myself of the cooties asap 5:30 dinner for DD 5:45-6:30 playtime. If both DH and I are home, one of us will wash bottles, etc. and the other will play with her. Otherwise, she will play in her exersaucer while I wash them, or I will leave them until after she goes to bed. Depends on how late it is. 6:30 bedtime routine/nurse 7:00 bedtime for DD 7:30ish dinner for us Then dishes, laundry if it needs to be done, etc. *Usually* we are able to sit down and watch TV by 8:30 or 9.
HUGE time saver has been to cook on the weekend. I will make one meal (like soup or something) that can last 2-3 nights, and then try to cook quick things on the other nights.
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Posted 2/24/11 11:23 AM |
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wcs3504
my boys
Member since 2/06 2506 total posts
Name: Wanda (formerly cw0904 on LIW)
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
This sounds about right. For us Dh gets home before I do so he starts dinner and tends to DS. I then feed DS and we either all eat together or DS eats first. I do bath and bed time. This is the one thing I refuse to give up.
After DS bedtime is where it gets nutty. If I don't finish cleaning up the kitchen or make bottles at night, I save this to the next morning. I'll wake up an hour earlier to get everything done. However paperwork and mail is always a huge pile, laundry is forever there to be washes or folded, and I always feel like I'm running on empty. I clean... when we are having someone over. I don't ask Dh for anymore help because he works two jobs. Some days he's lucky he sleeps 3 hour. I always racing to make a deadline on whatever it is that needs to be done. Being pregnant doesn't help because I go to bed latest 930. Keeping up with the house is always a struggle for me. And I hate it!!!
Eta when Dh goes from one job to another, I eat whatever I can make quickly for myself. Which is usually a salad or soup. These days I really feel like a single mom.
Message edited 2/24/2011 11:33:37 AM.
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Posted 2/24/11 11:26 AM |
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JenBenMen
party of five
Member since 9/06 11343 total posts
Name: Jen
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
Sorry to say but this is the same way in our house
I will tell you that as they get older (mine are 2 and 4 now), there is less STUFF to prepare like bottles etc so that frees sometime
I try to prepare some meals on sunday so that we can defrost something for dinner but that doesnt always work
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Posted 2/24/11 11:30 AM |
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Tine73
Member since 3/06 22093 total posts
Name: *********
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Re: FTWM: After work schedule, for the whole family
Ours is pretty similar. You get used to it after awhile:
5:30-40pm - leave work 5:45 - 6:00 pm get to daycare 6:15-20pm - Get home 6:30pm - Change and start making dinner 7:00pm - eat dinner 7:30pm - start bedtime routine (baths and story time) 8:00pm - DD#2 in bed 8:00 - 8:30pm - DD#1 in bed 8:30pm - make bottles and pack bags for next day 9:00pm - watch TV and go online 10:00-11:00pm - go to bed Repeat..
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Posted 2/24/11 11:52 AM |
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