I just can't keep up with everything

I feel like I need a personal assistant.

Between both boys, they each have things at school, family, parties, making cupcakes every weekend, I just can't do it all, and I am exhausted. The only thing I'm truly on top of is my Cupcake business because I can't let that fall to the side.

Today I drove DS to school, only to realize after halfway there that it was picture day. I had to turn around, run upstairs, get him a nice outfit, gel his hair, dress him in the car. It was a mess. This is following yesterday where I lost my car keys and had to borrow my cleaning persons car to pick up the spare.

I just don't think I can keep up with everything. Any tricks on what to do because I am absolutely exhausted.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

now Im just suggestion because I am not even remotely good with this...


An organizer?

Putting appts in a book...checking it daily?

I see most who are so organized and it works and helps SO much.

its not me to do it and I wish I had a system too.

ETA: apparently this helps with craziness. so mayb that organizer would of helped remember it was picture day and you would of prepped last nite.

KWIM?

Message edited 11/1/2011 1:34:19 PM.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Write everything down and prepare as much as you can the night before. It really helps. Sometimes I don't even know what day it is.

We've all had days like that and I feel like you have been the pro at making it all happen! You can do it! If you are really exhausted, start saying no to some parties that you've been invited to and if need be, start turning away some business to get some rest.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

I'm in the same boat ! I have 4 dd's ,and I forget something everyday ! Last week in one day I made 4 seperate trips to Walmart

Message edited 11/1/2011 1:35:40 PM.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

God, i am right there with you. A very active 2 year old, an 8 weeks old and preggo again and between the house cleaning, the cooking, playing with both children and trying to make sure stuff gets done, im like a comatose zombie at night....it's crazy!

I would love to hire a maid once a week but that's just not in the budget. Can you hire a nanny for a few hours a week to give you a little time?

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

I have a million organizers which is the problem I think, and just as many calendars. Some for work, some for the kids and our stuff. I just don't know when I became this unorganized. I am mortified that I haven't even sent out Ty's thank you's yet - a month later. Normally they are out within two days. I have them right next to my bed, I have the stamps, I just can't do it. I literally just want to sleep all day long.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

I definitely agree with Debbie. Try to combine your organizers so you know what's going on at all times. I have sticky notes everywhere in my house bc its the only way I remember. I try to plan my week out on Sunday nights so I have an idea of where I'm going & what needs to be prioritized.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

LISTS LISTS AND MORE LISTS..

I have a moms planner thing that I write down appts for jack, reminders, etc. (reminds me, i need to get a new one for 2012)

For the business side of that I have a portfolio binder thingy that has a pad on one side, a folder on the other. I have running lists of business tasks that need to be done..immediate tasks/orders, and a list of things to work on for the near future. I jot down things on the list as I remember them.

I have it where I keep a summary sheet of each customer's order, payment info, other details and make one for every customer so I have the info handy when I need it. I keep all of this in my portfolio binder that I have out on my desk ALL.THE.TIME. I also carry it with me to work just in case Im emailing customers during the day, I can reference paper work.

I think part of it is also our own fault of taking on so many things that one of the balls we are juggling will drop one day. at least thats how I feel. never enough hours in the day.

the moms planner or general planner might help you remember things like picture day and other kid events..i highly recommend that.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

I know, I have to get it all in one place. That's the first thing.

It's funny because when I worked in the city I was on top of everything. I made a list every morning when I went into work. Crossed things off, updated throughout. Now that I am working from home it's just not that easy. Thankfully my business is fully taken care of, but my poor kids have to deal with this mess of a mom right now.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

I only have 1 kid and I'm a natural mess. I need to write EVERYTHING down. every. single. thing. Everyone makes fun of me with my lists but I would never remember anything without them. I have things saved in my email, excel, on paper, my calendar. I just have to remember to look . Thats the only thing that saves me and keeps me kind of organized.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

I am right there with you Diana!
I was just saying last nite that I dont know how anyone has kids close in age...I'd bang my head in the wall Thank God Gilly is self sufficient bc Sam is taking ALL of the attention. I called my workplace while on maternity leave and told them I am not very good at this SAHM stuff. That I already ended up in ICU I dont know how anyone does all of this. My desk at work with my door closed looks so heavenly these days..

Message edited 11/1/2011 2:07:33 PM.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Working full time and 2 kids in 2 different grades...my answer is like what others have said LISTS

if i dont write it down I def forget it.

I have my work calendar which has important kid appts on it

I keep the school calendar on my door so i always see it esp when it says a random thing like "bring a wire hanger" lol

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Being a FTWM out of the house and having 2 kids in school 5 days a week (kindergarten and preschool) I find having an orgnaizer to be my best option. I get EVERYTHING they need for the next day prepared the night before. My kids have there routine in the morning which makes my mornings a lot easier. They both know when it's time to get up, I wash there face, brush there teeth, get them dressed, and do there hair. I make them breakfast and while they eat, I get myself ready. We are out of the house at 7:55 every morning.

I have a calender inside the pantry door and I check it everyday/night.

Message edited 11/1/2011 2:52:27 PM.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Do you have an i-phone? Not sure about other phones

but lately I have been putting EVERYTHING into the phone calendar that I have coming up. Birthday's classes, what have you. I set it to 2 alarms. depending on what it is. Soemtimes 1 is the day before, and the other is the other is the day that day maybe 1 hr. before. Sometimes the 2 alarms are the same day. 1 early morning and 1 1/2-1 hour before the event.

This has helped me remember a lot. Plus it comes up on my computer that I sink it to.

I am a total mess with out it. I can't remember a thing.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Diana, I feel the same way most days.. between work stuff, where the kids are, family/friend events and everything else, I feel like I'm going to LOSE MY MIND!

I am a visual person so I ended up getting a walll organizer for my home office..

I have a dry erase calendar/plain board/cork board for invites or flyers and an individual dryerase/magnetic board for EACH of the kdis..

they each list their chores and what's going on for them that week.. (trips/sports/etc./brown bag lunch, etc)

I also have all dates on that board as well as my online icalendar that is auto synced with my yahoo calendar (which also sets a 1 and 2 day reminder and I also set a 1 hour before event reminder) so it makes it fool proof to have it in all places..

as I find out about stuff, I will put it in my calendar and on the boards and then it's all over and I cannot forget it..

I also force myself (No matter how exhausted I am) to prep the night before.. if it's picture day or they have certain sports, I will lay out the clothes/uniform the night before so that they (and me) are ready..

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

First, I think you're too hard on yourself. Your expectations are off the charts because you're such a go-getter type of person.. you should probably cut yourself some slack because you're an awesome mom and your definition of half-a$$ed is probably another mom's definition of perfection.

And then I agree with everyone else about having one central place to keep track of everything. I have a chalk board hanging outside my kitchen and I write down important dates as they come up.

Which reminds me, I have at least 3 things to add to that list.

Message edited 11/1/2011 3:08:26 PM.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

I was there at the begining of the year, FTWM, 3 ACTIVE boys, 4 nights of something (sometimes 2 activities) each week, homework, craziness. My husband and I started a shared calender, hired an afterschool babysitter, downloaded all activities from the school website, put all appointments and games and work schedules on the calender, and get everything (clothes, school bags, etc) together the night before.

I feel like we are 100% more together... sure, we still run, but at least we have cut back on the back and forth...
Good Luck!

Message edited 11/1/2011 3:18:01 PM.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Thanks everyone for the tips. I have a dry erase board and at the beginning of every month I write all of our activities on there (parties etc) It's the stupid stuff that falls through the cracks (like damn picture day)

I have a calendar on my Mac that I use for work stuff and now will be adding the boys stuff to it.

I wish I could hire a personal assistant to do all of my holiday shopping for me. My free time when the boys are at school is now spent working so I don't have time to run to the stores without them. November is such an insane month between work and parties that I feel like I'm never going to get caught up.

Working from home is much harder than I ever anticipated.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Oh, and I don't have an Iphone - I have a Blackberry but after this thread I want one

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

MOTHER HELPER!!!!!! That's what you need!

I WRITE EVERYTHING... or I forget. I make a daily to do list. Not daily... it's too stressful!

Message edited 11/1/2011 3:36:46 PM.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Re: I just can't keep up with everything

Lists, routines and a good calendar with lots of room on each day to write.

I love flylady.net, mostly for the routines. I only follow some of her cleaning ideas but the before bed routine makes my morning easy and the rest kind of fell into place for me.

Re: I just can't keep up with everything