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StorkNet Home > Parenting Channel > Working Mothers Cubby
Working Mom's Survival Guide
by Kenyatta Thomas
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Every mom - especially the working mom - has a method to her madness. Whether it's a dinner shortcut, or a system set up for getting the kids to school and daycare, she uses ALL of her options, along with a few little tricks thrown up her sleeve.
Here are some survival tips from other StorkNet Working Moms on what works for them everyday:
From Lynne:
I work in a professional office and attendance, punctuality and appearance are big issues in my line of work. Here are a few things I've learned:
- Get a good, easy-to-deal with haircut
- Store some 'duplicate' cosmetics at work. If they expect us to look a certain way as professional women, they can pay for the extra time it takes for us to get that way.
- Keep at least one 'wardrobe catastrophe' outfit on hand. Don't use it unless you absolutely have to and get it back in place right away.
- If you can possibly justify even a couple of cheap house cleanings per month, DO IT! This is a budgetary priority in our house. It comes before entertainment, it comes before savings, and it even comes before babysitting expenditures. As long as we both work full time, it's non-negotiable.
From Kenyatta:
- Have a nice selection of 30 - 45 minute recipes, so you don't spend an eternity in the kitchen.
- Try to break up the chores, like doing your laundry over three days instead of doing laundry all day (IF you have a washer/dryer)
- Divvy the chores! Don't try and be a superwoman. Even you four year old can do a little dusting.
From Cath:
- I'm all for dressing the children in their clothes before they go to bed at night so they'll be all ready to go in the morning!
- I do pack the boys' bags the night before, lay out their clothes and any toy or special thing they want to bring to daycare.
Same with my own. Sounds obvious but really the number of times I am running around the house in my knickers, looking for an ironed pair of pants, I couldn't even count! I don't get dressed until I have fed the boys their breakfast and washed their hands.
Here's my all time favorite time saving tip. My children have sandwiches for breakfast!! I make them the night before and have their sandwiches and drinks of AktaVite (like Ovaltine but better) all ready in the fridge. They get up in the morning, I get them dressed and have their breakfast while I get the beds made and my make up on, and then I wash their hands and dress myself and out the door we go. (that's the theory anyhow).
From Cindy:
I'm pretty organized. I don't clean my house anymore; I have a good friend clean my house when I'm at work 2X per month. She's pretty inexpensive. But I do things for her too so it works.
I make my shopping list and figure out what dinners to make for the week and shop accordingly.
I always lay out everyone's clothes the night before and have everything packed and near the door so we can run in the morning.
From Sandy:
I have my house cleaned 2X a month and it is a wonderful time saver as I am a complete neat freak. I pick up the house after Cameron goes to bed. Lately I am tired at 12 weeks pregnant so I go to bed around 9 or 10 and try to pick up in the morning or even throw in a load of laundry. I find that laundry can sit wet in the washer for at least a day and a half before I get it into the dryer. I buy all Cameron's clothes at second hand stores for $1 to $7 bucks so she has a lot and I don't have to do laundry often. Sometimes I go over a week. Ready-made dinners at Costco are great!!!!! They have everything. I run all my personal errands and make phone calls on my lunchtime. And finally, don't commit to too many social engagements on the weekend. Hanging out at home is the best.
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