Balance

[JennJubie]

Just wondering what you guys do when it comes to balancing out daycare and housework. I find myself some days working through nap/quiet time so that I can either prep dinner or get dinner in the slow cooker, and get some laundry done. I much prefer to have a less hectic night. By doing some housework during this time, I find I really just have to do a quick tidy/wipe/vacuum kinda thing when the dcks go home.

[sunnydays]

I actually prefer to rest during naptime because this is the only quiet time in my entire day. I usually do very little in the way of housework during that time...I browse on my computer, read a book, etc mostly. I find that way I have enough energy to get through the rest of the day. Mind you, it is much easier to do that now because I finish between 4:30 and 5pm and my daycare space is separate, so I get that tidied up before the last kid goes home and then my evening is for my family, not daycare stuff.

[dodge__driver11]

I used to do housework during nap but stopped... I now have my day ending at 5pm so I do it then:)

[Momof4]

I also relax and read during naptime to recharge my batteries, but I have learned to do 2 things at once, like getting dinner going while I make lunch or vice versa. Dishes and laundry are always going to be there but there's nothing wrong with getting them started quickly at the end of the work day and finishing after the children leave. I sweep before the last child is picked up and then I vacuum daily.

As far as crafting/creating day goes I make sure I have all the supplies but as the children freeplay after breakfast I get it all set up then call them to the table. I used to spend a lot of time in the evenings prepping crafts and food but I've learned over the years to get these things done during daycare hours while the children freeplay as much as possible. They are always in my line of sight but I was getting tired and burned out. Nobody wants that!

[sunnydays]

Momof4, I do exactly what you have described. I buy supplies on weekends, but craft prep is all done while the kids play. I keep it pretty simple, so there isn't a ton for me to do...mostly taping paper to the table, getting paints out and brushes, etc. I use my leftover family dinner as daycare lunch for the next day, so that is double duty as well. I try not to think about daycare in my evenings..that way I can enjoy my own kids :)

[Artsand crafts]

I clean up the kitchen while kids are having lunch. Kids pick up all toys right before going to sleep and I clean the eating area and vacuum daycare areas right after they go to sleep which takes me about 30 min. Since kids have 2.5 hr quiet time I end up having 2 hrs break. That is my time for watching TV, reading, having lunch, etc. In the afternoon I make next day lunch (which would be my family dinner the following day)... I feel I am managing well lunch and nap time and that allows me to have a nice long break and keep everything clean... However I wish I could say the same for the afternoon. I wish I could make lunch/dinner with a magic wand... I do not like cooking in the afternoon... I tried during nap time, but I really need my break to recharge... I prepare all crafts for the week during the weekend and try to make easy crafts with the less amount of adult involvement possible.

[playfelt]

Making more use of the crock pot really helps for dinner in that you can put that on while kids are arriving in the morning or having freeplay or during snack etc. The trick is remembering to set out the meat the night before so it can thaw.

I also let a lot of housework go in the sense that other than sweeping in the kitchen is it necessary to vacuum every day. I do outside play at the end of the day so nothing from outside comes back into the house and that helps tremendously to keep things clean. Also we have an upstairs and downstairs play areas so we are really only in one of the areas less than 4 hours a day by the time they eat and nap and go outside so I can skip days meaning now I do upstairs Tues, Fri and Sun and basement Wed and Sat. Family areas are only done on the weekend.

[Robyn]

Currently all my kids are over four and in the mornings I only have 1 or 2 kids so I try and get housework done while they are playing. There is no nap time currently so I just take advantage of the time that they are occupied. Plus one of my guys loves to vacuum so he happily attacks the dog hair and crumbs that accumulate over the day! Some days the house looks great and other days not so much! I try not to stress about it!

[Wonderwiper]

Hmm...I seem to do way less than any of you!!! Ha ha! I don't do any cleaning, prep, craft stuff during nap time. Why do you have to vacuum everyday? Maybe it's because I have laminate in my playroom because I simply sweep up after meals and quickly at the end of the day, takes 2 minutes. Also we must eat dinner late because I have never started cooking dinner while dcks are still here. My house is not dirty.

[Momof4]

Wonderwiper, I have to vacuum every day because I have a cat who has some kind of hair parties in the night! Also, I have a rug under my dining room table. I have to sweep every day because one of my dcMoms brings her stroller into my entrance hallway every morning and takes it out to go home and the dirt from it tends to track all around since it's right beside my 1/2 bath that is in use all day.

I agree with Playfelt, my crockpot is my best friend a lot of days.

[Wonderwiper]

Haha Momof4....fur ball parties!!!!

[Artsand crafts]

I vacuum everyday because I think the floor is dirty. I can see particles in the floor. I guess some are from outdoors and somtimes little pieces of food. We spend almost all morning outside and I let them get dirty (play with sand, sticks, leaves, etc). I clean them the best I can but I guess there are still particles attached to the clothes. I wouldn't prohibit them to play with all those things outside. They have so much fun.

[playfelt]

I still deal with morning naptimes most of the time so moved outside play to the end of the day. I love that they can get as dirty as they want and then it just goes home with the parents and not back into my house.

I miss my dog terribly but so don't miss the wads of hair she shed - some weeks I felt I had enough hair to make a new dog. Changed to a bagless vacuum just because of her as it was getting too expensive to keep changing them.

[Trace of Angels]

I invested in the IRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner. It's amazing. Just push start, I haven't picked up a broom in almost 2 years. It is expensive but worth every penny when I get all that time back from not having to sweep. They make one that mops too........gonna get that one next...........now if they would just invent one to do my laundry then I would be all set LOL :laugh:
I too am a big crock pot fan. I prepare the night before and throw it in the fridge and just turn it on in the morning or afternoon depending on how long the recipe calls for.

[sunnydays]

I only vacuum once a week, so I do way less than many of you too! I sweep under the table and sometimes the stairs and that's about it until the weekend...unless I have a bunch of sand piles from the kids clothing (gotta love rolled up pant legs for that...LOL). I try to empty the sand out of their shoes before we come in the house and I am trying to get in the habit of unrolling pant legs as well as that always gets me when I go to chance their diapers ;) I have learned that everything does not need to be spotless all the time. A little mess is fine as long as everything is basically clean and sanitary of course.

[torontokids]

I vacuum once a week as well (unless needed). I sweep after every snack/lunch but that's about it. Clean the daycare bathroom once a week too unless of course there is a potty mishap. Having a separate space is really nice for this. Now the rest of my house, that's another story...

Meals I am still figuring out. Mostly I have simplified things and I don't feel bad if the kids eat the same thing twice in a week or I find a way to make it different. E.g. chicken and rice and beans can be turned into quesadillas the next day or wraps.

[Skysue]

I try and get dinner prepared at quiet time too, I have been using my slow cooker a lot lately, it's nice having dinner done so clean up is a snap.

I vacuum twice a day, swiffer twice a day and wash my floors twice a day. I'm up at 6:30am to vacuum and wash my floors every morning. 1st child arrives at 7:30am, I hate dusty floors!

Daycare bathroom is cleaned daily!

[JennJubie]

I love my slow cooker, too. It's been getting a lot of use since I opened my daycare! I'm not saying I'm working like crazy during my break time, I just find what I do do leaves the rest of my night nice and open. Especially with my own son being a bit more high maintenance it's nice to have all my cleaning done right after daycare, and dinner waiting already for the family.

That's not to say I don't sit on my arse during break and do a lot of nothing some days, too :laugh: I do know my limits, and if it's a hard day, or I'm extra tired, I'll leave it for later or the next day.

[playfelt]

There are advantages to all the kids being in diapers - a quick wipe of the sink and counter and that is all of the bathroom they use.

I have also found the less I clean the healthier the daycare is and boy do I love that fact.

[Skysue]

There are advantages to all the kids being in diapers - a quick wipe of the sink and counter and that is all of the bathroom they use.

I have also found the less I clean the healthier the daycare is and boy do I love that fact.

Your lucky mine are 5x 2-3 year olds who all go potty. It nice not having to change diapers but the constant bathroom mess is killing me!

[torontokids]

I agree with Playfelt that a super clean environment is not the best. Knock on wood but since I opened in Feb, no one in my daycare/family has gotten sick except the odd runny nose.

[notaunicorn]

I sweep and mop eating area daily, sometimes 2-3 times a day. I finally after 15 years of doing daycare got a cleaning crew to come in bi weekly and get the rest of the house done. Hubby and I now can sit on our asses on the weekend, or go out and work in the garden , or do a renovation in the house without worrying about cleaning bathrooms, or dusting or wiping down the walls etc. I still clean the main areas every second day if not daily but at least I know if I fell like being a slug on my down time I can be as my toilets are clean upstairs! plus it is a write off for taxes!