Working 7 days a week ? Exhausted

[Spixie33]

That time of the year where I need to vent again.

everything going pretty good in the daycare but I really feel like I am working 7 days a week and am run down with a cold and exhausted !

I had 10 days off over christmas which I spent steam cleaning the house, painting all the areas damaged by the daycare, cleaning, etc. I worked like crazy. Now I am back on my second week of daycare and am pooped out.

I feel like I work really hard with these kids 5 days a week and then the weekend comes and I have to do the grocery shopping for the daycare, plan the meals for the next week or daycare, cook ahead for the daycare, plan activities etc and then Monday comes and I feel like I haven't rested one bit.

every day I look forward to 'go home time' but then everyone leaves and the floors are a mess and I end up having to vacuum and mop and wipe everything down and do another hour or two of 'daycare' work.

I am not sure what I have to do to get some R&R.
Do you ever feel like this job never ends??

[sunnydays]

I feel like this often, but figure it's because my own kids are very young too, so there is not real down time. I try to cut myself slack where I can. Everything doesn't have to be perfect. Maybe you could give yourself permission to slack off a little on cleaning here and there or find ways to get more done while the kids are eating etc. Organization is key to making things easier. I recently switched everyone into booster seats with trays and the mess is a hundred times less than when they were at a table, I don't have to mop everyday anymore as I just spot clean while they are eating.

[mom-in-alberta]

Yeah, I think it's because I have young ones at home too. In fact, I am taking some time off right now to "recharge". And it's exactly what I needed. I work part time outside the home, but am making it a point to unwind a little, lol. I am not saying you need to quit, but you need to do what you need to do for a little while. Why not try easing up on the programming that you are providing. Do more "free" stuff and less that involves prep and tidy.
As for cleaning, I don't know... If you find a solution, please share! Hahaha. Who else do you have around you? Older kids, hubby? Get them to pitch in a little more. If you must (although they should be helping, it's not like you sit around all day and eat bon-bons, lol) offer a reward incentive. Ie: if everyone does what they are asked, at the end of the month, we will have a family dinner and movie night. Or something like that.
Could you hire someone, either a pro or a college kid, to come in and clean for you once a week? That would take some of the stress out of it, maybe.

[playfelt]

We also have to give ourselves permission to have it "messy" sometimes in the house because there are a lot of kids around all the time. Remember a little dirt is good for the immune system.

[lotssoflove]

OHH ya. Not only do I do daycare during the day but I teach piano and voice in the evenings 5 days a week! it can get tiring but like some have said, a little dirt never hurt anyone! Take the time you can find to relax a bit. The walls dont need to be painted every 6 months!

[Skysue]

That time of the year where I need to vent again.

everything going pretty good in the daycare but I really feel like I am working 7 days a week and am run down with a cold and exhausted !

I had 10 days off over christmas which I spent steam cleaning the house, painting all the areas damaged by the daycare, cleaning, etc. I worked like crazy. Now I am back on my second week of daycare and am pooped out.

I feel like I work really hard with these kids 5 days a week and then the weekend comes and I have to do the grocery shopping for the daycare, plan the meals for the next week or daycare, cook ahead for the daycare, plan activities etc and then Monday comes and I feel like I haven't rested one bit.

every day I look forward to 'go home time' but then everyone leaves and the floors are a mess and I end up having to vacuum and mop and wipe everything down and do another hour or two of 'daycare' work.

I am not sure what I have to do to get some R&R.
Do you ever feel like this job never ends??

I'm feeling like that too right now! rocked with a cold and yuck a cold soar! I have been designating Sat as my do nothing day! I power clean on Friday night then come Sat I veg on the couch and don't move until noon! I'm going to try and get my grocery shopping done on friday nights too as There just isn't enought time to squeeze it all in on Sunday!

You might also need to take a step back and ask yourself if your doing too much with the kids. I used to do craft everyday and now I've decided its ok if we do it 2 to 3 times a week!

I just think it's cabin fever. You sound like you need a weekend to de-stress!

[fruitloop]

I was feeling like that about 2 months ago. I worked 9.5-10 hours a day/5 days a week and then did the majority of the stuff with my own kids and then on weekends I spent it cleaning and doing laundry. I was so tired and wanted some days off. I decided to hire a cleaning lady. She comes in on Friday mornings and does all the cleaning I'd be doing on the weekend (except for my daycare area) and all I have left to do is the laundry and groceries. So, I now get at least 1 full day off where I don't have to do anything except enjoy my family. My oldest son does the dishes (he just turned 11 and has been doing them for about a year now) after supper (unload and load the dishwasher) and my husband does all the cooking on weekends. I cook 5 days a week...he can do the weekends. If he doesn't cook...no one eats. I think you need to start putting some of this load onto your dh or hire someone to help you out before you have a complete burn out. You can't do everything and nor should you!

[Cocoon]

Skysue, can you not do your shopping online? It would save you at least 2 hours.

Spixie33, can you clean on the way? I'm sure you have already thought of this maybe already doing but can you clean the dishes while the kids are having quite time or when they are sleeping? Althought, this doesn't mean you will be less tired.

And also If the kids are older you could ask them to tidy up too. Every little helps!

As some of us already had said your house doesn't have to be sparling and it won't hurt anyone if you don't do activities everyday.

Hope you will feel better soon.
Cocoon

[Skysue]

Skysue, can you not do your shopping online? It would save you at least 2 hours.

Spixie33, can you clean on the way? I'm sure you have already thought of this maybe already doing but can you clean the dishes while the kids are having quite time or when they are sleeping? Althought, this doesn't mean you will be less tired.

And also If the kids are older you could ask them to tidy up too. Every little helps!

As some of us already had said your house doesn't have to be sparling and it won't hurt anyone if you don't do activities everyday.

Hope you will feel better soon.
Cocoon

Grocery shopping on line? What store delivers?

[Judy Trickett]

Some of the other posters make some good suggestions. What I really try to do is get as much work done as possible while I am getting paid. So, it only takes 30 seconds to toss a load of clothes in the wash and then again in the dryer. Then you can fold those clothes while you sit and watch the kids use playdoh or engaged in some other activity.

At naptime I prep my dinner so all I have to do is turn it on later. I also dust or put away laundry at naptime too.