feeling overwhelmed

[jacynamommy]

Hi ladies!
As we get closer to starting our school year, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed! This is our second year and this year I'll be doing LHFHG and BHFHG, keeping a 3 year old entertained while we do school, and chasing our 11 month old around the house! I know a lot of you are in a similar boat! I'm overwhelmed about how I'm going to keep up with all the functions of being a housewife...keeping up on laundry, dishes, cooking meals, vacuuming, keeping things cleaned up, etc.! I can barely do that at times now, and we're on summer break!!!! I've heard that the book The Hidden Heart of Homemaking by Edith Schaffer is really good. Has anyone read it? Or does anyone have just encouraging words or advice for me? I am confident this is what God has called us to do, and I know He will supply the strength and time for everything...somehow!!!
Thanks!

[momtofive]

I can't comment on the book, because I haven't read it. I am anxious to hear what others have to say about it, I might just check it out, too! My thoughts on feeling overwhelmed are: not to. You have sought out what the Lord wants for your school. He is leading and directing your home, and you need to lay those worries and cares at His feet. He really wants you to. It just deepens our faith in what God can do, when we rely on Him for strength and guidance.

I was really overwhelmed, myself. Last week, we started CTC, Beyond Little Hearts, and LHTH. This is our first time with HOD. I knew this was what the Lord had led us to, but was nervous and scared of doing it wrong, or it not working. Well, my fears were for nothing, because it all worked out great. I prayed, and let God take it from there. Our first week with HOD was a great one. The love of learning has returned to our home, and I am so thankful! After a rocky year last year, we really needed this. HOD curriculum does make it easy to accomplish a great deal in a day. We got all of our schoolwork done, and I still had plenty of daytime left for cleaning, cooking and enjoying my family. It does take time to find a routine that will work best for you. One thing that helped me was to have a menu of meals that I could choose from each day. Even just knowing in the morning what I was going to cook that evening, helped to relieve the stress of getting it all done. Maybe you could get some activites/toys ready that are special for during school times. There are a few threads out there that suggest some really great activities for little ones to do during school times. There are some great ideas here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6869&p=50135&hilit= ... oys#p50135Try not to stress about all of those things at once. Take one thing at a time. As you work through your days, you'll find a method for getting all those other things done each day.

First and foremost, keep looking to God for strength and wisdom and He'll surely have plenty to give! Blessings as you begin your year!

In Christ,

Lisa

[Heather4Him]

Hi!

I can imagine how you must feel, as I'm a little nervous about starting CTC next week and getting everything done in a day, and we only have one child!
Because we only have one, I can't offer much help in juggling several kids, but I can comment on the book you mentioned.

"The Hidden Art of Homemaking" is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it, however I don't think it is what you are needing right now in trying to juggle multiple kids and curriculum levels. The book tends to be more inspiring in how to add "artistic flair" to your homemaking (i.e. putting flowers on the table, making dinner plates look special, writing special notes/letters to people, etc.)--rather than how to manage a household in a practical way.

I did read it several years ago, but what I remember of it doesn't sound like what you might be needing right now. (It might add more stress if you feel you have to make everything so "special" every day.) Hope that helps!

[water2wine]

Do we not all just need a maid and a personal assistant! I know I do!

Hang in there you have a lot on the little, busy, busy age range. Those are always tougher years for keeping all the "expected" things together. Sometimes you have to just give it over to God and give yourself a break. Some "should do's" fall into the cracks when we are following the call God has for us. Try to just take your year easy and perhaps start out a little slower than full pace until you find a groove. I find taking two days a month to "recover" in the house work department a really big help and I take Fridays for those days. Maybe doing a 4 day schedule might be better for you this year just to have that day to catch up if you find yourself getting stressed.

Start your days out with prayer and end them with praise is the best advice I can give you for having peace when there is too much. Hang in there! You can do it and if you look to Him to cover you your year will be blessed!

[deltagal]

All great thoughts in this thread. Let me encourage you to not expect perfection the first day, but strive to begin with a great attitude and gently build up your schedule over the course of several weeks. The most daunting part is often simply ...beginning. Take care and enjoy the journey.

[jenntracy]

I have learned to let go... as much as i want a clean house (even more organized), it just isn't going to happen right now.
If i get the dishes done and we have clean clothes we are good. And vacuum the living room and school room areas. My hubby is sweet and keeps the toilets clean.
Fortunately, my hubby doesn't mind if it isn't totally clean. i mind more. I will say, the whole family is rarely sick. so maybe a little dirt doesn't hurt ya.
I would run myself ragged trying to keep it super clean or fall asleep trying to.

I am doing LHFHG and Beyond this year. Next year we will add LHTH . My 2.5 yr old is already asking for school so I am going to spend special time reading to her and fun stuff like painting and gluing and call it school. It won't be at all structured.Right now whichever kid i am not working independently with is supposed to play or at least keep an eye on her.
I am also prego, due in March.

i like what waterwine said Do we not all just need a maid and a personal assistant! I know I do!
I also do what momtofive said One thing that helped me was to have a menu of meals that I could choose from each day. Even just knowing in the morning what I was going to cook that evening, helped to relieve the stress of getting it all done.
This helps me tremendously.

I think we all feel a little overwhelmed at times. But when you know in your heart God has called you to it, he will provide the wisdom and the way.
I am blessed to finally have a routine Bible devotion even though it means getting up a little earlier. I totally need it.
Know you are not alone.

Jenn D.

[mommadonna]

Hi Meredith...I just started using Motivated Moms today, trying to do better myself. I think that it is going to help me to get things done around here. You can get a whole year worth of cleaning charts...kind of like a chore chart for us..for only $3. (look online for a coupon code for a dollar off) I am going to assign tasks on the chart to my kids so that I don't have to have a different chore chart for them. I know alot of moms on this board use it.

I was totally overwhelmed about school too until we got started with hod and it all just fell into place. This is our first year, so I am not really the most wise or experienced, but I am sure it will get better for you too! HTH

[MomtoJGJE]

Our kids are pretty close in ages... I feel overwhelmed a TON. When I get overwhelmed I let it take me over... but only for about 15-20 minutes. I'll sit on here and do nothing and ignore everything.... then get up and pull it together and get going again.

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a chore system that has actually kept my house tidy and clean.... I am no longer embarrassed if people come over, nor am I a cleaning freak if I know people are GOING to come over. And my kids are LOVING it. And it is so simple that I have no idea why I didn't think to do it before now. I took index cards and a marker. On each index card I wrote a different room on it both downstairs and upstairs to cover the whole house... I even included the laundry room. Then I added in wash windows, dust, empty dishwasher, feed dogs, etc. I ended up with 16 cards. I took each card and held it up and showed them to the kids, told them what they said and what I expected when they got that card. I then made little envelopes out of construction paper with each child's name on them and one bigger one for me. Each day the three big girls pick three cards each, without looking... they can trade if they want to and can do it nicely. After they finished their chores on the cards, then they can pick one of the remaining ones (my jobs) and do it for a quarter (they do not get an allowance) I pay them when it's their turn to go to the store with DH (they alternate weeks to go with him)

Now, the 3yo doesn't sweep very well, and sometimes they just throw things on shelves instead of putting them away nicely, but at least every room is picked up and cleaned. Dh vacuums

It makes sure even the things I tend to wait on until last (dusting, windows, laundry room, playroom) get done every day because at the most I only have 7 things to do (as well as laundry and cooking etc.)

[jacynamommy]

Wow! You ladies are amazing!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to encourage me and share your advice with me. I feel like I got some great suggestions and am anxious to start implementing them. I know this is what God has called our family to do, so thank you for reminding me to just lay it all at His feet! Thanks again for all your advice!

[my3sons]

I can empathize! My best tool for combating stress and feeling overwhelmed is planning for it the best I can. It helps me first to try with all my heart to hang on to a Bible time for myself each day. I like it to be first in the day, but there have been seasons in my life that hasn't worked and it's been in the middle or right before bed. It also helps me to set up my general school schedule/routine and then practice it with just the littles doing their things. It helps me train them for their parts of the day better. For instance, my toddler has a play time with each of his older siblings. Last summer we started that, which frees up time for me to work with whichever child is not playing with toddler. So, last summer my toddler (and other dc) practiced that before school. This year, I want my toddler to have an independent playtime, so right now we're practicing that. I help him choose toys, set them out in the living room, set the timer and continue to tell him this is his time to play on his own. We started at 15 minutes, and he's up to 25 minutes now. (He gets a couple of tootsie rolls if he plays happily on his own until the timer rings. ) We all clap for him and make a big deal of it, and he actually asked if he could do it twice yesterday. So, for me, I've found my biggest thing to plan for is the littles and what they will be doing. The olders can fit in around that. Taking time to jot notes through the day of struggles you can see coming and trying out some things to overcome them helps a lot. Here are some threads that can help as you plan for this too:
Best tips for peace, sanity, or really helpful stuff!
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4929

Schedule Suggestions by Carrie:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4615&p=34067#p34067

Schedule or Routine?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5244

HTH, but you can do this! We're all here to help each other too, so don't feel alone in this.
In Christ,
Julie