I come to you all with a question I have been pondering lately. Why is it that I have a hard time getting myself showered and hair done and make-up as well as cute clothes on and a work-out in and laundry folded and dinner made?The reason for this question came about while at the store recently I noticed several well clothed and make-upped (is that even a word?) women with several children in tow and I found myself longing to be like them.
How do you guys fit this all into your day? I need to make some changes and do some re-arranging. How do I find time to do my hair and not just throw it into a pony tail. And while we are on the subject what do you guys all make for dinner? I am a failure when it comes to cooking.
EVERYONE please answer this question. I am longing to know your thoughts on this subject.
Alyson,
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your post. This is exactly what I think when I see those same beautiful women at the grocery store!! I don't know what to tell you but to just "keep on trucking!" I have a feeling all wives feel the same way you do. I also feel like I am a horrible cook at times, but maybe you just need some new simple recipes to try! Maybe you could start a post on the family website. I bet we would all get lots of great ideas from each other. I know I would benefit from that! So, stop beating yourself up and just do the best you can. You can't be superwoman - no one can! I would suggest reading the book "I'm a day late and a dollar short and it's okay!" A great read that will help you stop feeling like you have to be the perfect wife, mother, woman and everything else. I know it really helped me. Here is a great big hug from me! **** I know how you feel, but you are perfect just the way you are!! I love you!
Love, Wendy
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ReplyDeleteHey, I have a hard time doing all those things but not nearly the excuse that you've got. And anyway, you were over at my house the other day looking very fit and showered and make-upped. I was thinking gee, I look like a slob. So you're not the only one!
ReplyDeleteI'm not much help when it comes to making dinner. I usually cook for one and I'm a pro at spaghetti. I can give you some good pointers on how to make that. Maybe you should get a new cookbook. It's fun to try out new recipes. And listen Wendy's advice! She's very wise. :)
I wish I had a magic wand in the morning that I just look FABULOUS at all time, things, and places! Ya' know? I'm sick of looking like dog breath but, can't find the time, energy, or reason to get up and spend the time to do it all when I'm just gonna' be home all day. It's tough to fit it all into one day. I need to rearrange, starting with getting up in the wee hours of the morning, before the kids wake, to get my exercise & scripture stuff in. Also, what has helped me in the past with dinner, is plan your dinners a week in advance. On Sunday or Monday night sit down and schedule out each dinner meal for that week. Then, buy those ingredients all at once. That way you have exactly what you need when you need it. And you don't find yourself staring in the fridge and/or cupboards, trying to decide what creation to make. It helps me out a lot!!! Good luck and let me know if you find your fair godmother, or if you see mine wandering around somewhere! Tell her she is fired, for me! :)
ReplyDeleteThose ladies get up at 4:30 or 5 am. That's how they do it. Now, for those of us more interested in getting a little more sleep... well, I don't know. Honestly, my hair is usually in a ponytail (especially now that Kim has moved!) and I only wear make up on date night (which is almost never).
ReplyDeleteAs for laundry, I have a laundry day and just get it all done in one day (or two or three). Plus, I make Tyrell put the clothes away since I washed and folded them.
Dinner is tricky, too. I always make a menu because if I don't, we'd eat McD's every night. There are lots of good recipes online and I know you have tons of cookbooks. The trick is to go through and pick out what you want to make ahead of time so you get everything at the grocery store.
Good luck, Alyson! I know you can do it! Just don't sweat little things like make-up and you MUST stop comparing yourself to those crazy ladies at the store and in your ward. For every one of them, there are 19 of us regular gals....
I could have written your posting. Are you sure that I'm not the guest poster? :^>
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say that I am one of those women who gets up at 4:30 and wow, do I feel better. I don't get up that early to put on my make-up or clean my house, though. I get up and work-out. Then I usually hang out until my kids get on the bus.
I always feel guilty because I think I should be cleaning or reading my scriptures or something. Instead I am catching up on blogs and family websites, and reading email. Although I do most often get a shower before they leave, which is a relief I'm sure to them, since I can get quite stinky after sweating so much at the gym.
I can relate to those feelings of guilt almost as if they were mine. Here's what I recommend. Do one thing for yourself a day. Make a list of 5 things that you need to do the next day, before you go to bed.
Oh, and here's another thing. It doesn't help to have your husband home 24/7 or at weird hours of the day. It's hard to figure out when to get your stuff done. For me, it was like I was frozen. I didn't know where to start, because in my mind he was supposed to be gone, but he's not. Now what do I do? I always felt like he was watching my every move, and would have an opinion on whatever I did, wrong or right. This was all just in my head, I'm sure.
So put a meal in the crockpot, that will help with dinner. Does your family like soup? If they do, that is an easy thing to throw in the crockpot. Taco soup, vegetable soup, chicken soup.
It's even quite simple to throw some chicken breasts in the crockpot. I know, I know, I know...you have to think ahead for that stuff. Well if you are doing the soup as long as you get it in by lunchtime, you will be okay. Then make up some cornbread or biscuits right before you eat.
Oh, one more thing. Do your work before you play. Then you won't feel so guilty while you are playing. I lied, here's another thing. Have a set schedule when you clean certain rooms. For example, on Mondays I (try) to do bathrooms. :^>
Okay, I hope you see these as helpful ideas and not "I know how to fix your problem because I am the perfect housewife", because we all know I'm not. I'm just tired of being the girl at Walmart with no make-up in scroungy clothes and kids looking like street urchins. So I'm trying to do better, one step at a time.
And isn't that all any of us can do?! Just take it one day at a time. :^>
I signed up at 24 hour fitness which has a day care for Daphne. So my schedule goes like this- wake up when John and Daphne wake up, make breakfast, get dressed for the gym, dress Daphne for the gym, come home 2 hours later (yes, that's 2 hours at the gym... it's fun!), put Daphne in the bath, shower while she's playing in the bath, put on cartoons while I do my hair and make up. SO- by now I'm worked out, showered, and done up all pretty and it's usually about noon or 1pm. Then I do anything else I need to do. So if I go run errands by this time, I look like a hot mama.
ReplyDeleteI usually do laundry every other day and just fit it in the cracks of everything else. John usually helps me put it away (or does it entirely by himself) because most of the laundry is his.
Hope this helps!
I definitely agree with the making the week's dinner menu at the beginning of the week, and then go grocery shopping to get all of your ingredients. When/If this happens, it helps us BOTH to know what is for dinner, so if Reed comes home first, he knows if he's hungry what's for dinner, and can start making it if he knows how. As for the rest, I am one of those women how pulls their hair back, has no kids to make look fabulous, and generally if I'm caring what the world thinks of how I'm looking, will get over that feeling pretty quick. :) I'm just happy to get up and off to work with my hair brushed, clean clothes on, breakfast in my belly and minty fresh breath.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. I just don't get how I am supposed to get everything done every day. I need to take a class on organization. Anyone know of one?
ReplyDeleteA) I haven't showered today, which in turn means that I didn't do my hair or make-up either.
ReplyDeleteB) My laundry hasn't been folded for a couple weeks.
C) Matt made his own dinner and I had reheated soup from last night.
D) I don't even care anymore! The only way to look like those women in the store is to not get ANYTHING else done that day and sit in your pj's all the next and make up for it.
I swear you don't need an organization class. There are all kinds of helpful tips on the internet from women who've been there and done that.
ReplyDeleteI believe that flylady.com is one of those such websites. She starts out with what you should do on day one and goes from there. She really helps you to feel like you are accomplishing things.
Lol...oh Alyson
ReplyDeleteSince I'm one of those super hot mamas you are talking about I'll say this - I usually shower at night and do my hair and makeup while Maya is eating breakfast and watching Barney, my workout was running around with Maya at the park today, my laundry is literally all over my house in piles to the point where I can't tell if it's clean or dirty anymore and we had Taco Bell for dinner :)
I think it's great you want to do some rearranging, we all should strive to be better. But don't think for one second people have it 100% together. No one does! You're fine...love ya!
I only wear makeup on sundays or when we actually go somewhere as a family...ie church..lol..I too have pondered the how question, but I have come to the conclusion that why is the better question. Its not that I hate doing make up and hair its just that i see no point. i don't really see anyone i know and i'm not really out to impress. so why? but I do believe in finding time to workout, which I will admit I havne't been so good at.
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