tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post7127396563431536513..comments2024-03-28T22:48:30.666-07:00Comments on Home Living: A Situation Common to AllLydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-11258630202810102812008-10-05T23:51:00.000-07:002008-10-05T23:51:00.000-07:00Thank you, Thank you!!! I am not the original pos...Thank you, Thank you!!! I am not the original poster but I could have asked her question almost verbatim. <BR/><BR/>The advice here has really opened my eyes to resources available but more importantly to the fact that I am not alone. I was literally close to a nervous breakdown, my house is in shambles, my family's diet is horrible, our finances are in disarray. I know I need to turn to God Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-50431634931227957722008-10-05T13:49:00.000-07:002008-10-05T13:49:00.000-07:00Just about anything written by Emilie Barnes will ...Just about anything written by Emilie Barnes will help get you on the right track. I have picked up several copies of her books at thrift shops and am offering some in my monthly book give away at www.ehomebody.com/blog. <BR/><BR/>Marcia WilwerdingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-57104226984444967702008-10-04T19:34:00.000-07:002008-10-04T19:34:00.000-07:00As others have said if you have meals planned and ...As others have said if you have meals planned and started early in the day, laundry done and the kitchen straightened it goes a very long way to keeping things running smoothly. I keep a list of possible dinner and other meals of things I have around the house at the time. Not a strict Mon, Tues etc menue. Some of the meals are very quick and easy and some take more time even if that time is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-24441466935480711762008-10-04T03:36:00.000-07:002008-10-04T03:36:00.000-07:00This is just a quick suggestion, because I'm in a ...This is just a quick suggestion, because I'm in a rush I haven't read any comments so sorry if I double up on suggestions already made.<BR/><BR/>I am naturally disorganised and untidy, my husband and children are too so our home can get untidy very quickly and sometimes it's so overwhelming I just don't know where to start. I'm also a perfectionist (paradoxically) so I get distracted trying to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-16358028731992115122008-10-03T20:13:00.000-07:002008-10-03T20:13:00.000-07:00I read your post this morning, Mrs. Sherman, &...I read your post this morning, Mrs. Sherman, & now have time to comment. Your questioner asks for help in a very important area....the most important, really, as it affects virtually everything else in the family's life. You have received so many good ideas here for Robin; I hope she's able to glean much from others' experience. My own suggestions may contain some repetition, asAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-59167897113472465982008-10-03T18:26:00.000-07:002008-10-03T18:26:00.000-07:00Wow, great, great advice!! I think that we could ...Wow, great, great advice!! I think that we could all greatly benefit from those pointers. I sure hope this lady is helped to feel a little less overwhelmed.<BR/><BR/>I agree with everything that was said. I would also add that, when it comes to the piles of paperwork - been there, done that! What helped me was to set a timer, when I had a few extra minutes between things, for say 15 minutes.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495298953834229360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-45665932580316247962008-10-03T16:07:00.000-07:002008-10-03T16:07:00.000-07:00Lots of great advice for keeping caught up. Here a...Lots of great advice for keeping caught up. Here are a few that have helped me:<BR/>1. Flylady is a good site to learn how to set up a housework routine. Modify her system to fit your needs.(I personally do not receive the e-mails)<BR/>2. Declutter. Ruthlessly. Nothing wastes more time and energy than maintaining things you don't use or need. Doing this helped me the most. Clutter's Last Stand byAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-52728112072577861332008-10-03T15:33:00.000-07:002008-10-03T15:33:00.000-07:00Robin,Maybe you can get friends to come over and h...Robin,<BR/><BR/>Maybe you can get friends to come over and help you get caught up in a hurry. That way, you will not have to put the children in the care of someone else for a long period of time.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-9735423562379946032008-10-03T15:18:00.000-07:002008-10-03T15:18:00.000-07:00Thank you all so much, and especially, thank you, ...Thank you all so much, and especially, thank you, Lady Lydia, for posting this and giving such great advice. I don't know if I can get a couple of days free from children, but I'm going to try to see if a neighbor can watch them for a few hours next week. My parents are coming to visit in a couple of weeks, and I just can't get any traction! <BR/><BR/>I really appreciate those who posted that Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-1311056932430874592008-10-03T11:51:00.000-07:002008-10-03T11:51:00.000-07:00Something that Flylady helped me understand was th...Something that Flylady helped me understand was the word "born organized". Which I am not. Growing up in an organized home with organized, structured parents, I left home not even realizing that I didn't know how to pull it off for myself! It took me years to figure out the answer to "Why was I so good at work and I can't seem to get it together at home?" FINALLY, after learning much about Marlainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11755027641533973497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-55389708546966200862008-10-03T09:59:00.000-07:002008-10-03T09:59:00.000-07:00I have not read all the other comments, so forgive...I have not read all the other comments, so forgive me if this is redundant. <BR/><BR/>First and foremost, you need a plan. Jumping in willy nilly is not going to help much, if at all. So this is what I would do:<BR/><BR/>Get the book "Clutter's Last Stand." You can buy it on Amazon, or your library might have it also. (I think it's a good one to always have on hand, personally.) I can not tell *~Tamara~*https://www.blogger.com/profile/06459404172856021413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-5880481887527517472008-10-03T09:29:00.000-07:002008-10-03T09:29:00.000-07:00I have finally come home (I am 45) and still tend ...I have finally come home (I am 45) and still tend to think "I'll go back to work if things get tough" but I know deep down that things would be even tougher - yes we'd have my money coming in but it would be spent on convenience meals, work clothes etc. I would be tired, the house a mess etc.<BR/><BR/>I would suggest a two day blitz if you can get hubby to have your children perhaps at a Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832021443447502646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-31134182568833417332008-10-03T02:26:00.000-07:002008-10-03T02:26:00.000-07:00Oh, wow! Mrs. Sherman, I'm delighted. Clicking on ...Oh, wow! Mrs. Sherman, I'm delighted. Clicking on the photos to view the large size... Awesome. <BR/><BR/>Thanks! :)ladyakofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05533148435539169395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-61837565570111173622008-10-02T14:49:00.000-07:002008-10-02T14:49:00.000-07:00Lydia, do you have any advice for wives whose husb...Lydia, do you have any advice for wives whose husbands travel a lot for business? I am struggling with this right now as my husband's travel has increased over the past six months. I have two small children as well. Perhaps you have already written a piece on this topic?<BR/><BR/>~ AnnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-2867309770132853542008-10-02T12:43:00.000-07:002008-10-02T12:43:00.000-07:00Lady Akofa,I posted more pictures of the light on ...Lady Akofa,<BR/><BR/>I posted more pictures of the light on the water of the lake, at my new blog www.homesteadrevisited.blogspot.com in your honor. I remembered your comment about the effect of the sun on the water, the day I posted it from Alaska.Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-90622605023852741122008-10-02T12:40:00.000-07:002008-10-02T12:40:00.000-07:00Dear Anonymous and anyone else who feels their chi...Dear Anonymous and anyone else who feels their children are not really helping but making things more chaotic and noisy: Please go to my parenting blog at www.guardthehome.blogspot.com I try to keep articles fresh with current problems people are having, and basically my theme never changes: God put you in charge. Your kids need for you to act like a parent. Don't listen to psychology and don't Lydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530969871397361970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-41063688932561966492008-10-02T12:11:00.000-07:002008-10-02T12:11:00.000-07:00Dear Lady Lydia, Right now I am dealing with dif...Dear Lady Lydia,<BR/> Right now I am dealing with difficult teens, three of them, and an older young adult child.<BR/> The older likes to chime into the instruction I am giving to the younger ones, which made things worse today.<BR/> I ran into my bedroom to calm down and think. Really, today, I feel overwhelmed. I know somethings that I have made mistakes in allowing the younger ones a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-51040231519350463922008-10-02T11:39:00.000-07:002008-10-02T11:39:00.000-07:00SO many great suggestions here, the only one I wou...SO many great suggestions here, the only one I would add is, if you are able, to cook ahead for the week. I actually don't have children yet, so this is probably easier for me to do, but I like to take one day of the week, usually on the weekend, and make a meal plan for the week, shop, and then do meal preparation for the whole week. Make a meal I can divide in two and freeze one half for the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-71905081206360426042008-10-02T11:13:00.000-07:002008-10-02T11:13:00.000-07:00Getting dressed, with shoes, IS a huge deal. My mo...Getting dressed, with shoes, IS a huge deal.<BR/> <BR/>My mom always maintained that wearing shoes inside made the floors dirty faster, which is probably true, but if wearing shoes gives you the moral fortitude to vacuum and mop once a week, it's a net benefit. LOL. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, Flylady's website saved my sanity (and probably my marriage!!!) sometime after the birth of my second baby, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-35559887167762375282008-10-02T10:53:00.000-07:002008-10-02T10:53:00.000-07:00Hi Mrs. Sherman,I was looking forward to your resp...Hi Mrs. Sherman,<BR/>I was looking forward to your response... And clearly I wasn't disappointed by your EXCELLENT response. :)<BR/><BR/>I agree... dressing up even when you're staying at home gives you the needed boost to start your day. <BR/><BR/>And Robin, build up the routine suggested by our lovely homemakers step by step, little by little. <BR/><BR/>In my prayers. :)ladyakofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05533148435539169395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-91161630211405269082008-10-02T10:07:00.000-07:002008-10-02T10:07:00.000-07:00Dear Lady Lydia, I just came back to comment, and ...Dear Lady Lydia, I just came back to comment, and I must say I'm inspired by this post. I believe it's important to make time each day to do something you love around the home - for example, decorating, baking something delicious-smelling, crafts, etc. It gives you something to look forward to and keeps you motivated!Mrs. Anna Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15377583333000789903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-86735380092226378392008-10-02T10:03:00.000-07:002008-10-02T10:03:00.000-07:00Hi, I would like to give some of my thoughts in ho...Hi, I would like to give some of my thoughts in hopes to encourage this lady..<BR/><BR/>I thought Lady Lydias reply was excellent advice. I especially love the advice about getting dressed up first thing in the morning because it makes you feel like your ready to "work". That is excellent advice and so true!<BR/><BR/>I also agree with those who said to have the children help with cleaning. <BR/><candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15788894816760003783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-33947862609327766642008-10-02T08:17:00.000-07:002008-10-02T08:17:00.000-07:00I think organization and scheduling is essential t...I think organization and scheduling is essential to keeping your home in order, especially if you work outside the home as well. I, myself, am in the situation where I cannot stay home full time (per husband's request). I find that meal planning and scheduled days/times for cleaning help so very much. My house isn't perfect and I don't have it together all of the time but by the grace of God, I Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418674671905567054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-50743124294110873942008-10-02T07:26:00.000-07:002008-10-02T07:26:00.000-07:00Oh this sweet woman! Blessings to you and yours. ...Oh this sweet woman! Blessings to you and yours. I am a stay at home mom with six children that I homeschool. Things get crazy because my husband is a pastor to a mission area in our local community. The house gets crazy and messy sometimes. My children have routines and what I call "care" rooms. I assign a "care room" to each child to care for during the week. They take 5 to 15 minutes toHeritage of Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14200858560256071285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186456.post-44779357645390949692008-10-02T06:14:00.000-07:002008-10-02T06:14:00.000-07:00I also didn't learn how to be a good housekeeper o...I also didn't learn how to be a good housekeeper or be frugal until after I had two little ones. But, I did get things in order and have kept them that way for years. You will have to settle it in your mind that this is a job and that you have to work hard at it. Once you get things running smoothly, the work won't be as hard, especially after you've gotten your children used helping.<BR/><BR/>Anneathearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01188325756630224625noreply@blogger.com