I need *help* with time management

[mermaidmama]

I am so stressed. I would really appreciate advice or thoughts.

I am having trouble managing my time now that ds is 2. I want to spend more time with him and use that time better but, I feel lost. I don't know how some moms can do it all -cook, clean, do crafts, walk the dog, work out, shopping, homeschool, etc. I have one son, a older dog with health issues, a 6 month old puppy with neverending energy and reocurring bladder infections, and a middle aged cat. I am alone with them all from 7 am to 7 pm as my husband commutes. I dont have a car/drive and there is nowhere but the park within walking distance as I am on the outer edge of town. I dont have any friends. The only time I spend with my husband is on his 2 days off which, are spent running errands and going to appts. I try to spend time with son and the pets, try to cook good meals, try to clean the house everyday but, it is catching up with me. I find that I rely too much on tv now and son has started having tantrums if I wont let him watch. I try to find fun things to do with him but I have run out of ideas and he is not much into crafts. He will paint and color and do stickers for a little while but just a minute or two. I tried to show him how to glue things but, he kept trying to put the scraps and tissue paper in the recycle box. I feel like a failure. I am so overwhelmed.
Sorry for typos - I don't have the brain power or energy to edit this.

[MamaPhD]

Wow you've got a lot on your plate! I have one DD, no pets, and have a car but still struggle! DH plays with DD for about 30 min before work and comes home way past her bedtime, so it's just DD and I. What I found works for us is combining the time I spend with DD WITH chores, rather than trying to separate the two.

For example, DD plays in the kitchen while I'm doing the dishes and loading/unloading dish washer. She's only 22 mo but she helps a lot and feels very proud. She rushes off & brings an old sippy to be washed with a gigantic grin! She also unloads the silverware from dish washer. I have a dedicated cabinet for DD (=junk drawer) and she plays there while I cook. After I chop stuff, I will hold her up and she helps putting them in the pan, etc. We often play ipod in the kitchen with nursery rhymes, too. A lot of times DD plays by herself for a while, come and high-five me, then wonders off. THe only rule is she has to stay in the same floor as me (2 story house).

If DD is in a bad mood or sick or whatever and she doesn't want me to do the dishes, I actually stop doing it. I just quick rinse so it doesn't get too gross & leave it and do it the next day. No big deal.

I eat a lot of no-cook meals, especially for breakfast (yogurt, cereal, etc.). Lunch, usually very simple, sandwich and fruit type meals. I cook when DD naps (usu. 2-4pm) for dinner enough for 2 days. Take outs and deliveries are awesome! I definitely do NOT clean the house daily. We have a housekeeper who comes once a month who does top-to-bottom cleaning. Then I just pick up stuff in whatever room DD and I are in as we go. Also make a game out of cleaning up! To me, it's more important for me to hang out with DD than to vacuum even if it's getting a little dusty! Thankfully we have a lot of wood/tile floors so I can swiffer (so much easier!).

I bring DD with me to all my appts/shopping, etc. Instead of rushing through grocery shopping, I try to make it fun and quality time for both of us. I'd rather spend extra 20 min at target to browse through books/toys we are not buying with DD, than to shop alone. We bring a sandwich and eat & browse sitting in the aisle sometimes! Also because I do most of errands and shopping wth DD, weekends are spent resting & doing fun things as a family.

I think it's important to have priority and go down your list. Obviously MANY things are top priority in our lives! But really do your #1 before getting to #2 and don't worry about #2 until you are done with #1, yk? My absolute top priority is DD. Maybe because I used to work full time then decided to SAH but really in my book, everything else can wait.

As far as toddler activities, DD is not into craft either. She is a nature girl and love looking/touching/smelling flowers and rocks, etc. We spend a lot of time in the backyard collecting pine cones and leaves. Or draw on the ground with sticks. We live close to an airport and sometimes we sit on the deck, goofing around and spot airplanes! Stroller ride around neighborhood and name what color everyone's mailbox is. We have magnetic darts DD brings around the house to see where they stick. Just small stuff.