Hi Kate,
Since I have had my kids I have not worked outside the home, but I do keep sort of a schedule for myself at home.
Now that my older 2 are in school till after lunch, I make sure that I take my little one out by 10:00 each day. This is a hold over from the days when it was just me and my first child, Matthew. I set a "rule" for myself that we would always be out by 10:00 doing an activity (park, playgroup, library, shopping) so he would not get fussy and bored at home, and I have always stuck with it. Before I leave the house at 10:00 I always have the kitchen cleaned up and the house pretty tidy--that way when we get home for lunch I have a clean kitchen to prepare food in and a pleasant home to walk into.
I really like to to have a clean, organized house. Not like a white glove--freaky mean mom house---but a sweet, homey, pleasant house that is nice and clean. Picture Miss Mousey's house---very comforting and inviting.
I would never leave all the housework till night or to a certain part of the day, because it would pile up and become overwhelming. So after every meal I clean the kitchen after we finish, and throughout the day I do laundry and make the beds, sweep the floor, whatever. The kids often will pitch in and help, but not always. My youngest loves to help. If they are doing a puzzle and want me to help I drop everything and join in, and then later go back to what I was doing. I will often rush about getting stuff done VERY quickly--like--"uh-oh, time to pick up the odler kids from school in 15 minutes--time to clean!" and then I will clean like crazy. You would be amazed how clean you can get things in 15 minutes if you work really fast. Then when the older kids come home I fix them a snack and let them rest for one hour, and then we do homework together at the dining table for a few hours. Then I prepare dinner at 5:00.
The big thing for me is I never let myself off the hook--even if I am sick. I still always keep cleaning up after every meal. My dinner dishes are ALWAYS done before 8:00--I can't even imagine not doing them. This sets me up for a relaxing evening and good morning the next morning.
That works for me--I think the trick is to find what works for you. Do it different ways for a while and see how you do with different styles. Watch what time you naturally do things, and set goals for yourself to get things done within those time frames.
Hugs,
Lisa
