Not a lot of advice, but interested to hear what others say! DH and I both WOH (I work FT and very long hours) and my DH is also on odd shifts at times so I parent solo often. Quite honestly, some days I just want to make it through the day.
I have a few things that work for us:
1. I hired a cleaning lady - one less thing to stress about or to take away from the already limited time I have with the kids - worth every penny if you can swing it.
2. Meal planning - I have a two week rotation, buy lots of "heat and serve" or convenience type things, (like frozen corn, frozen meatballs, instant rice, precut fruit/veggie trays, etc.). Sometimes I wish I could make elaborate home cooked meals, but at this point, I'm in "survival mode" and I feel glad if I get some fruits and veggies in at each meal - however I do it!
3. Lay clothes out the day before, designate weekends for laundry, their laundry is all done together - we have a "lights" and "darks" for the kids, let the kids help.
4. When I get really busy at work, I have resorted to paper plates/cups/cutlery etc. I just don't have time for dishes right now.
5. Call in all the help I can get - occasionally I get my MIL to come (she's an hour away and doesn't drive) for a day on the weekend just to watch the kids so I can get caught up. She also cooks and helps with laundry.
So yeah, it's definitely busier and definitely disrupts your balance, but after a few weeks of thinking I'll never make it through, I have gotten into a new routine, found a new balance.
I actually find the drop off and pick up from daycare/school the hardest part of having two since mine go to different schools/daycare. Everything else is just "more of the same", (i.e. cook the same but more food, do laundry just more of it, get two kids dressed instead of one...).
Good luck mamma! It's all worth it in the end, and once they (one or both) start to get more independent, it gets easier every day.
