SAHM- How do you do it?

[#1]

We're finally getting into a routine in our household after recently adding a second child to the mix, but I couldn't image keeping up with my 5 month old, our preschooler's schedule, and our growing gift subscription company with more children!

I see lots of SAHM's on Etsy with very successful shops who have 3, 4, sometimes 5+ children.

I'm in awe. My house would be horribly unclean constantly and we'd have pizza every night, lol. How do you do it with more than 2 children??

[ShopGreyweather]

I am a SAHM with a 16 month old and I can't comprehend how people with more than one child do it. My husband works from home (with the occasional business trip thrown in) and I dont know how I would manage without him. Even still, our house is a catastrophe of clutter and toys and dust. Mostly, I just do the best I can and deal with guilt the rest of the time.

[Former_Member]

For me, it was varying degrees of "making it work." When my boys were babies (9 months apart, first was adopted) I did nothing but plan Etsy in my head (mostly just daydreaming about my product and learning how to make it).

Then the boys were in beginning stages of toddlerhood and I got a few items listed here and there.

Now they both (3 yrs and 4 yrs old) go to preschool a few hours a week so I get waaaay more done now. Plus, they sleep all night now so it doesn't kill me to wake at 4am a couple days a week to get orders done.

Good luck to all of us Moms who work our butts off!!!!!!!!!!

[Former_Member]

"One day at a time" and "one thing at a time" are the best quotes in this thread. I couldn't agree more. xoxo Moms!

[Former_Member]

Mike M. from WOWTreasury says
Women are very smart & excel in the process of getting things done!

Mike M.

-----------------

Will you marry me?

Kidding, lol! My husband is pretty awesome 90% of the time, but he is a pessimist and will compliment how much I did get done followed immediately by "Ugh, there is so much laundry to do!" LOL Most of the time I just tune him out. I don't even think he knows what he's doing sometimes.

[Former_Member]

I have 3yr old and am 33 weeks . I too often wonder how I will be able juggle two and my Shop .

I do make it goal and priority to spend the first few hrs of each morning , teaching , and playing with my son !! Days off and Early bedtime always help too! :)

[JeannieGrayKnits]

Lowered standards around the house, multiple crock pots, a bread machine, a large freezer & Warren Zevon's I'll Sleep When I'm Dead playing constantly in the background. It also helps if your art is portable & can be done in the car or on the playground.

[NevermoreGifts]

I have a five year old, 2 year old twins and a husband who looks like he's coming out of remission 2.5 years after a bone marrow transplant and all I can say is you just make it work. People can choose to do as much as they want. I might not get to scrub my bathroom from top to bottom every day but I make sure my house is always clean even if I'm doing it in the middle of the night.

This is a piece of cake right now. 3 years ago I was working on my Ph.D. seven days a week, caring for my daughter, teaching 30 hours a week, and taking my husband to chemo 6 days a week. It always drove me crazy when people would say "How do you do it?". All I can say is you figure out how to do what you need to.

[Former_Member]

I currently work on nights my husband is at school. I do the day work (post office, stores, etc) while the youngest 2 are at home during the day and the oldest is at school. I currently have 3 and just found out were expecting #4, so things will have to change. Life has to slow down while I'm pregnant, because its always high risk...so we will see.

It's hard, but you make time. If its a hobby its okay if it slides, but if its an actual needed income, then you make do and do it. For us its a needed income, so I have to shape up and make do.
As someone already said, one day at a time.

[SelkiePubZines]

I went to my first craft show when I was 8 months pregnant with my second child and had a 17-month-old, and things took off from there. At first, my mom watched my oldest one day a week while I took care of the baby and sewed. I also got up at 4 when my husband did to sew before they got up. Now she is 2 and he is 3.5 and it is so much easier--they play together in the kitchen, and I can see them from my sewing machine in the bedroom. I have to go in every few minutes to stop her from sitting on her or postpone batting practice with the broom, but all in all, I can at least get something done. But the house IS a wreck, and supper has suffered. At the same time, I'm gradually figuring the balance out better and better. Hopefully some day, I will figure out how to make everything run perfectly smoothly...I wish...