SAHM- How do you do it?

[Former_Member]

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??

[Former_Member]

I do it, but I wouldn't say very successfully at the moment...at least when it comes to a clean house and good meals! I plan to hire a cleaning person in the near future.

I have a preschooler and 20-month-old twins. Most of my work happens during naptime and into the late hours after bedtime.

[Former_Member]

My boys are much older, or I would never get anything done. The hubby and kids have to pick up the slack, especially now that I can say "I'm working." My shop has become a nice second income for me. I work out of the home plus go to college part time, so it would be impossible if I were expected to do what I did before.

I hardly cook or clean anymore, I just don't have the time. I too would love to hire a housekeeper, but for now its up to the men in this house. GOD HELP US ALL!!! ;)

Tonya

[TheSalvagedEdge]

Tonya, Haha!

Mine just started school so I have had sooo much more time to get things done. When she was younger though, I worked nap times, nights, and weekends.

[GildedXRoseXStudio]

I'm a recently single SAHM, trying to juggle 4 part time jobs while staying at home...I feel like I'm going insane. Before we moved, I was doing all of my work at night when she was sleeping...but she's been sleeping in my bed since after the move. It's a miracle I got through this past XMas season!

It may seem physically impossible, but I think all in all we do it for our kids...so that we can give them the best life possible. Giving up and quitting is just not an option when it comes to my little monkey.

[PebbleCreekStudio]

We have three girls...the youngest is 10. So obviously, I have some time to myself during the day while they are at school. :)

During my busy months, my crockpot gets used. A lot. :-D

[Former_Member]

What is a SAHM?
I think I should know but I do not.

Cook Clean Huh LOL
I am so glad my boys are older some days are good some are not so good but You can only do what you can do and remember it does not have to be perfect just well rounded

[lippybrand]

Stay At Home Mom.
:)

I am, big time. I have 5 kids. Oldest is 7. Dont ask me how I do it, not sure. We need this income right now so that is what keeps me going. Cant wait untill we dont need it anymore and I can work at a slower pace. Or hire some help. :)

Gods blessed me with being able to make sales and I am going to continue until my husband finishes school. I have 2 in school and the then with 3 at home I sew during naptime and evenings. My house definetly suffers a little and husband has to help out. We eat quite bit of quick and easy meals.

[WithLoveFromLucille]

I'm a stay at home mom of a 20 month old...luckily my husband works 2nd shift, so I get to work during the morning through nap time. He leaves at 2 so the rest of my Etsy work doesn't get done until after 8pm aka bedtime.

It's a balancing act that's hard to figure out...and I know what you mean about people with 3, 4, 5 kids - I wonder how life and work gets done all the time!

[Former_Member]

I have a 3-year old, an 18-month old, and am 33 weeks pregnant with our 3rd boy. I'm making it work right now, but I'm nervous about how my work schedule is going to change once we add this third baby. One day at a time I suppose. :)

[WintergreenDesign]

I have 3 kids, the oldest is 13 and though I do have sometime during the day while they are at school I can't work on my shop or my product all of that time. I find myself doing most of it at n ight while they are all asleep and I think my body has adjusted to a 5-6 hours a night sleep schedule... it was sometimes less over the busy Christmas season. I would like to tell you all that it gets easier as the kids get old but honestly I don't think it does... with school stuff and sports and after school things its just busy. Keep a could calendar and a good task list and keep things in priority and things tend to work out well... don't bite off more than you can chew in order to keep your sanity : )

[Former_Member]

it seems to me it gets harder before it gets easier. Stick em on a boob and you can get a lot done on a computer. Once off boob your screwed until it get easier.....

My youngest is about to hit 3.. For the most part i do the Dangerous, flames and torching part of my job while he is napping. Everything else photos, listings advertising he is right here with me. And yes I am stopping to grab him a hot dog or juice every 2 seconds or so. IDK you just learn to roll with it.

Not sure I consider myself a SAHM though. I am fully employed... Just at home with kids.

[Former_Member]

OHHH and on the unclean house/pizza...........(I have a nine year old too)
biz goes up...the house has gone down, not sure when the last time i folded laundry was :/ and the vacuum needs to be used ......I do cook plenty though over xmas season a plenty of restaurants was hit up.

A clean home is a sign of a wasted life............Im happy........my hubby is happy......and the kids are happy. Screw the bloody dishes, got better things to worry about.

[TOMgirlApparel]

I have 2 kids, ages 1 and 3. My husband works long hours.

I wake up, make coffee/breakfast and answer convos/print out invoices for new orders while kids eat/watch cartoons. Then I print shipping labels for yesterdays orders and pack those up. Then we take our baths. Then off to drop of orders at post office and out to lunch/run errands. Home for nap/sewing time/answer more convos/emails. Then play time. Then cook dinner, hubby comes home. I get to sew for an hour while he plays with kids. Eat dinner/family time. Kids go to bed. More sewing/pack up orders. Go to sleep and start again! I am cleaning and playing with the kiddos throughout the whole time :)

[Former_Member]

First, I have to say how much I laugh at the term stay at home mom. It's supposedly what I am, but, dude, I am never home! I am always running someone somewhere, picking them up, or just running the day to day errands. I have 3 kids; twins who are 14 and the youngest is 11. I shoot for housework in the mornings, creative time in the afternoon, before school gets out. I am also a night owl, so sometimes, creativity waits until after 9. I think it's harder to concentrate on all of this when they are still little, and at home with you everyday. :)
Holly

[Former_Member]

My boys are 7 and 9, and I've got three shops. I just balance it all out. I work on what needs to be worked on when they're in school, and I do a bit more when they get home, but I try to be done by 5 pm so I can get dinner started and help with homework.

Do what you can, when you can, and if you need a break, take one! Etsy is great, but family is more important. You'll find your groove!

[Former_Member]

My kids are older(13 & 17) so I do have more hours duing the day to work on my shop but still have the same issues, cleaning, cooking, running errands, organizing 4 people's lives. It can be overwhelming at times but I ask fo help when I need it and have to get over the fact that even though DH & kids may not do it exactly like I would, ie: puting dishes away where they belong, wiping all surfaces in the bathroom not just the obvious ones, lol and sorting laundry, they are helping and leaving me to concentrate on my shop. Well mostly, I still get "Where does this go, I cant find my dress socks, the dog threw up................." Mom still needs to handle some things. :)

[Former_Member]

Breanna - you got it right, girlfriend!

:)

[DecorDesignsAndMore]

Women are very smart & excel in the process of getting things done!

Mike M.

[Former_Member]

I like Mike's answer. :-)

I work full time outside the house during the day, am basically a single mom in the evening with my kids while my husband works, and then run my Etsy shop after my kids are in bed at 9. Sleep is overrated anyway, right?

[Former_Member]

I have a 5 yr old, 3 yr old, and 19 month old twins! I get a sale every week or so and I think that's all I could handle right now! Everything gets done during nap time and after bed!

[ChantelandMe]

We homeschool. I have a 13 and 14 year old boys. Seems like the older they get the less we are at home. My house is a wreck. (We recently moved so add that chaos on top of the regular chaos.) My laundry is soooo behind. It will all be fine. It will all be caught up one day just in time to be behind the next day.

I try to cut fabrics for several items at a time instead of doing one.thing.at.a.time. This one method has probably saved my shop. I then sew as I get chances throughout the day. It is football season so I tend to have more time to sew while the games are on :-)

[KnightDesignCompany]

I have a four yr old, two yr old and a 7 month old... It's hard but I try to get everything done. I definitely can't wait for my oldest to start preschool so I can do more and add more to my shop. Right now I get more local orders than Etsy orders. But I try to wake up before the kids and get stuff done and I work during nap time and after everyone goes to bed. The hubby certainly helps when he gets home and watches the kids. I don't know what I would do if it weren't for the weekends though!

[Former_Member]

Mike M - you are now officially Etsy's most popular guy!

[Former_Member]

I appreciate being able to sell on Etsy, I figure that after I pay a babysitter and for work expenses and travel, I probably make as much or more selling online than if I would working a job and then I would miss seeing my son grow up.

My hat is off to all you Moms out there!