How do you get control of your life with an infant, a toddler, and two working parents?

I thought this would be a life secret, but whatisthesecrettolife. Com had nothing on how to raise two kids, work, stay in shape, eat healthy, and still have time to read a book or lounge once in awhile. What's the trick?

We are exhausted, our house is always a mess and there's never any time to plan or get organized. Help! Asked by seoexpert 53 months ago Similar questions: control life infant toddler working parents Family.

Similar questions: control life infant toddler working parents.

Date Nights! We had five kids under age seven, and almost no money! But we both worked hard and it eventually paid off - all the kids are college grads now Our secret weapon was Date Nights!

Every week, we began to feel like we would never make it to Friday! And so Thursday became our traditional Date Night. Much of the time it involved nothing more than the kids being put to bed early and the parents indulging in their favorite TV show and some popcorn.

Or maybe the kids got an early supper, and we ate our mac ’n cheese alone, by candlelight. Money was tight, but the ritual saw us through some bad times. Psychologically, I’m sure Date Nights saved our marriage!

Event though the "date" often didn’t amount to much, the planning and talking about it throughout the week gave us something to hold on to and anticipate. You may be surprised at the changes this brings into your life. Another good trick is being able to let things go.

When I needed to read in order to stay sane - but the house was a mess - reading won out every time! There's no use in having a showplace home where no one is happy. When I had my "me" time, the whole family was better URL1 matter how much time is dedicated to work and to the children, always make time for yourself and your marriage.

These form the bedrock upon which the rest will succeed. Good luck - Anne Sources: My life CuriosiTea's Recommendations The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays & Everydays Amazon List Price: $12.95 Used from: $5.69 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 5 reviews) The Mother's Almanac Amazon List Price: $19.95 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 26 reviews) Pair of Grande Baroque Silverplated Candlesticks by Wallace Silversmith in Presentation Box Annie's Homegrown White Cheddar Microwavable Mac & Cheese, 5-Count Boxes (Pack of 6) Amazon List Price: $28.38 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 10 reviews) Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Amazon List Price: $6.99 Used from: $1.10 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 134 reviews) .

Lower your expectations. I thought the myth of "having it all" had pretty much been debunked at least a decade ago. The kids are alive, the house is standing, and you have enough energy to type a question WITH details.

You're doing great! Misspinkpiggy's Recommendations Enough Is Enough: Exploding the Myth of Having It All Amazon List Price: $15.95 Used from: $0.01 Women Confidential: Midlife Women Explode the Myths of Having It All Amazon List Price: $15.95 Used from: $0.95 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Executive Women and the Myth of Having It All (HBR OnPoint Enhanced Edition) Amazon List Price: $6.00 Wonder Woman: The Myth of Having It All Amazon List Price: $20.95 Used from: $3.92 Oatmeal on My Blazer: Having It All and Other Myths Amazon List Price: $9.95 Used from: $1.36 I'm a lot less miserable than I was with an infant, if that helps any.

Welcome to the toddler club. You are not alone. It takes a lot of planning, or a sacrifice of sleep, to find time to do more than keep the roof on the house.

I have 2 toddlers also, and I call them “destructobots”. I think this is just a phase in a family’s life, but I do have some strategies that might help. I try to limit the mess by having “toy-free zones” and “food-free zones”.

Some times I feel like I am enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq. It helps limit where the messes are. It is not 100% effective, but both of my kids know food stays in the kitchen, where spills are easier to clean up, and toys stay upstairs, where I am not constantly tripping on them.

I walk the dog with my kids in and out of the stroller. That is my exercise. It is not my first choice.My treadmill and weights are gathering dust.

But we cover enough distance to get my heart rate up, they walk a while and then jump in the stroller, which is more work for me, but that is why I am out there. It motivates me to remind myself that I am multitasking by spending time with my family and exercising all at the same time. I listen to books on CD in the car on the way to and from work.

I rent them from SimplyAudiobooks. Com, because I don’t have time to read them at home as you mentioned. We have a couple of good baby sitters which the kids love, so we plan ahead and maximize our escape time.

That sounds terrible to anyone who doesn’t have kids, but I am not ashamed. Having family in town would help, but we are not that lucky. Soon, they will be old enough to fix their own breakfast, take their own baths, dress, clean up, eat without a mess, etc. We will regain some of our lives then.

Think of it this way. Right now you are worried about not having any time for yourself. Someday, you will have time to yourself, and you will be worried about who they are with and what they are doing.

My parents laugh at me when I tell them about revelations like this. I hope this helps. Manimal's Recommendations Positive Discipline for Preschoolers, Revised Second Edition: For Their Early Years - Raising Children Who Are Responsible, Respectful, and Resourceful Amazon List Price: $16.95 Used from: $6.23 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 18 reviews) Raising Preschoolers: Parenting for Today Amazon List Price: $12.95 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5 (based on 2 reviews) .

1 I'm watching this and keeping my fingers crossed for some great ideas.

I'm watching this and keeping my fingers crossed for some great ideas.

2 Take it one day at a time! I have 2 kids and I was in the same situation. It's hard the first year or so after your 2nd one is born.

Don't worry about the house, read a book after they've gone to bed. Just enjoy the babies while you can, and the exhaustion will end sooner than you think! .

Take it one day at a time! I have 2 kids and I was in the same situation. It's hard the first year or so after your 2nd one is born.

Don't worry about the house, read a book after they've gone to bed. Just enjoy the babies while you can, and the exhaustion will end sooner than you think!

" "I'm a boy, and I want to be a girl. I'm not sure what my parents and family might say about this. Any Help?

" "Is it possible that my birth control isn't working?" "Should I move in with my fiance and his parents if his family can't afford to have him move out? " "Why do parents think they know everything about you and your life? For some reason, my dad likes to tell me about myself.

I'm a boy, and I want to be a girl. I'm not sure what my parents and family might say about this. Any Help?

For some reason, my dad likes to tell me about myself.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.