Hellobee Boards

I think we just got used to it? I wouldn't say it got easier, just that it seems less daunting because we figured out little ways to make things go smoother (i.e., prep the night before, run errands on my lunch break, etc). It's not necessarily less busy, but it is less chaotic.

I'm still not able to exercise as much as I'd like to or did before LO, but I've figured out where to fit in enough, and I finally decided to stop feeling bad about it!

We are also pretty protective of our downtime on the weekends. We try to do things that we want to do, not things that we feel we *should* do. There's just never enough time (or time at the right time, if that makes sense) for everything, though!

It was like this when LO was 4-6 months old. She was still pretty needy and everyone still wanted to visit often.

We cut down most visits to every other week. More than that was too much.

It also helped when LO was able to have a conistant bedtime. She is down at 8 and that time is ours. She also takes a nap from 5-6, so thats cooking and chore time.

Honestly, we aren't getting to church right now. LO naps from 11-1, and we go to the 11 service. I honestly refuse to get up and be out of the house for the 8am service and I can't take her to the nursery super cranky.

And we don't do playgroups unless they are social hour for mom and dad with our good friends. LO gets plenty of interaction at daycare. Family time is too valuable!

This has made it all managable, but it took awhile to find our balance as a family.

My only advice is to try as hard as you can to let go of the guilt surrounding plans with other people. Sometimes you just need some time to yourselves!
I am in a similar boat but I am hoping I can work on streamlining a few things to give myself more breathing room. Making meals in advance to freeze, getting an actual household chore schedule set up so I don't always feel behind on that stuff. I'm not sure when it will happen but I am hoping soon...

@highwire: To me, as a WOHM, my family time is more important then other mom time. So we have maybe lost touch with some friends.