I'm starting my first job in 5 years. Been a stay-at home mom until I got fired from that job. I'm trying to figure out who I juggle everything.

Dinner? Lunch? I'm on a shoe string budget, so I've got to figure out how to do this. I'm going thru the cook books trying to see if I can put together a menu plan for next week. So far it's not good. Add to that, I'm vegetarian, and the kids are not. (There are health reasons going on here, I really shouldn't eat meat.) I normally start cooking early in the afternoon, two different dinners. That's just not going to float the boat.

And when in the world am I supposed to do laundry? Now I start laundry in the morning when I get up. Take my son to school. Sometime mid-morning it comes out of the dryer and I fold it, put it away.

So I have what, 2-3 hours per evening with the kids? WHAT? My kids are going to flip out on me.

Charity

First take a deep breath. Relax, you can do this! The first couple of weeks may be a little rough. After that you will develope some organization. You will discover meals that are quick, cheap, and easy to prepare. A crock pot can be your best friend for meal preps (you might want 2). There are many web sites devoted to crock pot cooking.

You will never again catch up on laundry. What works for me is to put a load of laundry to wash in the morning. Transfer that load to dry while making dinner. The kids are responsible for putting away their own laundry and making sure that their dirty laundry is placed in the laundry room.

Accept the fact that you can't do it all. It is ok to expect your children to do chores that help out around the house. Even the youngest child can do simple chores. A chore chart can be a big help.

Getting everyone ready and out the door in the morning can be a challenge. Do as much as possible the night before. All coats, backpacks, shoes, etc should be near the door. Ready for the morning rush. Make lunches and lay out clothes.

I actually survived my first day in fine form. Got to work on time. Got the kids to work and baby sitter on time. Had good amount of time in the evening for dinner prep, laundry and individual time with kids.

I already made my lunch for tomorrow. Yeah, I'm doing the plan ahead thing real well right now. We'll see in a few weeks if I'm still doing okay.

Crock pot, eh? Hmmm . . . might need to consider that. I will take it under advisement.

Charity

I will be going back to work after the new year. I am totally dreading it. I have a 4yo & a 6yo. I have enjoyed working in the classroom, being able to pick up kids up from school & preschool & having mommy & me time. I am slowly getting depressed thinking about going back to work.
Does anyone know of any jobs to do out of the house? I won't do child care, don't have the patience but would like to do something on the computer. It stinks knowing I won't have that time with my kids. We all cherish it.
My 6 yo is in a school that she can't stand & if I would've known before I put her in the school I would've done things differently. She came from a top ranked school for kindergarten & the beginning of 1st grade to a low ranked school. So this bothers me that she won't have me there to help out anymore.
Charity, I hope things are going well for you & if you have adjusted please give me some tips.
Thank for listening & thanks for the advice.

I am new to the site and saw your post. By now you have been on the job for about (almost) three weeks. how's it going? The toughest thing about being a single parent is the life you have outside the home.

I have been a single parent for four years. My children are 5 and just turned 4! I have held down a part time job and attended school full time for the past three years. (Making the Dean's list every semester.) It is never easy-but who said that it would be?

In the middle of all of this my ex joined the army and is now serving in Iraq. My children are the ones that suffer...but with a whole lot of faith we carry on. Every day is a new beginning and a cherished moment in time.

This is definitely not the life I planned but it is the life God gave me for whatever reason. Most days I must pick myself up and begin again.

Life is a journey, the toughest part is taking the road less traveled and living it to the fullest. Asking why me doesn't accomplish anything. Asking why not me usually gets the job done. That's how I get on every day-why not me? For who better to accomplish the things I need to accomplish.

Only 2-3 hours with the kids? Make them count. Let them know that they are why you do everything you do...Spend those hours reading stories, taking walks, riding bikes, playing games. The laundry can wait-run a load in the morning complete it while you do dinner.

It will be okay. It's only life and life is really short.