Life is so busy with work, children, a husband and extra activities. Housework can easily be pushed to the back burner, at least around my house. It is just so hard finding that perfect balance, allowing enough time for everything (if that's even humanly possible).

Keeping a neat and tidy home is such a challenge for me. I love the house to be picked up and clean, but I am not a neat freak and cleaning isn't my favorite pastime. We live in such a small house and with two kids, two dogs, and all the normal family activity, it just always seems to be a mess. I am constantly trying out new tactics, schedules and routines to try and find the perfect fit for our family, so that our home can be lived in, but also picked up and clean.

One of the best things I have done on my quest to be an amazing homemaker is creating a cleaning schedule. I can't claim this idea as my own, it was my best friend who did it and then told me about it. She created a daily cleaning schedule. Each day before going to bed she would have a task. For example: Monday: clean bathroom; Tuesday: mop floor; Wednesday: vacuum; Thursday: dust; Friday: tidy/straighten; Saturday: clean floors; Sunday: laundry & tidy/clean anything that needs it.

Using this type of schedule ensures that you are gradually staying on top of everything and the housework doesn't get out of control. I have loved using this and it really has helped me each day take a little bit of time to keep the house in order.

After I saw how well this cleaning schedule helped me keep up with things, I also made a dinner schedule. I planned out four different dinners to make during the week. We usually eat out a time or two and we love leftovers, so this was enough for my family. Rotating the same four meals each week has allowed me to simplify grocery shopping and I just know what I will be making. After a few weeks of making the same meals I will add in a few new ones, to keep things from getting boring. This works so well for us and I find that we eat healthier and better when I follow my meal schedule.

Also, I love to let the kids help me and they enjoy it just as much. If Hollis sees me sweeping or vacuuming he wants to help and Ava loves cleaning the table/windows/surfaces with a wet sponge. I have a special little hand held sweeper and dustpan for Hollis and I’m always ready for the kids to lend a hand and help out. I feel like they are learning so much about taking care of a home and their things when the help clean.

I am constantly working on finding a good balance and keeping up with housework. Knowing I am keeping things together allows me to be able to sit down at the end of the day and relax. So much nicer than sitting down, looking around and seeing all that needs to be done. As overwhelming as all the housework can seem, I have found that if I tackle it little-by-little it doesn't seem as bad.

By Guest Blogger Amanda from Real Moms Real Views

With children comes a lot of responsibility. Being single and having unlimited freedom is a thing of the past. No more all-night parties and last-minute trips out of town. Welcome to motherhood! Doing things for “you” will become few and far between. From changing diapers and hourly feedings, to play time and reading books, you will find that your baby will consume your whole life.

Amongst all those chores and necessities, how do you create time for yourself within all the chaos of raising kids?

• Ask for help: Family and friends are sure to want to hold your little baby, or take your little one to the park. During that time, take an hour or so and pamper yourself. Head to your favorite store and shop for yourself or even take a nap.
• Sleep when the baby sleeps: I used to think that when the baby slept, I had time to finally get things that I needed done. Wrong! I would always work away while the baby slept, and when the baby woke up I was exhausted. I finally gave into the notion that sleeping when they baby sleeps was actually a brilliant idea. I would find more energy to tackle the day when I got those extra minutes of shut eye.
• Enlist daddy with feedings: Dad loves to help and what better way than to ask him to feed the baby. If you are nursing, use a breast pump and save an extra bottle or two in the freezer. Then when you need some extra time to yourself, dad can take care of a feeding or two.

No matter what you do, make sure you take some time for yourself. Schedule one day for yourself every month. Get a pedicure or a manicure. How about an hour massage? Whatever you do, enjoy it! You deserve a much needed break and it will make you a better mommy.

By guest blogger Hollie from Real Moms Real Views

I remember before having children how crazy my friends would get when their baby rolled over or ate cereal for the first time. I remember thinking just that; they were nuts. I mean it is all a part of growing up, right?! Well now I have my own two children and have gone crazy, I guess. I mean, my children are going to have such high self-esteem because of how crazy we get over the smallest things. After Ava rolled over for the first time, I clapped and cheered for her like a total idiot, and then I called everyone we knew and told them how amazing she was. I would have shouted it from the rooftop if I could have gotten on the roof. I was just overjoyed for her and so amazed at how she was growing and learning new things so quickly! It seemed like we were celebrating at least one or two milestones a week for a while. Babies turn into toddlers so fast. That first year seems to fly by and is full of growth and learning. It is so amazing to witness. From rolling over, to crawling, to taking those first steps and saying those precious first words, there are so many milestones to celebrate and so many different ways to celebrate. Honestly, our celebrations usually consist of a lot of clapping, cheering, hugging and high fives, but every once in a while we might throw in a special treat or outing. Here are just a few fun ideas for celebrating your baby’s milestones, to go along with all cheering and celebration.

• Rolling Over: When your baby starts rolling over go on a picnic. We live in the south, so most times of year we are able to picnic. Lay out a blanket, sit in the sun and enjoy watching your little one practice his or her new skill, while you spend some family time together.
• Half Birthdays: For a half birthday (yes, in our family this is a milestone every year) make cookies, chocolate chip ;)
• Walking: When your little one starts walking (sniff and cheer) head out to the park. Let your baby walk to their hearts content and enjoy every second of it.
• Potty Training: This is when Ava developed her love for all things M&M. Yes, we rewarded her for going potty on the big girl potty with M&M’s. We also had a big “pee-pee party” when she first started using the potty. Every time she would go we would celebrate with party hats, horns, balloons and even a potty song. It was fun for a day and she loved it.
• Any Milestone: Most milestones would be perfect with a sweet cupcake or ice cream outing. Head to your local bakery and get a sweet treat to share with your little one.Spending the night with Grama is a great milestone treat too. Ava loves her Grama so much. It is the perfect celebration for her to go spend time over at her Grama’s house, or even spend the night.

The most important thing to remember about your babies milestones is to take time to celebrate them. Bask in the moment. They really do grow up too fast. Cherish every single milestone and know that every little one develops at their own pace and develops in their own time.

By guest blogger from Real Moms Real Views

Playing kick-the-ball outside with my children I find myself wondering how I got so lucky. They are hilarious, stubborn, and everything wonderful. I get so caught up in them – thinking about how Hollis needs a haircut and how Ava’s socks don’t match because that’s the way she likes them (such a silly girl)! I am thankful for this afternoon out in the sun and the laughter ringing through the air. I hear a car door shut and the kids running toward the gate shouting happily, “daddy, daddy!” Kisses and hugs, and tiny hands pull daddy to the backyard, wanting him to join in with us. We all kick the pink ball and chase each other for a while. I find myself looking at him, also wondering how I got so lucky. I think about how we started as two, and then three, and finally four.

How we started…
So much has changed. We used to talk on the phone for hours each night, telling each other our childhood stories, and other nonsense. We enjoyed haunted houses, staying up way too late and long lazy weekends out at the lake, laying in the sun and cruising in the boat. Now we revolve our world around two little beings that always seem to need so much from us. We give and give, work, hug and hold, cook, clean, and play. By the end of the day, we are both exhausted and zoning out on the TV, or internet surfing for some down time. I remember where we started – as two. This relationship, the original two, also needs nurturing and upkeep. We need special time, laughter and romance, as two.

It can be tricky as parents to navigate how to keep your relationship strong, healthy and, well, hot…even when you have spit up on your clothes! When you are raising children and one, or both of you, is working, special time with each other can occasionally be pushed to the back burner. So many other things seem more pressing and important, but in reality this relationship needs to continue to stay strong and happy for all the other relationships to remain that way.

We are very lucky. We have close family in our area who loves to watch our children. My mother-in-law watches them every other Monday for a few hours, which allows us time together. My mom also loves watching the kids. She can’t go a day without stopping by the house and visiting them. She misses them too much. Even with all this family and scheduled “child-free” hours, we still need to prioritize our time together. Those Mondays when the kids are away, I can easily get sucked into housework or errands. Bo, my husband, can spend hours out in the garage working on whatever project he has. Instead of using this time for each other, we get busy, and before we know it, the kids are back and we are in high gear with them. Recently, I have made it a priority to take this time and make sure we use every moment possible to work on our relationship. Some nights after we get the kids to bed I make us a separate dinner that we eat together -usually around 8 p.m. - and we can talk and have time alone with just each other (no interruptions). We can use this time to reconnect.

Many families do not have relatives nearby to help out with their children. In this case, I think it is great to have friendships in which you can swap a Friday night each month and take turns watching each other’s children.

I feel strongly that any time can be used to help keep your relationship strong. This time doesn’t have to be going out on an elaborate, romantic date. After the kids go to bed, spend some time talking with the TV off. Get up a little earlier to eat breakfast together before the kids wake up and the busy day begins. Go for walks in the evening together, while the kids are enjoying the ride in the stroller you can have some time to talk or even just hold hands. Even a simple phone call during the day, to let your spouse know you are thinking about them or miss them can work. Think about the opportunities you have with your spouse and make sure you are using each one as an opportunity to connect and reinforce how much you love each other.

By guest blogger from Real Mom Real Views

I remember it like it was yesterday. Feeling like I was going to pass out as I was teaching a class full of five year olds. Wondering what in the world was going on with me and why I was feeling so “out of it”. Then finally putting two and two together, waiting five minutes to look at the stick, seeing the plus sign, CELEBRATION (and a little bit of fear along with it.) The next nine months were like a tornado full of doctors appointments, baby clothes, shopping, decorating and redecorating and baby showers. All the preparation, making sure we had EVERYTHING we would need the day we brought home our sweet baby, wrapped in a pink blanket. I was so ready for this new chapter of our lives, and just knew exactly how it was going to be!

Oh, how quickly I discovered that the picture in my head and everything I had thought it would be like to be a mommy and weave this little baby into our lives wasn’t wrong, but definitely was harder than I had anticipated. If there was any way I could somehow transport back to my pre-mama self and whisper a few things in her ear, I would definitely have some major insights!
 
whisper: "That wee little baby we are bringing home doesn't need all the "stuff" we collected for her over the 9 months we waited so impatiently for her arrival."

As soon as I found out we were expecting I started researching baby gear and furniture, everything had to be brand new and top of the line. My girl had to have the best of the best and she needed it all. I was so blessed with amazing baby showers and my newborn daughter had more newborn size dresses than Cinderella's closet (post glass slipper). Guess how many she wore. One. I just knew she would be wearing her special dresses every day. I was so wrong. Much to my mother's disappointment we were onesies and swaddle blankets all the way. She grew so quickly and before I knew it she was in 3 month clothes and most of those beautiful dresses ended up being donated or passed on to friends. Initially, newborns don't need very much, they want to be kept safe, full, warm, dry, and given lots of love. So much of the rest is just noise.

whisper: "You will never stop worrying."

I am by nature a worry wart; I worry about worrying. It's that bad. Throughout my pregnancy I worried about anything and everything. All I could think about was getting to that due date and holding my daughter in my arms, I thought that would be the big finish line. Then she would be here and everything would be perfect. Little did I know, that first night as my daughter dreamed sweetly on my chest, all I could do was worry about her. Worry about everything from is she getting enough to eat, my fear of SIDS, even worrying about when she goes to school and what if she is picked on, or what if she dates a boy that doesn't treat her the way she should be treated...the list just goes on and on. To this day I can not go to sleep without checking on both of my children (several times), squinting my eyes in the dark looking for that chest rising and falling. Worry, worry, worry...it will never go away.

whisper: “Time will slip away too quickly…enjoy every moment. Breathe them in because they are always changing and in the blink of an eye, off to preschool they go.”

I wish I could go back and freeze so many moments in time, especially those newborn moments. That stage is so unbelievably sweet and slips away all too quickly. Nights when I sat in the dark of the living room nursing my baby every two to three hours, in a sleepy haze. So many moments gone too quickly and not fully appreciated. Parenthood can be exhausting, but really, you will never get these moments back. Enjoy them. Love them. Remember them. Treasure them.

whisper: “Your child is their own person. As much as you want to make them what you want them to be, it is not going to happen.”

I have really had to come to this realization recently with my daughter, Ava. She is almost four and is just her own girl living in her own world. I have all these dreams and wishes for her, visions in my mind of things I hope she loves and accomplishes. Many of them things I loved and accomplished or wish I had accomplished. I find myself wishing her to be like me, and she is the polar opposite of everything I was when I was small. As she is growing up a bit, headed to pre-school this fall, I have had to face the reality that just because I want her to love something or do something or act a certain way doesn’t mean she will. I will love and support her because she is her own amazing little person, and she will grow and fall in love with her own dreams.

whisper: "Every day you are going to be faced with a new challenge."

Never in a million years did I ever think being a parent would be this challenging. I knew it wasn't always going to be easy, but every day I feel like my children are throwing something new at me. Just a few examples for you: When they were infants it was figuring out how to get them to sleep for more than an hour or two straight. What in the world could we wrap them in or lay them on or what music could we play to get them to stay asleep? As they hit the toddler stage it becomes all about safety. You childproof your cabinets and within days your one year old is prying them open. Toddlers are quick and into or climbing onto everything. Then you hit two and learn that there is just no way to reason with a two year old! How do you get them to eat their veggies when grama keeps bringing over m&m’s and that is all they want! How to get them in their own bed and how to get them to stay in their own bed. And as we are headed to four with our oldest we have already been presented with so many challenges.  Any time we figure out an answer or solution, we feel like super man and wonder woman! It feels so good to know that we have solved another puzzle or figured out some mystery and are making things work for our family and our children.

whisper: "You are going to find out what love really is when you hold this child in your arms."

By guest blogger from Real Moms Real Views