Dear stay-at-home-moms, our time never really feels like our own, does it? Getting things done can be super challenging with our kids always around us.

Needing attention, asking for help, wanting snacks… the demands of little ones never stop — all while the to-do list just keeps growing.

I think we all need a little mindset shift. Homemaking and mothering do not have to clash. Let’s make them dance in harmony (with some tripping along the way)!

5 Ways to Get Things Done (With Kids in Tow)

1. Be Realistic

• Get to know yourself. What brings you joy? What overwhelms you? Prioritize accordingly. It’s the kitchen for me – it absolutely must stay clean or my day will be in disarray.
  
• Set achievable goals and write doable to-do lists. There’s nothing worse than feeling frazzled by simply looking at your list.
  
• Give your children what they need. This may seem like a no-brainer, but in the moment, it’s easy to forget.
  
  The reality is, children are humans and they have needs. Feed them, clothe them, comfort them — put them first.
  
  Believe me, getting things done will be much more peaceful (and possible) if the kids are set up for success.
  
• Learn to let go (of the nap too). Third child in and I’m still working on this one. I can always come back to a task, and the baby will always catch up on sleep.
  
  Plus, there’s freedom in knowing the world will not end if things don’t go my way!
  

2. Think Ahead

• Food prep – minus the planning. I am not a meal planner. What I mean here is to prepare food whenever you get the chance.
  
  Don’t wait until the kids are hungry to make lunch — get it done while they’re playing nicely. Chop vegetables for the soup you’re making later. Prepare snacks before the baby wakes up.
  
  I have never regretted having food ready to go — and I’m pretty sure no one else has either!
  
• Back pocket productivity. Try to keep simple ideas and activities in the back of your mind, ready for when all heck breaks loose.
  
  I’m talking about those moments your baby’s crying and your kids are fighting, meanwhile the pot is boiling and the phone is ringing.
  
  Bust out a balloon. Cut the cantaloupe. Whip out the new colouring books they forgot about. Nothing extravagant, just a little reset, a gentle shift .
  
  Saving simple activities for when it’s truly needed can bring calm to chaos or buy you time to get a few things done.

3. Teach Autonomy and Worth

• Include your children in your daily tasks. Sometimes all they need is to be invited. They might help you fill the dishwasher for 30 seconds or try to fold a piece of laundry — they just like being included.
  
• Save jobs for them. I like to leave certain tasks for my children to do. I know my 5-year-old son is more than capable of emptying the dishwasher, so sometimes I’ll save it for him to do.
  
  When my 3-year-old-son walks through the kitchen, I might pass him the pickle jar and say, “You know where this goes, thank you!”
  
  Now look at that — the kids are occupied, feeling important, learning independence — and things are getting done!

4. Keep an Organized Home

I know, this one might seem daunting. And maybe there’s some work to be done. But don’t let that stop you from starting.

Even something as simple as tossing odds and ends into a pretty basket can make a big difference.

Being productive with kids around takes a semi-organized brain, so a semi-organized home doesn’t hurt either. Here are some tips:

• Less clutter = less stimulation. I’m constantly decluttering — if I haven’t used something in a year, I don’t need it.
  
  With a baby pulling at my legs, noisy boys bouncing off the walls, and a to-do list whispering in my ear, I don’t need extra stuff adding to the chaos!
  
  Clearing clutter is one small thing I can do to keep my stress (and cortisol!) in check.
  
• Baby proofing: the sneaky (and pretty) way. I’ve never been a fan of baby-proof gadgets — they’re ugly and I can’t open them fast enough! Instead, I keep breakables out of reach and rearrange when I need to. My baby can get into what she thinks is off limits, and I can get some things done without worrying about her (or my glassware’s!) safety.
  
• Age-appropriate set ups. I teach my children to clean up after themselves, as well as take part in the home as a whole. I try to have designated spots for everything and make them easily accessible for everyone. This teaches the children helpfulness and lightens the load for me!

5. Rest

• Take breaks. Remember that your job as a mother and homemaker is tremendously valuable — and tiring! It’s important to take breaks whenever you can.
  
  This might mean sitting down with your children to read some books, or maybe it means you have your mom or friend take the kids for a few hours. Taking breaks makes all the difference in your productivity.
  
• Quiet time. My children know that every day after lunch they spend 1-2 hours on their own with a quiet activity. This gives me the chance to reset, and honestly, think!
  
  Whether you’re lying down to rest your body or doing the dishes while listening to a podcast — you need that quiet time just as much as your kids do.
  
• Getting away. Nothing fancy. You don’t have to go far. But it’s good to get out of the house and be without the children every now and then.
  
  Plan a date night, go shopping, or simply go for a walk while Dad plays with the kids. For me, stepping away on occasion benefits the entire household. I come back refreshed and ready to get busy.

Bonus Tips

Just keep moving

Over the years I’ve learned that if I just keep moving, things will get done.

If the baby wants to be held, hold him while you wipe down the counters or stir the soup. If the kids want you to watch them wrestle, fold some laundry while you watch.

There are always things to be done, and usually ways to do them. And if there isn’t, then take a well-deserved break!

You can come back to a task

I used to hate having to stop what I was doing to tend to a child. This sounds terrible! But it’s true.

I’m learning to pause and be present with my children when they need me. After all, the task will still be there!

Pick your battles

Sometimes we need to let go of minor things that bother us and look at the bigger picture. Let them make the mess. Let them sneak the snack.

In each moment, one thing will matter more — choose that one and spend your energy where it counts.

How do you get things done with kids in tow?

Share your tips and tricks in the comments. Let’s make this a conversation!

For more inspirational mom material, check out M is for Mama and Farmhouse on Boone’s podcast.
Or if you’d like tips for an organized home, you could start with your bedroom : )