When you have children, there are times when survival mode is called for, when you just can't do everything you usually do. Maybe you're sick, pregnant, your partner's away, or you're going through a stressful time. We're all for simplifying things around the house and in our routine at those times...
Survival mode for us happens when our husband is traveling and we're home alone for weeks at a time with a baby. We've found just changing a few small things can really alleviate a lot of the stress of being alone.
• Usually, we wash our dishes by hand and just use our dishwasher as a drying rack. When in survival mode and with a toddler clinging to our leg while we're doing dishes, we find the dishwasher very handy.
• We don't usually use paper plates at all- but at these times we do. It really cuts down on the dishes that pile up and just makes us feel less stressed. We're hoping our paperless kitchen in every other way will somehow balance out the use of those paper plates every now and then.
• We love making fresh, healthy food for our family, but a Trader Joe's frozen pizza makes it onto our menu plan during survival mode.
• As long as the bed is made, dishes are done, and there is some order in our daughter's play area, most other cleaning (vacuuming, dusting) can wait.
• Most days we run errands or have outings in the morning by 10 am, but on some of these days, we linger in our pajamas with a cup of tea instead.
Please share the things you let go when you're in survival mode. We can all use the ideas!
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My husband traveling also puts me in survival mode.
We are usually really spontaneous. But when my husband is traveling I try to schedule (the week before he leaves) a visit of some kind for every day he is away. I might volunteer to watch some other kids. We may visit great grandparents or other relatives that we don't see often. I always have a night or two that I cook my parents dinner so they can read and play. For me, it's making sure there are extra sources of love and attention around because mine can run thin in survival mode.
I try to limit my 2 1/2 year old's screen time to a half hour a day. When I'm in survival mode, I put the television on while his baby sister sleeps and get something completely done like laundry, the kitchen, or an important phone call. I'm a much nicer mommy knowing I accomplished something and had a little time to myself.
We've been in survival mode for a while (cancer diagnosis and surgery recovery will do that). I heard someone once say the most important things to do are clothing and food. People have to eat and people have to eat. Anything beyond that is gravy. :-)
That being said, we've been blessed with huge help from family, especially since this is medical. I haven't cooked in weeks, but I've eaten very well. If you need help and you have access to it, ask.
I'm 41 weeks pregnant, and one of the nicest things I've been so glad to have on hand is a big batch of refrigerator raisin bran muffin batter. It lasts up to 6 weeks in the fridge, and in the mornings all you do is scoop some into muffin tins and bake them for 15 minutes (while the tea's brewing) for a lovely easy hot breakfast. Yumm, hot buttery muffins...
I am more or less always on survival mode (I'm a widow), so I like to cook double batches and freeze so I have cheap convenience food on hand.
I kind of use this as a guide -
what people really notice
In addition, I learned that people like to help. So when my daughter was sick we suggested meals. We just didn't have the energy to cook. So freezable meals from friends and neighbors never got/get turned down!!
I'm a mom and have spent the past month recovering at home after a hospitalization and serious illness...survival mode!! SO, we've relied on meals that make lots of leftovers, and making two of the same meal so we can freeze one.
I've been putting all non-urgent papers in one giant pile, and I sit down and work through it whenever I'm feeling up to it.
We overlook a lot of cleaning tasks, use more Clorox wipes and disposable stuff than we normally would, and I set very small goals for myself (i.e., 20 minutes of cleaning up the kitchen, and then I quit).
I just came out of survival mode, as my husband was gone for a month. I was home with our newborn!
I didn't sweep, or make the bed. Ate lots of canned soup. Did the dishes every couple days. Showered at my mom's house while she held the baby. Put the baby in the front pack while I did the chores I DID have energy for. Took a break from working out. Slept in as long as possible.
Now he's home, and the minute he wakes up I hand the baby to him, and start cleaning! The collection of cat hair over that month disgusted me so much, I am now super anal about any dust bunny.
www.adorningalabama.blogspot.com
How timely once again! We are coming out of survival mode again as we 'speak'! When my husband is on the road, it gets a little hectic. I'm a FT-working, 20 wk pregnant mother of two toddler boys, so sometimes dusting just isn't going to happen. We're very lucky that we have family in the area and they are great about coming over on occasion to help out -esp. with baths as those are wreaking havoc on my back!
We still don't have the food thing under control, I feel like we are stuck in a rut and eating the same stuff over and over right now!
I am newly pregnant and suffer from hyperemesis - survival mode!
Honestly, I have a cleaning person that comes every other week that is sent from heaven.
Also, a little more tv and some prepared type meals have been very helpful as I cannot stand in the kitchen without running to the bathroom to throw up.
The things I find invaluable in survival mode are:
*Outfits for the week laid out (earrings, underwear, everything. I don't think well in the morning and I often don't have the time or energy to spend time looking for anything!)
*A menu written out for ALL meals posted on the fridge (even one on a paper napkin- really, it's happened!).
*Because my dietary needs mean "normal" frozen dinners aren't an option, at least 4 complete dinners/lunches in the freezer. I double-batch and use aluminum caterers containers from Smart n Final to freeze stuff in pre-arranged batches. Oh, and DREAM of a bigger freezer!! :-)
* A pre-sort hamper for EVERYONE. Unless I am in the throes of the most puke-tastic flu, I can usually manage to stagger down to the laundry room and toss in one load of laundry a day, IF I don't have to sort anything. Having zip-up mesh bags for everyone's socks and undies saves me loads of time too. Life is too short for me to sort your socks once you're over age 7!!
*Flylady.net has great "crisis mode" advice. Especially for "oh crap, everyone has the flu" emergency weeks!
I keep a stash of special treats high up in a cupboard so that when I have no time to negotiate with a 5-year-old (or survival mode has drained me of my better mothering skills...) I have some really good bribes up my sleeve.
Case in point, this morning, 'If you can get yourself dressed and ready to walk out the door in less than 10 minutes, without calling for me to come in and help, I will give you this chocolate bar.' She managed to do it, and sometimes 10 uninterrupted minutes is all you need to get yourself organized for the day.
I also think that it is a good idea to have three or four recipes memorized that you can make with things that you ALWAYS have in the cupboard for those times when it is impossible to get to the grocery store.
I'm single, with a job in consulting, maintains an online publication, and recently joined a friend in a start-up at the same time - (sure i don't have babies, but still) survival mode!
I got over my pride and am flying my mom up once a month - she cleans, cooks (enough for a month), organizes my life. Aside from being loved, at $100/month, this is much more economical than biweekly cleaning lady, and saves me money in food.
the love/bonding is of course priceless.
I feel like I'm finally coming out of survival mode - chronic illness flare-up and a baby!
I let the dining room table turn into a small mountain. And no vacuuming. And the piles of clothing (clean, but not put away) in the bedroom were rather staggering.
I think coming out of survival mode is another hurdle. I used to have maybe 1 extra thing beyond the basics I'd try to get done in a day, now, I should be able to handle more easily. But my mind isn't used to coping with all the multi-tasking!
I guess the biggest thing is to give yourself a break and let it go. Reminders never hurt ;)
kate78: Any chance that recipe's online somewhere?
Survival mode for this Mom of toddler twins is food, laundry, and at least one non-preschool outing each day (barring sickness, of course). And a little Sesame Street never killed anyone.
When I'm in survival mode: take-out food, delivered food, and a minimum 9 hours sleep (even if it means it feels like all I'm doing is work & sleep).
When I'm not in survival mode, I get ready for those times when I need that extra comfort: bake & freeze homemade lasagna in squares so I can just pull out one or two portions, bake & freeze homemade pot pies, layout my clothes for the week on Monday through Friday hangers (means I can get ready for work and be out the door in less than 30 minutes), stock-up the pantry & pet food & personal care/OTC meds so I can skip last minute trips to the store when I'm tired or down.
I was diagnosed with cancer when I was pregnant. I had the treatment after my son was born so I lived in survival mode for a year after.
I learned a few things- the biggest was take any help offered. Food shopping or preperation, cleaning, someone to watch the baby while you take a shower or just another adult to talk to. Just take it. I didn't enough and regret it.
ANYTHING can be cleaned later. Even a spill on the sofa.
You need to feed yourself and the kids. Everyone needs to be safe and warm. Diapers need to be changed. That is it.
A microwave and dishwasher are your friends. Don't be ashamed to use them. Laundry can be washed and later can be dried when you have time or feel better. Beds don't need to be made, carpets don't need to be swept, toys don't need to be picked up . That can always be done later.
Saderchick
I just Googled "6 week bran muffin recipe" and TONS of results came up. I think this might be a popular ones with other moms too! Enjoy, I know I will. I am just about to enter survival mode with a new baby on the way! Feeling the calm before the storm and FILLING the freezer with food.