Do you also wonder how some do it?

Philippines
September 10, 2008 9:07am CST
My sister in law lives across us, a door infront our unit. She is an amazingly beautiful woman with two boys age same as mine. I always wonder how she always seem to look fresh, and her house looks so clean and she is always calm despite the riots of her boys in her house. By mid day, i already looked so harrassed, after cleaning the house, doing the laundry and bathing my boys. While she, whenever i bring my two year old to her house to play with her son, has make up on, like she's always looking ready to go out, and her house looks so immaculately clean, and i could smell the cake she's baking. She seem to handle it so well, or maybe because she has nothing else to do but look good, and clean. MAybe she seldom cooks meals and feed her sons, maybe she doesn't really clean the house, it just looks clean. Maybe she doesn't wash herself, just put on perfume and make-up...and maybe she really isn't bothered by her sons climbing on the tv and breaking glasses. Maybe she doesn't worry that her son might fall off the stairs playing when she let him go out while she sits and relax infront of the TV. Maybe schedules is not her thing, because they sleep anytime and eat anytime whenever they feel like. DO you also wonder, like me, how some women - housewives, seem to look so unharassed by the demanding and overwhelming tasks of household management? How do you think they manage it and still look so great and unbothered by anything?
5 people like this
12 responses
@aj2006 (1534)
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
A positive attitude is one great key in achieving lifes balance and delay aging.. I have a friend who is fifty years old but looks like she is on her thirtees..I asked her whats her secret, and just smile at me.. that's it.. she always put a happy face as much as possible, positive attitude towards life's problems or difficulties is a must for her, stop worrying, look for a positivity in everything because that is where we can achieve success.. she dress so well, because she once told me that when you look good, you feel good.. and she takes good care of her health eating healthy foods... As a woman, we need to pamper ourselves, she said, never ever let your man see you with an un-comb hair and a bare face.. :) .. love yourself because you can give more love that way.. :) have a great day!
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
That's what i keep on telling myself - be positive. I do love myself, but oh with two small boys and tons of houseworks i tend to neglect myself. But it makes me happy to see things done. I still wonder though if she really gets things done, and how? With a situation just like mine?
1 person likes this
@Abrynn (54)
• United States
11 Sep 08
lol yeah ive wondered that alot thier hair is always done always wearing make up looks great ^^ thier house is generally perfect too lol. I am definatly not one of those ppl. i spend my day just trying to keep up lol. but i have found out alot of those ppl are generally unhappy and fake although thats just an opinion ^^
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
Yes. Maybe they are just faking it or maybe not. Maybe they are just super passive and not so driven to work that hard, because they have a need to always keep their composure intact.
1 person likes this
• Canada
10 Sep 08
I believe this has to do with schedule and help . I know someone like this and could never figure out how she was able to do everything while I was always running around with my head cut off and never getting anything accomplished and it wasn't from lack of tryng and then I got pregnant and ended up on a schedule where everything was always the way I wanted it . The house was always tidy , I never had to worry about the children , and seemed to have so much time for myself and wondered how I had never managed this before . This lasted for about a year and a half and then everything went back to being crazy once again and it seemed no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get anything done again , which then really bothered me because I knew I could do it . I had did it when I was pregnant . I have come to the conclusion that I must have had more help when I was pregnant and was able to accomplish more because I had others to help me out if not all the time at least some of the time and even a little bit of help makes things so much easier when you are trying to get things done . Maybe I am wrong but I no longer have the help and can't seem to manage like I could back then and I know at the time it didn't seem like I was getting a lot of help but I do remeber that others were quicker to offer to do something when they would stop by to visit , even if it just meant putting one of the other children to bed for me or changing one of them while I was finishing up the dishes . And I think even this small bit of help meant I wasn't alone in trying to do everything myself
1 person likes this
• Philippines
10 Sep 08
She has no helper like me, that's why i wonder how she does it all...or if she really does it all. I could really relate now to what you/ve been through before. It's tough having no one to help you around the house.
1 person likes this
@heaven11 (1159)
• United States
10 Sep 08
yes i have wondered how people do it it seems impossible to keep a clean house with a 2&3 year old contsantly going behind you and destroying it again. and as for make up i just wonder what the sense is if your at home or just going to the grocrey store ect why take that few mins that you dont really have to put on make up i mean who are you going to impress with 2 screaming kids and futer most why would you want to impress at all but alot of moms say it just makes them feel good and in a way i can see but i never have the time i feel my days of being able to feel good will be when they are both in school and prolly not then more like when there half way grown and can take care of themselves for the most part
• Philippines
10 Sep 08
She puts on make up just to enhance her looks. I think she does it for her husband. But i still don't know she could manage it all.
1 person likes this
• India
10 Sep 08
in certain task women are very systematic. they are also very particualr how their house should be, what shuld be kept where etc. she is always loaded with more work than any man. she has to be a woman, a daughter, a wife, mother, freind. well she is a multiple personality rolled into one. all in one. her mind is like a super computer, multitasking. planning what is tobe done next. i appreciate them for all the sacrifices they make for their beloveds.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
I am not sure if she is that systematic. She lets her son run up and down all three stories of the house with the other cousins and she could still relax...or perhaps she just has enough time to do it all because that's all she does - kids, husband and house...and talking with friends sometimes.
1 person likes this
@sandra966 (269)
• Spain
10 Sep 08
I know lots of people like that - and I'm definitely not one of them! I just get a list of stuff that NEEDS to be done, and do that, and not worry about the rest. If I get just one bit of the cleaning done - I'm happy I think if you get the important things done, you know, things like dinner on the table, clothes washed and manage not to strangle the kids when they are fighting or arguing, then it's been a good day. Relax more, have fun and don't worry so much if your house is a tip and you look like a dog's dinner!
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
Thanks for that sandra. I actually know how to relax and have fun, but that comes after everything is done and my surrounding is pretty clean and organized.
1 person likes this
@shana123 (2095)
• India
11 Sep 08
I usually wonder more about these people , most of them i find they dont do they work well i mean take my aunty she is also like your sister ( i dint mean your sister is like my aunty) she does all thw ork but there wouldn't be anything clean i mean if she sweeps the house , it will not be perfect , if she washes the vessels that is not fully washed like that but she is always takes bath and do all sort of make ups and always stays fresh and in another side i have seen people who does all the work because they have someone at home for all the things other than that i have not yet met people who do all things perfect and stays fresh as you have stated as i have seen more people who manages time but fails to follow it..
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
I agree with you. How can they do it all, without helper, and still manage to dress up well, put on make up, and not seemed to be bothered by screaming kids, breaking her own china wares? I bet she is not that meticulous (and has no time to be) on cleaning and stuffs like that. You know, floors may look polished and curtains, furnitures may look clean but take a look at corners of the house, kitchen, plates, and how they do their laundry, and how many times a week they change sheets...oh, these are little things that reflect big about a homemaker's way of managing her household.
@switlyf (649)
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
wow thats like a wonderwoman story to me. Personally its hard to keep your house clean when you have two youngs kids whose always playing and making mess. I have two kids and i can't do the laundry myself so we would hire someone to do the laundry for us.Im a working mom so i dont have enough time to do all those household chores but then i always try to do or to give my best in giving my family the care that they need. with regards to your neighbor i think proper disposition in life is a very vital thing looking blooming all the time.Perhaps she has a proper disposition or she must be very happy and contented thats why she doesn't look so old or so haggard. happy mylotting, cheers!
1 person likes this
@mariechin (426)
• Philippines
10 Sep 08
Balance is the key. Try modifying your attitude about life. and pamper yourself more often. Don't react on negative things and always find some minutes to have your own space. when you boys fight, don't try to be in control. People are stressed and get tired because of stress in life. Maybe you're pushing yourself too much. Try to smile and relax... remember we cannot control everything... And another is we cannot give what we don't have. SO when you're tired don't overdo yourself. When you're up, take care of all thigns. BUt when your down, call you security blanket? pray to God talk to children Talk to God. Or exercise! Exercise realeases happy hormones.. Take vitamins too!
• Philippines
14 Sep 08
Yes.. i can feel in your message the overwhelming stress you have. Don't worry as long as you follow these tips you won't be able to ave wrinkles. hehehe.. By the way, thaks for the best response! God bless! Cheers!
• Philippines
10 Sep 08
I think i need this kind of reminders. Thank you. I have been really obsessing on being organized and keeping everything under my control and within my limits and standards. Well, i did pushed myself too hard and am now so harassed.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
It may be possible that their just good with time management and how they properly address the current situations as quickly as possible. Some people are really good on managing their time and making hard tasks look easy. Yes its true that household chores demand a lot of your time, but if you address it properly and manage your time well, I'm sure you'll also be looking fresh and beautiful as your sister-in-law looks.
1 person likes this
@pinks17 (2192)
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
I was raised by mom telling me to always look good even if you are just staying at home.So when I had a family of my own I made sure that I wake up early and take a bath right away.Put on some blush on,lipstick and eyeliner of course perfume.I don't wear lousy dress or clothes.I wear spaghetti straps sando and short shorts.So even if I have to clean the house and somebody will be visiting me I will not be mistaken as my kids nanny.Get the idea my friend.I used to be a full time housewife and I only had two super active kids and they mess the house terribly.I have house helpers but I still do the cleaning.I just asked them to watch my kids while I am cleaning the house.And when my ex-husband gets home I already took a bath and smells fresh.But now that our marriage got annulled 4 years ago.Your husband will love you regardless you look like a mess or you look so fresh.Bec.see what happened to my lovestory we broke up despite that I took care of him so much and made him my world and never he saw me a mess wife,I always make sure I look presentable or sexy but he still looked for a different woman.So darling just take it easy.I know how you feel,I felt that too before.Just learn to love yourself and learn to take care of yourself and you will see everything will work out fine.
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
I used to do the same when i had a helper before. I still dress well, make an effort to look good even in the house, but i have to do it before my boys wake up, and by middle of the day i look so harrased already. I do not worry much about not looking good because hygiene and also of the household and my boys matter more. What i am wondering is that can a woman really do it all? I mean ALL - without helper and with small kids to take care of, and keep the house perfectly/ spotlessly clean, and manage to always look clean, fresh, and made up? I think seemingly perfect housewives (those who do it alone) have at least one flaw in order to appear perfect. One flaw, i mean like probably changing/washing bedsheets once every two months and just covering dirty sheets with clean, decorative ones in order to make it look nice. I am still trying to figure this out...and just trying to guess. :)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I have no idea how they do it! I would love to look like I didnt just run thru the house getting dressed and flying off to work!