A Day in the Life of a Busy Aussie Mom

Tracey Clayton - 12 Apr 17

Ah, the Aussieland… whatever you’ve read and heard – it’s probably true! Even though we don’t really spend most of our days hissing the snakes off like you’re imagining (sometimes we do!), being a mom who lives in Australia is actually as nerve-wracking as it is exciting! The benefit of this continent is that – when you get sick and tired of everything – you just hit the beach for a swim, a surf, a jog or a cocktail (not on school nights, though) and let yourself blow off some steam. Other than that, we’re just like all other busy moms out there – swamped!  

If you are a mom, then you know what I am talking about! With this role, sanity comes at a cost, right?

Anyhow, years of experience have taught us a lot and it’s only fair to share the wisdom with other amazing moms out there who are in need of a lithe push.

Here are a few tips I believe will make your life easier (at least a bit):

Do things in bulk

With a tight schedule, both at work and at home, who can be bothered to re-play that American version of a happy family breakfast! Yes, I am talking about that let’s-all-sit-together-while-I-make-breakfast-each-morning. No, no. Impossible. In our house, the scenario usually goes like this: we wake up, fight over the bathroom, John prepares breakfast when I’m on deadlines and the kids jump on our heads to remind us it’s time we drove them to school. It’s chaotic (but kind of sweet)!

The best plan to eliminate the chaos is to do things in bulk. For instance, when you’ve got a free Sunday (or any other day), make breakfast servings in advance: muffins for a few days, toasts (you can preheat), home-made pastry (also can be preheated), puff pastry, organic cereals, etc. – anything that’s “base food” that’ll stay fresh for a few days and combine well with jam, honey, butter, milk or yogurt. Sometimes, these culinary items serve as great snacks your kids can take to school, too! There – two birds with one stone.

Be shamelessly selfish

If “selfish” is the word, anyway. The way I see it – it’s way more important to spend some quality time with your kids and husband than obsess over dusty panels around the house. No, I am not advocating pigsties – I’m saying it’s totally okay to skip your cleaning day and go to the beach with your family, to your kids’ game, on a date with your husband, or to a gathering with family friends, instead. If your budget allows it, hire help that’ll come once a week. Believe it or not, it’s not even that big of a cost and it helps immensely! We’ve booked cleaning services from Sydney to help and I swear I feel happier!

Teach your kids self-sustainability

The sooner they learn how to take care of themselves, the faster they’ll become self-reliant in most spheres of their lives.

While family meals are an absolutely amazing thing to practice, when life goes hectic on you, you have to break the mold and create your own rules.

Teach your kids to prepare snacks and easy breakfasts for themselves. Mark a day in your calendar to organize a pretence-cooking class, and make it a family thing. Everyone should learn how to cook a meal of their choice. Then, during the week, take turns with everyone, making something different every day. You can even have a check board reminding everyone whose turn it is to make food. To kids – it’ll be a fun family activity and a challenge, and to parents – a way to relieve themselves of yet another daily task lined up. Smart, right?

Trust your husband

This guy is your support system and you are in this together. No matter what everyone says, it really ISN’T just your job to juggle everything. Turn to your husband for shared responsibilities and you’ll finally go to work with no ketchup stains on your folders.

If you’re not sure how to approach your darling man in asking for help, here’s an idea: take him to his favorite restaurant, wear his favorite dress and look fabulous. Enjoy the night as if you have just started out dating. Remind him how amazing you actually are (sometimes, they can forget). Then, talk. Be calm and open, and share with him the fact that you, simply, cannot do it all alone and that you need his help. Be blunt. Say it as it is: “I need your help to raise this family”. He’ll feel alpha, trust me. His perfect, wonder-woman needs him? Finally! Then, when you are at home, sit down and brainstorm things you are good at, individually. If he washes the dishes quicker than you do – make it his chore. If vacuum-cleaning is your thing, do it, etc. At least – that’s what I’ve come up with and it’s working!

Well, there you go. Hope these tips will help! Good luck!

Tracey Clayton

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