[spaypets]

((Kathleen)). First, the goal is never perfection. Stop being so hard on yourself and concentrate on just enjoying this time.

If the p-t job is overwhelming, can you quit? If the housework is a distraction, can you hire a cleaning service?

Get out of the house and go to the playground, for goodness sake. So what if the house isn't vacuumed? Save it for a raining day or early in the a.m. or when Emma naps.

You know, Emma won't remember (and likely won't appreciate it) if you dust every week, but she will remember the day you went apple picking, or let her stay up to catch fireflies, or when you planted sunflowers, or when you raked the leaves and jumped in them, or carved pumpkins, or let her knead her own loaf of bread.

Or, here's a suggestion, turn your chores into games with Emma--teach her to sort laundry by teaching her colors. Dust while dancing. Give her her own toy vacuum and she can help you.