Can't believe I've just done this - the house is a tip, I've a massive pile of washing and ironing to do, don't want to talk about the garden, and I've just spent 2 and a half hours down at the park with Sparky and Busby swimming, walking, training, having lots of little stops to chat to people. So naughty. Going to race round like a mad woman now before OH gets in and starts picking the dog hairs out of his socks! (How do they get embedded in socks?) So much for going part time to keep up with the housework and everything! ;)

you are so lucky Tracey, I wish I had all that time to spend with the dogs during the week, my OH is home but you can guarantee he wont have walked the dogs or done the housework :(

Sod the housework, the dogs are much more important :)

Housework!!!  Whats that then? :D

Sounds a bit like my day, every day, but I do not have a OH to please (Widow). To hell with the housework, it's still there long after you've gone, just enjoy every minute you have with your dogs, and do not consider yourself as lazy  :) Sue

I have just given up my full time job too, can't cope anymore. I have three dogs (two pups) very tiring. Ive just had a week off and I am wondering how I had time to work at all. It takes until 11am each day to walk them and feed them etc, I will be broke but at least I can be with my dogs, nothing compares to that. :-)

I really went part time so I could have a dog - but told OH it was to cope with marking, planning and yes, housework. Tee hee! Feel so much more relaxed about things now, but do get the occasional twinge of guilt when I have lovely days like yesterday, and everyone else is at work or school. :)

Don't feel gulity, I'm not going to I've worked for 15 years and its time for some me time!

Enjoy it! :D If you feel any guilt or get any grief for slacking....I'll email you pics of my house, you'll feel so much better :D :D :D

...and you notice I still manage to find time to come on here?! ;)

Tracy Im sure the memories of Busby and Sparky enjoying themselves are worth more than the misery of housework! Maybe your girls and OH could do some if it bothers them that much.Our lot all have jobs to do - Minibeast empties wastepaper bins, Satan Filly cooks/irons, Stinkfoot does dishes and cooks simple things, Gothboy does Manstuff or dishes, all clean own rooms and change own beds. And when someone complained their fave jeans werent washed, I introduced them to the washing machine :)

Ah yes, but that's half the problem. I shouldn't complain really. As I'm setting off for my early morning Saturday walk, OH is doing the shopping (though I suspect that has more to do with the fact that he knows he can keep the bill to a reasonable level and not spend as much as me :)). He's given up on the garden as he can't dig as quick as Sparky :-D, but he does have the tea ready on my late day. The girls do their bit, number one sorts the washing etc and they do their own rooms, bins, and stuff - I think that's why I feel so guilty when I fail so miserably on my jobs - it's not as if I have that much to do! I've been very good today though - only 3 walks, and training, and a trip to Pets at home. AND I managed to iron about 10 things while watching Breakfast at Tiffany's (Busby likes the Cat in it!). Domestic Goddess, me.

Or rather..."My name is Tracy and I'm a petaholic".
Off for last fix now - if I can convince Sparky that there are no bogey men out there after dark :)
PS How is Echo doing?

I heard a very apt saying this week.....

"Only dull women have clean houses".........going by this, I must be one of the most exciting women on this earth then!   :)

ChristineW I must also be a very exciting person too.  My living room is a tip, the only clean room is the kitchen as that is where my dogs live :d  Oooh, I've got to get off this computer and do some housework, I have to, i have to, HELP !!

Tracy, as far as I can see you are doing your job correctly. Down to time and man management. You are delegating efficiently and, as your husband spends less, you are also being cost effective. You have not failed in your 'miserable' job, but passed with flying colours. You are well suited to the managerial post of Domestic Engineer :D

Thanks kayc :)
Another significant fact is that as a child my favourite colour was always black. Mum started to get quite worried about me when I brought home painting after painting with black houses, trees, cars, etc.,  and was convinced I had some deep rooted depression - or that I might turn into a serial killer. Luckily, it now seems that all the time I was at school I was just preparing for my future life of grime with my two black (and white) BCs! :)

Dont feel guilty,I dont,lifes too short.When we are all dead and gone who is ever going to remember you for your housework?Epitaph <but didnt she keep a lovely house>
Do as I do and only mix with doggy friends! Our houses are the same so no-one bats an eyelid!!
I do want to have a clean house and be organised but Ive been saying that for the last twenty years..my mum just rolls her eyes now.

Tracy heres another saying for you " Cleaning the house while children are growing is like shovelling the path before it stops snowing" My MiL gave me that on a fridge magnet when I had several ankle biters underfoot, but Im sure you can substitute BCs for kids :D Echo is doing very well thank you. He has mastered the art of sleeping in his own dog bed at the foot of mine, ignoring his deluxe den a foot away. Today I dragged OH down to park for Play and Train time to start recalls, and Echo did marvellous, although his speed is phenomenal and his brakes are abysmal. He holds a sit well even with distractions and has learned down, OFF, Leave and to stand for brushing. I can even go to the toilet unaccompanied :) Hes learning that Mum's job is to deal with other dogs, his job is to look at Mum and be steady when he sees them coming. A smart boy. :D:D

I can't seem to find the time to do housework. I only work two mornings and one weekend day a week. If it's not the kids stuff lying in the hall by the front door it's the OH trainers and curling stuff sitting on the stairs waiting to be put away. I would much rather spend time walking and playing with the dogs and reading stories and being a Mum who doesn't constantly nag her children to tidy up all the time. I am great at doing the washing and leaving it sitting all nicely folded on the kitchen table :D Well it saves me running up and down stairs when I have to actually get the ironing board out and iron something. I would love to be one of these super organised people who can keep their house spotless at all times, but I have accepted that I'm not and luckily so has my OH. He is very good and will wash up dishes and have a hoover round especially if I'm at work. I'm off to look for a dishwasher today and a new hoover, maybe that'll encourage me to be a bit tidier :D :D I have two sisters and both their hubbies say that the women in our family were obviously not meant for house work lol. Strange thing is when I'm at work my yard has to be perfect I don't like anything out of place. My mum used to say that she was going to take my bed out of my room and replace it with straw like a stable and I would have it perfect :D

Alli

I have always maintained that sheep and cattle are 'domesticated', I am not :D. I am tidy, everything is usually 'homed', and have a mad day and once a week the house is spotless. My biggest fault is washing, I wash everyday, pups and dogs bedding, towels etc, into washing machine, into dryer, onto table, stay on table, stay on table blah blah blah,. I am happy mucking out s**t, cleaning up after dogs, all the dirty work, but I HATE folding the laundry. When my daughters still lived at home they always maintained that if they had four legs and a tail they would have been looked after better. They are probably correct :D

Absolutely with you on the washing kayc - the boys have freshly washed vetbed everyday - whereas this morning I was scrabbling around at the bottom of the wash basket for daughter two's school shirt. Hopeless mother!