Woman’s ‘incredible’ and comprehensive cleaning list stuns fellow mums
A Queensland mother-of-two has left fellow mums stunned after she posted several of her comprehensive cleaning lists online.
When you have two children under the age two, study full-time and run a household, you discover things about yourself you never new you had — and for Freda Martens that was exceptional organising skills.
The Queensland mum, who has a two-year-old son and one-year-old daughter, admits she was never an organised person until she had kids.
The 26-year-old is currently working towards a diploma of higher education with the aim of then earning a degree in pharmacy.
With a very busy life, Ms Martens revealed how she manages to complete her daily tasks and duties through the use of multiple planners.
She took to the Facebook group Mums Who Cook, Clean and Organise to share her comprehensive schedule.
One planner is divded between the days of the week — Monday through to Sunday and is split into hourly groups.
For example Monday between 6am and 7am is marked “breakfast/bath/daycare”, followed by “gym” at 7am to 8am and then to university between 9am to 3pm.
Her weekdays are packed, but weekends are less hectic with far more relaxed duties and activities unless she has an assignment due.
“I hate cleaning but I have to do these things to save my ‘sanity’,” Ms Martens wrote in the post which also included a ‘daily cleaning routine’ and calendar of events.
She told news.com.au she didn’t start using planners until last year after desperately needing to organise her time and create a routine “to be one step ahead”.
“Last year when I started uni and the father of my children went in for knee reconstruction surgery, my son broke his arm and I lost my stepmother to cervical cancer,” Ms Martens said.
“I was at that point where everyone thought I was going to quit. I was at the point where I thought I was going to quit and leave uni but there was something inside me that wanted to push through. I thought to myself if I can give birth then anything is possible”
That’s when she decided to put her now, very effective lists together to take the pressure off and structure her time better.
“My life was such chaos before — I always wrote a ‘to-do- list but never got to it.”
Now she is more confident with her new handle on life and it’s all thanks to her meticulous planning.
“The reason I also like to plan is I am scared if something happens again and I want to make sure I am ahead of uni and not fall behind.”
Her detailed list attracted a variety of comments and while mostly positive some mums had questioned if she gets anytime to herself.
“Omg this is incredible,” one group member said.
“Love this. Am inspired to do one too!” said another.
“Great ideas, think I might need to do this also! life can be so hectic! thank you!” a third commented.
One woman agreed that there’s a lot of household tasks to be done in one day, but asked “where is the time for ‘life’ activities?”
“Dam girl do you even catch a break,” added another.
Ms Martens responded that the gym is usually her only form of “me time”.
“I don’t think I ever unwind after a busy day. I can’t take a relaxing bath by myself without being interrupted by my children,” she said.
She also added for those “who don’t like it” to “scroll on”, saying “it works for me”.
Her approach has inspired other women with many commending the young mother on “doing a great a job”.
“Go mama, wishing you all the best, studying full time and running a family is not easy but definitely worth it at the end,” one woman said.
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