Evening star., 1945-01-31
1T CAN BE DONE!
(ThdnkS to Mrs. E. H. G.,
WdShington.)

fIHdnkS 10 Mrs. T.. NJ. G.,
WaShington.J
would like to offer some sugges-
tions to Mrs. F. E. l., of Kensington
who asked about time management
with two small children,s and to any
one else in the same boat, for I have
finally got the problem solved.
I have three children, the Oldest
not yet 3, one II months and one 3
months; an old, inconvenient house
with a soft-coal furnace that not
only needs attention but makes
everything dirty, and no washing
machine, vacuum cleaner, electric
refrigerator or car and no help.
First for general suggestions: %
I market twice week only, at night,
taking my grocery cart and loading
it up. CD I take the big double-bed
sheets, pillow cases, towels and my
husbands shirts only to the laun-
dry every week, also at night. These
walks in the fresh air are relaxing
even though it seems an effort to
start out. 90 I have one room ex-
cluSively for the children to play in,
and keep their toys there, and this Is
Invaluable, even with space at pre-
MUM, for there is place they can
enjoy themselves without being told
mot to touch" all the time, and one
room diving room where they do
not 60 except on very rare occasions.
Thus you have one place that always
looks fairly preSentable. "a Every
body eats the same meals, with occa-
sionaI small additions or subtrac-
tions on either side, as, for instance,
I add more spices to foods after
have served the children's portions.
or make an interesting dessert for
the grownupS occasionally and give
the children sliced fruit instead.
Breakfast is hot cereal, fruit juices,
toast and milk; lunch for which
my husband comes home) is often
prepared soups, sometimes doctored
up, or an egg dish, with toast and
raw vegetables, such as carrots,
tomatoes or celery, milk and pud-
ding, tapioca, junket or jello. Dinner
includes meat and vegetables. (O
The most valuable general sugges-
tions have are what I call overlap
ping, i. e., while you are supervising
the children's lunch you can be
washing the woodwork or floors in a
nearby room. do practically all my
reading while giving the baby her
bottle. 60 The double boiler is
great help, because food can be cook
ing or milk heated for puddings and
white sauces, etc, without danger of
burning and you can forget about it
while you are busy elsewhere. Cd
And last-relax! Enjoy the children
and remember that they are the
main thing, and not an interruption
to a perfect housecleaning, for what
doesn't get done today can be fitted
in somewhere tomorrow-you're not
going anywhere. (Though sometimes
you wish you wereD
Now for my day
am.-Feed baby, light fire under
cereal in double boiler, cooked last
night.
7:30 am.-Dress children and give
them their breakfast. While they
are eating I am Strengthening up
the downstairs rooms, burning trash,
stacking last nights Cd dishes, etc.
$3.50 am.-Children go in play
room, and I finish busting and
sweeping downstairs, have all dishes
ready to wash, make lunch dessert
and do some task like scrubbing the
kitchen floor or washing windows,
painting woodwork or cleaning an
upstairs room.
$50 am.-Give baby orange juice
and all of them oil, make the beds,
straighten up the upstairs rooms,
hang up clothes, etc.
10 ami wash the dishes, first
washing the bottles for the baby,
then they are sterilizing while am
doing the dishes, put away dishes,
make formula, then prepare every
thing for lunch and put the main
dish to heat in the double boiler.
1880 am-Bathe baby, then feed
her and put her to bed
IL noon-Finish preparing lunch
and feed everybody. While they are
eating am preparing foods for din
ner, then wash lunch dishes.
l pm.-Give the children their
baths and put them to bed for two
hours, sleep or not. Then I do my
daily big wash. in the bathtub, hang
1t out and have an hour to do what
I want. Usually I rest, or do some
thing special, like making a cake.
q am writing this in my hour
today0
p.m.-Feed the baby.
$3.50 p.m-Get the children up
and dressed and then play while
I prepare dinner, make dessert, etc.
$50 p.m.-The children eat their
supper, then afterward we sit and
play and talk with the children for
a half hour or so, then wash them
and put them to bed. They are in
bed about $50 After the children
are in bed 1 like to take quick
bath, dress up, feed the baby, then
enjoy leisurely ladylike dinner