| Many stay at home mums find themselves swamped | | | | both your days. So meet challenges with a smile, |
| in a never ending battle to fit the daily schedule into the | | | | because when all is said and done YOU are master of |
| allocated 24 hours in a day. Still others seem like they | | | | your day and not the list. |
| could conquer Mount Everest, do the housework and | | | | Secret Number 3 - Mountain Climbers are Prepared. |
| present a five course meal every night. How do the | | | | In these homes you will often find frozen meals to |
| "mountain climbers" do it? What is the basic | | | | cope with fall out on the bad days. There is often a list |
| difference? How do they cope with intrusions and | | | | of quick cook meals which can be whipped up in next |
| interruptions to their day? There is a secret to | | | | to no time. Along with this they keep a pantry of basic |
| accomplishing all that a woman needs to achieve and | | | | items necessary for many of these dishes. Of course |
| not work around the clock to do it. In fact there are | | | | a little creativity here doesn't go astray either. It can't |
| several. We will look at some of them here. | | | | be wrong to occasionally declare it "feral day" and |
| Secret Number One - The Mountain Climbers have a | | | | resort to fish and chips served on the paper it comes |
| List. | | | | wrapped in. "Feral Day" means no knives and forks |
| It really is worth the time to sit with a coffee and make | | | | either. The kids will love you for that one and the best |
| out a daily list. If you are feeling inundated and usually | | | | part is there are no dishes afterward. |
| start the day running take my word for it, you will | | | | Secret Number Four - Mountain Climbers are Positive |
| definitely achieve more if you slow down a little and | | | | About their Accomplishments. |
| write down what you would like to achieve each day. | | | | The mountain climbers as we have been calling them |
| Now look at that list and mark out which things take | | | | look at their lists at the end of a busy day. They see |
| the highest priority e.g. teaching your little one to make | | | | chores done and chores undone. Their secret is that |
| the bed. Then order the list in order of priority after | | | | they end their day looking at all the things they did |
| that. | | | | achieve and relishing the thought of all the hurdles they |
| Prioritizing in this way means that you are more able to | | | | overcame. What isn't done is not that important. It can |
| cope with interruptions to your ideal schedule. Let's | | | | go on the list again another day. When you look at |
| face it how many days really go according to the plan | | | | your list do the same. If your day started perfectly and |
| entirely? | | | | erupted into total chaos look for the times you gained |
| Secret Number 2 - Mountain Climbers Welcome | | | | control, the aspects of the day where you feel you |
| Intrusions. | | | | actually salvaged a little order. You may have simply |
| They see every day as a new adventure. Hiccups in | | | | overcome a situation in a creative and unusual way. |
| your ideal scheduling can present some interesting | | | | That alone made this day worth celebrating. |
| challenges to your creativity. Many women who pop in | | | | If this is to be your first day with a list celebrate |
| unexpectedly feel very comfortable folding the | | | | yourself. You are now on the way to joining the |
| washing with you or putting on the kettle while you | | | | mountain climbers. Don't feel defeated if you are not |
| finish a chore. An unexpected trip to the school for | | | | successful immediately. Mountain Climbers train long |
| example can be a great chance for you to visit a | | | | and hard to achieve. Just keep going and you will most |
| friend who lives nearby. You don't have to stay for the | | | | certainly succeed. Never give up. |
| day but a pleasant hour with her can really brighten | | | | |