You Rock! How TOMM has helped Hannah
13th May 2018 3 min read
— Tags: anxiety, gemma bray, mental health, mental health matters, panic attacks, The Organised Mum Method, TOMM
Name: Hannah
Who lives in your house? Me, my husband, my 2-year-old and 6 month old
How would you describe your working situation? Currently on maternity leave
Tell us about your typical day Get up around 5:30/6am with the boys (there’s normally at least one awake and screaming at that time), on Tuesdays and Thursdays I take the 2-year-old to nursery. I’m normally out the house doing things from about 9 – 12 then again in the afternoon – either walks with the boys, classes for them, visiting friends or even just going to my parents for company and some help as 2 under 2 has been mental!
How do you fit TOMM in?
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I do my 30 mins either first thing before the 2-year-old is up or around 5 just before my husband gets home. I have tried to get my 2-year-old to help but he is scared of the hoover ?? (I’d have thought he’d have gotten over his fear as we have the hoover out at least once a day) so I normally use his favourite programme (Thomas) to distract him while I charge about getting everything done. I put the baby in a carrier so he’s getting company and closeness but I have my hands free. I’ve done this since he was a newborn. For changing beds and tasks that aren’t easy with an extra person strapped to you, I try and time it with a nap. I aim to get my 30 mins done as early in the day as I can but accept that particularly when I’ve got both boys it can be really hard. I make sure I do level 1 jobs the first time I’m in that room e.g. first thing I’ll give my ensuite a wipe then make the beds in each room as I pass it etc.
I try and do a bit more cleaning on Tuesdays and Thursdays when it’s just me and the baby as I’ve got a bit more time without having a toddler to run after! It also gives me the chance to catch up on anything I’ve missed on other days.
What have you found the most challenging part of TOMM?
Doing the Friday focus! I always feel like I’ve done so much the rest of the week that I don’t need to do it! But once I do it it’s always worth it.
I struggled at the beginning when I had a newborn and a 20-month-old with feeling guilty that I wasn’t doing enough cleaning if I didn’t make it to the 30 mins or guilty that I was doing too much as my children are only little for a short time. But once I hit my stride (around 3 weeks in) I realised that while cleaning isn’t everything, it makes everything easier if the house is clean and tidy. I know if people pop over I don’t have to worry, I know my 6-month-old isn’t eating something he shouldn’t be off the floor (or if he is at least it’s freshly put there ?) and I know that my house can be a haven of calm amidst my chaotic life trying to raise small humans.
What have you enjoyed the most about TOMM?
I love the community with Team TOMM. People are always helpful and kind and nearly always have a solution to cleaning/organising problems.
I also love how much TOMM has helped my mental health. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety during my pregnancy and this has continued and developed into postnatal depression. Having a clean and tidy home has helped me feel able to stay at home and play with the boys without feeling trapped or stuck. It’s also helped me feel like I’ve accomplished something more each day than just being a mum.
What are your top tips for newbies to TOMM?
If I’m being honest my house should have been bootcamped before I got stuck in but I think that would have led to me never starting. So my top tip is to just get started. Join in with the week everyone is on, join Team TOMM for motivation, inspiration and way more info than you ever thought you needed about cleaning products like Zoflora, and rock the housework!
