It was really hard to balance life when I was a work away from home mom. I was constantly thinking about my daughter’s care, meal planning, fitting in errands and keeping up with housework. I was a ball of stress and to do lists.
Honestly, when I was blessed to become a stay at home mom, I thought life would become so much easier. A walk in the park. All glitter and sunshine.
Then, reality hit and I thought, “I’m going to go insane. This is never-ending.” There were no lunch breaks or commuting hours to decompress. I often made my to do lists with crayons because I could rarely find anything else. And my calendar? All of July 2015 recently got scribbled on with one of those pens I couldn’t find.
Do you see it? Sanity slipping away amidst the laundry, cries for more cartoons and tantrums in the grocery store?
As I’m sure you’re sensing, it was a rough transition for me. Being a SAHM was my dream come true, but I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know how to take care of myself and everything else at the same time.
Over the last 3 1/2 years I’ve learned. Through trial and error. Wisdom from friends. Books. Bits and pieces have come together and I now have a decent rhythm to finding moments of sanity. And it doesn’t even include a babysitter!
My double jogging stroller is one of my best friends. It offers the perfect change of scenery for the kids and I. Plus, nothing is better for a mama or kiddo attitude adjustment than fresh air!
Breakfast In Bed
Kids thrive in routine, but I’ve also found that they thrive on occasional surprises too. It takes a little extra work for me, but choosing to snub the normal and do something extra fun like breakfast in bed is often rejuvenating for us all. Indoor picnics with a movie at lunchtime and wagon rides to the park for dinner are winners around here too!
Reading Time For All
Wait? Your kids don’t read yet? Mine either! That’s why we checkout audiobooks each time we go to the library. The kids snuggle into bed and listen to their stories while I tuck away within earshot and read my own novel for a few minutes.
A Quiet Drive
Sometimes as moms we get touched out and being at home, our kids have constant, hands-on access to us. So, if you need a break, pop those kiddos in the car and head out for a drive. We usually go one of two routes – the country to look for farm animals in the pasture or one town over to a burger drive in for a milkshake or snack.
Schedule a Playdate
Feeling crazy? There are probably 100 other moms in your town who feel the same. Pick one. Today. Call her, text her or send her a Facebook message. Make plans for tomorrow. It will give you both something to look forward too!
And, of course, an occasional babysitter is never a bad idea either! Then you can really find some sanity with a solo coffee date or hair appointment. I’ve got a wonderful gig with a fellow SAHM (well, technically she’s a super amazing stay at home grandma who watches her grandson during the week) where we swap childcare when she has an appointment or I need to sneak out by myself.
Tell me, how do you find sanity as a SAHM?
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BY GUEST WRITER: GRETCHEN
Always full of words, it’s no wonder Gretchen traded her 9-5 for days at home with her children and nights on the couch with her computer. Forever a Pacific Northwest girl, Gretchen prefers the rain over sunshine and thinks a coffee date with friends can solve most anything. If you’re ever curious what she ate, wore, read or laughed about you’ll find it on her lifestyle blog, That Mama Gretchen. And all things motherhood, of course. After all, being mom is the main gig these days.
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