Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay At Home Mom
April 28, 2008 by Christina Lemmey
I have been a stay at home Mom for over eight years now, and have grown to enjoy every minute of it!
It wasn’t always this way, though. Don’t get me wrong…I love, love, love being with our children and watching them grow every step of the way. There is no other place in the world that I’d rather be. However, making the switch from being a full-time working woman to being a stay-at-home-mom was a big adjustment!
Gone were the days of taking care of myself first, and showering when I wanted to. I missed adult conversations, and the freedom that went along with having a job outside of the home.
Over the years I have discovered ways to enjoy each and every day that I am home with them, and avoid the isolation that sometimes comes with being a homemaker:
1. Create a routine. Make a time schedule for your days, and do your best to stick to it. I realize that it’s not always possible with little ones, but if you can do it most days, it will help you from feeling so overwhelmed.
2. Don’t lose your interests. Remember the things you like to do, and keep a some of them going. For the first few years I was at home, I completely lost myself. I would come to the section on a form that says “What are your hobbies or interests? What do you do in your free time?” and I realized that I did not have any free time, and my hobbies had all taken a back seat to raising the children! I slowly incorporated my hobbies back into my life, even finding ways to get the kids involved with them, and I am a much happier person for it.
3. Just because you are a stay-at-home-mom does not mean you need to stay home! Sitting around the house with your children every day can get very lonely. Get out of the house and meet other moms, or just take your children places where you can interact with others. Since money is often a concern for single income families, look into free options to get yourselves out…the library, the playground, a Mommy’s group, etc.
4. Make time for yourself each day. I know that this sounds impossible with all of your responsibilities, but I’m here to tell you that it is essential to your well being. Schedule “me time” any time of the day that it’s most convenient. Don’t do any housework or homework with the kids…this time is ONLY for you! A half an hour to read a book or exercise will make a world of difference to your mental well being.
5. Connect with other stay-at-home-moms. Find forums and blogs on the internet where you can ask and answer questions and feel a sense of community with like-minded people.
6. Volunteer or find way to give to charity. Although you may not feel like you are contributing financially to the family (even though you are by saving on day care costs), you can still volunteer your time to get the feeling of contribution. Work at a nursing home a few hours a week, serve lunch once a week at a homeless shelter (or make the food at home to donate to the shelter), if you have school aged children then volunteer at their school, mow the lawn for one of your older neighbors…the ideas are endless! Not only does this make you feel great at the end of the day, it is also a great example to your children.
7. Schedule “date night” with your spouse at least once a month. Keeping in touch with your relationship with your husband is so important. You need to go out and be a couple…away from the everyday stresses. Find some other Moms that will trade you hours of babysitting (you watch their kids one Friday night, and they watch your children the next Friday night) to save on the cost of a babysitter.
8. Don’t try to be perfect. I’ve often felt like my house should be sparkling clean, my children should be dirt-free, and all my affairs should be perfectly in order—all because I don’t work outside of the home. The truth is, that is not a reality for any stay-at-home mom. In fact, I think that it is even harder to be organized with your kids at home all day than if they were away at day care! So, don’t sweat it if the laundry piles up for a few days, or the dishes go unwashed until the morning. The housework will always be there, but your children will grow up in a blink of an eye. Spend as much “fun time” as you can with them now.
9. Get a part-time job. After being home for a few years, I really started to feel guilty about not making any money for the family. The good news is, there are several part-time jobs that you can work a stay-at-home mom’s schedule…you, too, can become a WAHM (Work At Home Mom)! Start your own website or blog, watch other people’s children (also a great social tool for your children who are at home), sell children’s clothing or other items on an auction site such as Ebay…the opportunities are out there, you just need to look for them. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
10. Remind yourself each day how fast your children grow. Visualize them being grown, and how you will feel when they leave the house. This automatically makes you savor every minute that you have with them.
About the author: Tiffany Blom is the publisher of Do It Yourself Gifts , where you can find many inexpensive, creative, homemade gift ideas for any occasion. Her unique site includes free projects, ideas, and instructions for people of all ages. Find your next gift project there!
To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk eBook’s How to Make Money on eBay.
To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.
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