Mom and daughter fun time

How To: Keep Your Sanity While Staying Home With Kids

GUEST POST BY CHARLENE FROM THINKING OUTSIDE THE POT

TIPS TO HELP YOU LOVE STAYING HOME WITH KIDS

This subject is very dear and near to my heart. I am a stay at home mom to 2 beautiful children.

My 4 year old, Ian made me a mom. Ian was a hard baby from the start. I was going to school online and trying to be a first time mom at the same time. It was rough, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. When Ian was 18 months old he completely quit talking. We put him in speech, so I was able to be there at every session because I was a stay at home mom. Right after Ian’s 2nd birthday he was diagnosed with Autism.

This has changed our lives forever. We feel very blessed to have Ian in our family, but it’s not always easy to raise a child with Autism. I am so blessed that I am able to be a stay at home mom, and be involved in all of Ian’s daily routine of therapies and such.

My second child is Chloe who is 2. She is full of energy and spunk. Chloe is my “I need my mom” child. She is my little shadow, and loves to help me. Chloe is so smart, and a blessing to both us as parents and her brother. She has been a breeze so far. She has slept through the night since she was a month old. Eats verily well, and plays well with other children. I just recently got her potty trained. She has caught on to skills and tasks so quickly. Chloe loves her brother so much. She calls him “My Ian”. It’s the sweetest thing ever how much she wants to be where he is, do what he is doing and help him. I am so blessed to be home with Chloe to watch her learn and grow.

I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom. My mom stayed home with all 5 of us kids growing up. I always appreciated my mom being home with us. She was always there when we needed her, because of her example I wanted to be a stay at home mom as well. Being a stay at home is the most rewarding job I could ever have. Of course it is not easy, and there are some seriously hard, terrible days of this job. In the end you are rewarded with the sweetest spirits to raise and be called mom by.

Since being a stay at home mom is one of the hardest but most rewarding jobs I wanted to share some of my tips to help out new stay at home moms or moms that have been stay at home moms for a while. In hopes that these tips would make your days easier and help you love being a stay at home mom.

 

1: Most important: Get out of the house at least once if not twice a week

I think that it’s very important to get out with your kids. Both you and the kids need this. Being cooped up in the house can be super hard on everyone. Get out and go to the park, have a play date, go swimming or go to the library. Just get out and do something fun with your kids. This does not mean grocery shopping. This is a task that of course has to be done each week, even with kids sometimes. Don’t count it as your fun activity.

 

2: Play with your kids

Your kids want you to play with them. Sometimes stay at home moms get so busy with their to do lists they have to get done that they forget to play. That to do list can wait. Your kids are growing up far too fast, and won’t always want you to play with them. I have found when I get on the floor and play or read to my children we all end up laughing and enjoying our time together.

 

3: Have You Time

Every mom needs sometime during the day or week just for them. Even if it means getting out of the house alone. Or watching your favorite show on tv when the kids are napping. You deserve this time to yourself. You have worked hard as a stay at home mom.

 

4: Get out and exercise

I know when I get out and exercise I feel so much better about myself. As a stay at home mom it can be so easy to forget to take care of yourself. You need to remember to take care of your body as well. Strap those kiddos in the stroller and go for a walk or run. Going hiking with your kids is always a fun activity as well. Your kids will love exercising with you.

baby playing alone

5: Get dressed every day

Get up before the kids do or while they eat breakfast and get dressed, fix your hair and put some makeup on. Trust me you will feel so much better about yourself all day long.

 

6: Have a routine each day

With my little boy’s therapy and just because he loves routine we have a routine each and every day. This has helped me feel more prepared each day. Schedule your day so that you are able to effectively tackle tasks as well as be there for your family!

 

7: Don’t give up your hobbies

Just because you have kids doesn’t mean you have to give up all your hobbies and things you like to do. You can still sew, scrap book or whatever it is you love to do. I love to sew. I am not very good at it, but it helps me relax and I enjoy my time when I do sew. Every mom needs an outlet, something that is different from their everyday tasks as a mom.

 

8: Remember you can say no..

Sometimes it can be hard to say no when asks to take dinner to someone for the 3rd time in a month. You can say no. Your life is busy too. Sometimes I think that since we are stay at home mom’s people think we have all the time in the world. That’s not true. Don’t stress yourself out by adding more to your plate then you can handle. You can say no!

Check here for Things You Can Do As A Mom, But Can’t As A Nanny, and tell us what you think!

 

Thank you Charlene for sharing this amazing advice and introducing your family to us!

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2 thoughts on “How To: Keep Your Sanity While Staying Home With Kids

  1. Great tips for being a stay at home mom! I think the tips about exercising and getting dressed each day are wonderful ways to keep your sanity! Thanks for sharing.

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