| Staying home with your young children is ripe with daily, | | | | errands by yourself. A little bit of adult interaction goes |
| simple pleasures - and profound challenges, as well. | | | | a long way in helping you maintain your sanity. |
| Here are six tips that helped me maintain my sanity | | | | 4. Don't try to do too much. It has really helped me to |
| (and be the best mom I could be) when I was home | | | | guard closely my time alone with my spouse and kids. |
| full time with my three kids: | | | | There are so many causes to get involved with and |
| 1. Stay focused on the bigger picture. If you're like me, | | | | volunteer opportunities to be a part of. Keep in mind |
| you've read all kinds of parenting books about how to | | | | that, even though you aren't going to work full time, you |
| handle different scenarios that will come up in the lives | | | | still have a very important job and - especially while the |
| of your children. In reality, my experiences with each of | | | | kids are small - this is a job that is difficult to do |
| my three children have been completely unique. It's | | | | successfully while juggling too many tasks. Think of this |
| important to go easy on your own expectations of | | | | time in your life as a respite from the corporate world |
| yourself and to know that sometimes there is not a | | | | with its politics and demands. Think of this as a time to |
| black-and-white, right-or-wrong answer. | | | | slow down and enjoy and nurture your children. They |
| Strive each day to come from a place of peace and | | | | need you. There will be plenty of time for all the |
| love and joy; get an inner vision of what kind of a | | | | world's demands when your children are in school full |
| mom you want to be and allow yourself to play out | | | | time. It might not seem like it at the moment, but this |
| that vision. If you can manage to do that (most of the | | | | truly is a short season of your life. Decide what are |
| time), many of the details will fall into place naturally | | | | the most important things to get involved with right |
| with your kids, and you won't be so worried about | | | | now, and leave the rest for later. By doing so, you are |
| whether you are saying the right thing all the time. Stay | | | | modeling a healthy lifestyle to your children, as well. |
| balanced, stay calm, stay loving. Those are the most | | | | 5. Work on something you truly love. Sometimes the |
| important things for sane stay-at-home moms. | | | | best thing for our peace of mind is a small business or |
| 2. Surround yourself with positive things. Read positive, | | | | hobby that we can work at on the side. This is a great |
| uplifting books on parenting. Get to know other positive | | | | time of your life to start doing something (on a regular |
| parents. As a stay at home mom, we are often the | | | | basis) that you've always loved to do. Over the next |
| only adult in the house, so it falls on us to set the | | | | five years or so, this pursuit may even grow to |
| proper tone for our day with the kids. Make sure you | | | | something that you can do full time. Start a novel or a |
| are in the proper frame of mind, and if you're not - do | | | | memoir, learn how to bead artistic jewelry, paint or |
| what needs to be done so that you are in a positive | | | | scrapbook or start an online business. Having a hobby |
| mental state. You might need a brisk bit of exercise | | | | or a small business that you do on a very part-time |
| before your spouse leaves for work in the morning. | | | | basis while you are spending time at home with the |
| You might need to invite a friend over for coffee or | | | | kids is a great way to keep yourself active in the |
| you may simply need a few minutes of quiet time with | | | | world of grownups, and it's a great way to keep |
| your favorite uplifting book. Your frame of mind is one | | | | yourself from being swallowed up the tedious chores |
| of the most important aspects of a good day, and it's | | | | of the day. Work can be so fulfilling. Let this time in |
| up to you to cultivate it. Your children will mirror your | | | | your life help you to build something for yourself, as |
| mood, so it's in your best interest to make it a good | | | | well. |
| one. | | | | 6. Take good care of yourself. In order to stay in |
| 3. Don't do this alone. It's vital to keep yourself | | | | proper balance as a stay at home mom, you'll need to |
| connected, even if you stay in your own four walls | | | | make a little bit of time each day to nurture yourself. |
| most of the time. Here are a few ideas: Join a book | | | | When your children are napping or playing quietly by |
| club, keep engaged in professional clubs and | | | | themselves, resist the urge to cram in one more chore. |
| associations, start a blog and reach out to other stay | | | | Instead, sit down, put your feet up and get lost in a |
| at home mothers. Whatever you do, it can be really | | | | book every now and then - if only for a few minutes. |
| helpful to connect with a group of other SAHMs. The | | | | Your time as a stay at home mom will likely be one of |
| moms I met in my first daughter's infant playgroup | | | | the most rewarding and one of the most challenging |
| remain my friends to this day. Find a playgroup where | | | | times in your life as a woman. Remind yourself each |
| you can get out of the house and talk to other stay at | | | | day that, though your job is difficult, it is also very |
| home moms about the unique challenges you are | | | | important. And it's important that you stay balanced |
| facing. Share your ideas and frustrations and even | | | | and happy as a mother, as well. |
| swap childcare so you can get out and do a few | | | | |