I just roll with the punches and try not to be too hard on myself. Everyone has their own set of standards. For instance you might say to yourself "Ok, everything else in the house can suffer but I have to have the clothes washed and the dishes done. And of course the homework for the kids!"
Everyone is different, but you will find that time passes very quickly and the one regret you will have is that you spent too much time worry about things that really didn't matter in the first place.
Yes, worrying over things that do not matter that much in the first place is very time consuming! Definately do with out that!
What keeps the stress level down is listening. My kids want to be heard and listening sure reduces household stress. Not the gripe stuff but all the other stuff. It also helps them learn how to express themselves and to not be shy about thier ideas.
My daily stress level is usually low because I have a happy, well adjusting, child that I have raised myself. We get to live at our own pace and I very rarely miss any special moments.
How do I keep stress at a minimum? By being a true stay at home mom, not a run around mom. LOL! We rarely go farther than our backyard on a weekday.
We have 6 children. 3 are school age, and we home school. That eliminates the rush for the bus, don't forget your homework stress of the morning. Most days can be geared toward what we need to get done, and can start a little later if we are tired.
Teaching your children to respect and obey you from an early age is a huge help to keeping the stress level down.
When I need a break, it is not usually from the children themselves. It is from the constant neediness. Someone always needs my help! After putting them to bed at night, sometimes I just hang out and watch T.V. for awhile with my husband. If I really need to get out, I will put them to bed and go out to Wal-Mart or something like that.
Having a supportive husband helps, too. He is very understanding of me needing to get out by myself sometimes, and is happy to stay with the kids while I go out.
Last, and definitely most important, I know this is where God wants me to be right now, and I can feel His strength when mine is lacking. Even though we have tough days, the conviction that I am doing the right thing for my family makes me willing to get out of bed and try again the next day.
As a mom to a special needs child, my stress level can sometimes go through the roof! Over the years beginning with his diagnosis, I have buit up a wonderful support network. I rely on these people to help me when I think I just can't take one more thing. I have joined some wonderful groups in my hometown. Even if you don't have a special needs child, there are some fantastics groups, just look around and see which ones jibe with your interests or goals for your child.And of course there is always chocolate! lol
Hello all stay at home mothers: I feel like its a true blessing to be able to stay home and teach my 3 year old son how to be a polite child.My Husband works shift work at night time part time.I do feel Enveous of him sometimes that I can't go out and work around the Adult World.He tells me that he feels the same way about me staying home all day with our 3 year old son.So you have two perspectives to look at here.I got laid up for 2 weeks with a sprained ankle.He found out that its hard work keeping a 3 year old occupied all day long from 6:00am-7:30pm.He wonders how I get anything done with my son hanging all over him.I judt smiled and giggled and told him I make time for the dishes... Laundry....cooking sometimes....Vaccuming.....The time he told me this was after he got off work on the sunday morning I am a zombie.....How do you do it all and still make time for other things like watching TV or having time alone for yourself.... I told him Baby I Dearly Love You, But God made the choice for me to be the stay at home mom and you to be the go to work daddy. My Husband now thanks me for the things that I do get done around the house and is less concerned about what did not get done. I do ask him in the mornings before he goes to work is there anything that you want done before you get home? Sometimes he tells me to do the laundry to wash his shirts, other times he says whatever you can do to help the house look better fine.
I am a new at home mom. My baby is 2 months old and already I feel the stress of the world on my shoulders. I am the only one in my household that doesn't work so that leaves me to take care of the baby, do housework, and do laundry. I love being at home with the baby, but sometimes it is so hard to find me time.
Yes Pirlte-Turtle, finding the time for all that you have to do in one day is probably the most stressful thing of them all!!! And for a new stay at home mom like yourself it is very overwhelming. But i've got some advise. From one SAHM to another. This is what i do, it took quite a few years for it too catch on for me but it works wonders, when its getting way to stressful, and it feels the world is coming down on you, the house seems to just be getting messier, the laundry is obviously not doing itself, and your baby really needs your attention more then normal. Just take you baby, and play, do what you need to do to unwind, lay the baby down for a nap, move the baby blanket off the couch, put your feet up and RELAX!!! Yes, i know your thinking that this lady has got to be crazy. But no, i'm really not. Granted our housework isn't getting done at that moment, but it will get done. You are no good to NO ONE being stressed and wiped out. Another good one that works for me, is at night after the baby is sleeping and you still have 2 loads of laundry to do. Look at those last 2 loads and say heck with you, because it will still be there tomorrow after you get a good night sleep. You can do it then. Thats what i do. And you know i have found that after i realized that if i don't get to it right then and there, and it will still be there for me later, my house actually stays cleaner, because i'm not wearing myself out trying to do it ALL at one time.
Haha, stress is an everyday thing around here. I'm a SAHM and an Army wife. I have stayed at home with my kids for 3 years now, and I love it. I take things at my own pace for the most part, I assign different tasks to different days, and don't usually go anywhere during the week unless I have to. It helps keep me sane. LOL A playdate or a lunch during the week does help tho. It's nice to talk to other mom's and let your kids play with other kids.
Im not a sahm anymore but when i was i can say, keep busy! Its the only way i reduced my stress. But it depends on your personality. when i had nothing to do, when i just sat around with the baby. i would get so depressed, so stressed out. when i was busy iwas able to keep the ball rolling get more accomplished. So... i went back to wrk. i get more donw between 3-8pm (afterwork) then i ever got done when i was home alllll day long doing nothing. its weird but im happier and less stressed. and make time for exercise! YOGA is great for your mind and body! if you cant get to a class - buy a dvd. get up before the baby and do it for an hour or less if you have to! you maynot wanna roll out of bed but it will give you energy all day and clear your mind for your days plan! you'll get more accomplished hence.. less stress! and the less stress you have.. the happier baby you will have. babies sense stress... and get cranky! be happy and your kids will be better too! i learned that the hard way!
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Yes, worrying over things that do not matter that much in the first place is very time consuming! Definately do with out that!
