Some say that being a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) is one of the most rewarding experiences a mother could ever have. However, some SAHMs would not agree with that sentiment. It is safe to say that all SAHMs, at least some of the time, would disagree with the idea that they were enjoying the most rewarding experience of their lives by spending 24/7 with their spawn. Being a SAHM is isolating, exhausting, and sometimes depressing. Sometimes SAHMs feel like they’re spending the prime of their life with nothing to show for themselves but a few filthy children and a sloppy house.
Often times, SAHMs experience guilt that they cannot find enough time in one day to keep their homes clean, provide healthy meals and mentally engaging activities for their children, and slap some makeup on so that they vaguely resemble the bride their husband fell in love with by the time he gets home from work. The fact is, it’s just more than one human can pull off in a day. The best thing a SAHM can do for her family is to cut herself some slack sometimes. Without carrying the guilt and shame, as well as a mile long to-do list, a mom has the clarity and positive outlook to make the most of time spent with her children. A few actions a mom should never feel bad for taking to improve her own quality of life, as well as her family’s, include:
- Going Out to Dinner
Giving yourself a night off from kitchen duties is a great way to recharge your mommy batteries. If you worked a nine-to-five job, you would have the weekends to relax and rejuvenate. When you’re a SAHM, there is no such thing as having a day off; you often don’t even get a full night of sleep or bathroom breaks to yourself. The least you could do is take one night a week and save yourself the hassle of cooking and making a huge kitchen mess that you have to clean up. - Finding a Maid Service
Spending your day cleaning your home, only to have the previous room destroyed by the time the next one is clean, is incredibly infuriating. Finding a maid service is a great way to get your home sparkling without having to ignore your kids the entire day. Plus, there is far less yelling and crying involved in finding a maid service than trying to do the work yourself. It can be difficult to justify the cost of finding a maid service when you’re a one-income family, but many same-day maid services will deep clean your home for less than the amount you save by clipping coupons for a few weeks. - Paying for Beauty Services
Often times, SAHMs are so absorbed in taking care of their children and their homes that they lose themselves. It is not uncommon for a SAHM to go a day or two without showering. Putting makeup on and doing your hair seems like a waste of time when you’ll be spending your day jamming pureed food into babies’ mouths and teaching toddlers to go potty. But, taking the time to take care of yourself will make you feel feminine and confident. Feeling good about yourself gives your more patience with your children and a better attitude, even when they are frustrating. - Having a Gym Membership
Along the same vein as the previous point, being physically healthy improves your state of mind and gives you the energy to handle the meltdowns and messes of being a mommy. We realize that when you don’t even have enough time to brush your teeth in peace, you probably feel overwhelmed at the thought of taking hours to yourself to work on your physical fitness. At least give yourself the time to follow a workout routine on YouTube in the chaos of your own home from time to time.
Are you a stay-at-home-mom? Do you do any of the things we mentioned above? How else do you keep yourself sane? Please share your tips for survival in the comment section below!
