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Relationships July 21, 2017
Because sometimes you just need a little help.
Being a stay-at-home mom is not easy. At all.
It’s basically the day job that never ends. Tending to your children’s needs all day long and regularly having sleepless nights can easily wear a woman down.
When your children are your number one priority, it’s easy to lose sight of your own needs. If you’re an overwhelmed and overworked mommy say amen! ENTITY hears you and we’re here to help.
Here are five tips and tricks to get past the baby mama blues.
The work of stay-at-home moms is undeniably beneficial to the health and growth of children. Most of your day is probably eaten up by making lunches and dealing with tantrums. We totally get it. You probably feel like there’s no extra time in the day, but it is imperative for stay-at-home moms to prioritize the things they love (outside of their kids).
Mia Redrick from The Huffington Post told moms, “Once you identify some basic needs that you might have – like time with friends, starting graduate school, writing your book or just carving out consistent time to be alone at home – with the help of your family, you can begin this road back to you.” Being a mother does not mean you have to get lost in the shuffle.
Read a chapter of your favorite book before bed. Do yoga for 15 minutes before you wake the kids up. Maybe do some freelance work. Whatever your pastime of choice, make a bit of time for you. Before being a mom, you are a woman with normal needs. Mia Redrick said it best when she said, “Your self-care isn’t negotiable, it is necessary to be the best mom possible.”
When there are messes everywhere you look and kids screaming in your ear all day, it’s easy to feel burnt out at both ends. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, then the daily stresses of life can feel like the end of the world.
If you feel stressed now you will be even more stressed when you’re groggy. According to WebMD, sleep deprivation increases the anxiety-producing hormone, cortisol. Additionally, it slows down motor functions and the ability to concentrate. Sleep deprivation is a huge problem for moms behind the wheel, especially with little ones in the backseat. In an AAA study, it showed that driving while sleepy was found to be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
Jodi A. Mindell, PhD shared the importance of catching Z’s in the book “Sleep Deprived No More: From Pregnancy to Early Motherhood.” Mindell reminded readers, “You’re more likely to make mistakes when you’re tired. You’re more likely to slip and fall … or forget to fasten the straps of your baby’s high chair.” In other words, sleeping is critical for your own health, but also the safety of your children.
When you’re focused on feeding everyone around you, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. However, there are many reasons to make nutrition a priority.
Healthline reported that “clean eating” helps curb weight gain, improve mood and makes you less susceptible to diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. According to Healthy Children, nutritious eating is even more imperative for breastfeeding mothers because it impacts your children’s health as well.
The American Council on Exercise conducted a study that showed how walking 30 minutes everyday significantly reduced the chance of premature death. While living a long life is a goal for anyone, exercise is even more important for breastfeeding mothers. According to What to Expect, exercise can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, fight fatigue and speed up recovery from childbirth.
Hitting the gym and munching on a salad probably doesn’t sound too exciting when you’re stressed out and running on no sleep. However, healthy habits are well worth it if they improve your quality of life. Remember, it’s for sanity, not vanity.
No doubt, being a stay-at-home mom can get hectic at times.
Depression is a common symptom of stay-at-home mom syndrome. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. In an interview with BYU Magazine, mommy bloggerJuliana Hacken Montgomery talked about her blog, True Confessions of a Mormon Mother. It delves into her experiences with depression and anxiety from raising an autistic son.
She opened up to BYU about why she believes blogging can be beneficial for stay-at-home moms. “I wanted to affirm to myself and others that you’re still a good person, even if parenting is really hard for you,” she said. Writing and reading mommy blogs can be a powerful reminder that you aren’t alone.
Sometimes motherhood can feel like juggling 20 things at once.
Being a stay-at-home mom can make you feel as though it’s your duty to juggle it all. It is not.
Katherine Wintsh from Working Mother said that as mothers, “We don’t ask because we believe we’re supposed to have it all figured out. We don’t often see other mothers asking for help so we shy away from asking as well.”
She then pointed out that being a mom is harder than ever. There are more cases of childhood obesity and autism than ever. Also, she said that motherhood involves constant learning curves and challenges. If you reach out for help, it not only benefits you, it also shows other moms in your inner circle that it is okay for them to also. We’re all human, and it’s okay to act like it.
Try not to take on more than you can handle. If you have already done that then allow those who love you to give you much needed support. On a side note, a glass of wine can also be a mom’s best friend. Decompress and do your best. You deserve it.
In life and in motherhood, we are our harshest critics. In a scientific study, it was shown that stay-at-home moms are more likely to feel angry, sad and depressed than working moms. There tended to be more guilt and anxiety for mom’s at home, and many believed what they’re doing is never enough.
One of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself is letting go of wanting to be perfect. It’s okay to be an imperfect parent and make mistakes. It’s normal. Lauren from The Stay at Home Mom Survival Guide tells fellow mamas that, “Some days we may be really productive and find ways to keep a clean house. Other days we may spend the entire time consoling a tired toddler. That’s okay! If you don’t complete everything on your to-do list, don’t feel guilty.”
Basically, being a stay at home mom can be a challenge in many ways. Even though your kids come first, you also deserve to be on your own priority list.
Try to practice self-love and self-care whenever you get the chance. At the end of the day just know that your best is always good enough.
You’re doing great, mama.