Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
Too bad no manual gets handed out once you become a stay-at-home mom!
From managing the family schedule to keeping the house - and everyone in it - ship shape and happy (including keeping yourself sane), it takes some skill and realistic expectations to make it work. Luckily, you can teach yourself the skills for creating a joyful, organized home and family.
Read these ten tips for stay-at-home moms.
Create routines - Routines keep everything in check, plus help young children feel safe because they know what to expect in their day. A morning routine may include a tickle fight, 30 minutes of TV at breakfast, then off to play outside. When you know what's coming up next, it's easier on your Mom Brain too.
Get a planner - It's up to you to choose a physical planner (I like Emily Ley) or a digital one. Keep a promise to keep up with it (I like to fill mine in for the week on Sundays and write tomorrow's to-do's the night before), and it'll help you stay organized. It's also great for backtracking who did what when - like when did you call the pediatrician again? because they haven’t returned your call.
Divvy up the duties - Everyone can pitch in with household chores. Assign age-appropriate tasks for your littles (toddlers can feed pets, preschoolers can set the table). If you have a significant other, ask them what chores they prefer to do. You could also pick days to chore swap. Dad has dinner and dish duty twice a week, for example.
Learn how to meal plan - Benjamin Franklin said it best. "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." Make a list of family favorites, easy back-ups for days when you're dragging, and a list of new recipes to try. Invite the kids to chime in with their ideas! Then, choose a few days a week for your favorites, the low-key days (like cereal night or thawed soup from a previous meal), and a day to whip up a new recipe.
Encourage independence - You're a sahm, not your family's servant. While it feels wonderful to step into this new caretaker role, don't fall into the habit of doing everything for everybody. Children 2-3 years old can help wipe up spills (I keep cut up old towels in a basket on the floor so my kids can grab from it). 4-5 year olds love vacuuming, tending a garden, and putting away (unsharp!) utensils in the drawer. Model what to do first, and have them join in. Soon they'll be able to do it on their own.
Make a snack basket - Get a basket or bin and load it up with snacks (I like Stasher bags to portion out crackers, etc.). Then, put the basket in a place your child can reach. Your kid can grab a snack when they're hungry without coming to you. Use flashcards or draw pictures of food in the fridge, so they remember! And if there's anything wrapped, be sure nothing toxic is inside, like a desiccant pack. Make a rule that they must come to you to open it if there is—for example, Ocean's Halo seaweed chips.
Put clothes on the floor - No, no, no. I mean in an organized - not messy! - way. If you can stand the idea of your child’s clothes not hung up or kept away in a drawer, get a few cute baskets (lids make it more aesthetically pleasing), and put shirts, pants, pajamas, underwear, and socks separately in each one. Place them where your child can safely reach them, like the floor. Now your child can literally pick the clothes they want to wear - which gives them a big boost of self-confidence!
Prep for independent play - You won't get everything done on your to-do list during nap time alone. Encouraging your child to play independently frees you up for other tasks (or other children) and sparks your child's imagination while giving them downtime from the rest of the house. You're a person, not your baby's puppet. That brings me to the next tip…
Decide on a family activity once a week - Taking a cue from Bluey's dad, I ask my boys what they want to do that weekend every Saturday morning. Play with Legos, go to the library, watch the newest Disney movie. I then write on a whiteboard in the kitchen 3-4 family activities (or one-on-one ‘appointments’ with each child), so it’s something we can all look forward to doing. Making space to bond with your family keeps everyone’s emotional cup full. What’s life if all work and no play?
Get out of the house - Staying inside too much can lead to poor sleep, changes in mood and appetite, and a weakened immune system. Whether to the library, park, grocery store, a friend's house, or just down the street, get out and let your skin soak up the sun.
There are many benefits to the sahm mom life, but just as with perks, there are challenges. Turn these stay-at-home mom tips into habits and see how you reap the rewards.
Bio
Kris McCormick is a boy mama, wife, and blogger. Since becoming a mom six years ago, she’s been researching the best advice, resources, and baby gear from small businesses to make pregnancy and child-raising easier for all parents. You can read more about Kris here.
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