This just in, a stay-at-home mom has the hardest job there is. (Like we needed a study to tell us that.)
โNo, I didnโt stop working. I just stopped getting paid for it.โ -Yes Day
Being a stay-at-home mom is hands down, the most demanding job there is. It can feel isolating, defeating, and unrewarding. Noone thanks you for cleaning the toilets or mopping the floors. You donโt get a lunch break, and all too often, all of the time and effort you put into tidying is undone within seconds because, well, children ruin everything.
There are no sick days and no alone time. So if you can swing 10 minutes in the shower by yourself, itโs a damn good day.
As a stay-at-home mom, the house is always in disarray. Thereโs no time for anyone elseโs crap. If you have any self-respect, it goes without saying that your personal space is constantly being intruded upon by little people demanding attention from every angle.
A Stay-At-Home-Moms Survival Guide
Here are ten funny things to remember as a stay-at-home mom and a few simple tricks to be more proactive.
1. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture.
Ha! So, when you lose your patience, try to go easy on yourself. You just spent the last while in survival mode.
2. The house is a mess again, and thatโs ok!
So that pile of clothes in the corner, whatever is stuck to the floor over there (that will not come off no matter how much I scrub it), the dishes in the sink and the pile of paperwork in the office can wait. Breathe!
3. Tidy the house in the evening
Youโll only have to do it once, and it will stay that way until the morning.
4. Make a schedule and stick to it as best you can.
Children are healthier, happier and more well-adjusted with routines. That is until your kid starts teething, and that all goes out the window.
5. Know when to give yourself a time-out.
โThe dog got out of the gate and is running around the neighbourhood, the cat is in that ladyโs garden again, and my youngest is peeing in the backyard. Perfect. I think Iโll pour a glass of wine.โ
6. Control kidsโ screen time and devices.
Itโs never a good idea to give your kid your smartphone. Ensure they have their own tablet or phone. Contrarily, if youโre more of a sharing type like I was, be prepared for Siri to relabel your public profile, poopy-splatter-fart-farty-face or stupid, idiot, idiot ๐
7. Take some time for yourself every day
I do. Itโs called multitasking.
8. If your kids learn foul language, blame the internet.
9. Youโre doing a great job! Everything is going to be ok! ๐
10. If your home cooking sucks, donโt worry. Thereโs an app for that.
House Rules: If itโs funny, youโre not in trouble.
(Having a sense of humour will get you through just about anything)
All joking aside, being a stay-at-home mom was the most rewarding job I never got paid for. And thatโs ok because hugs are always free.
My house was never sparkling clean, and my cooking wasnโt the best; my children may have had more freedom than most, but they were loved and loved well. So, to all of you moms and stay-at-home moms out there, you are everyoneโs hero.
