Every stay at home mom knows how challenging some days (& seasons) at home with her kids can be. But, if us stay at home moms could do ourselves some favors and be ahead of the game, we would have less moments of stress and be able to more thoroughly enjoy being home with our littles.
Here are some tips I’d like to share for other stay at home moms of things I’ve learned in my season of being home full time:
Leave the house everyday.
Especially when the weather is warm out, it is crucial to leave the house. I had a friend of 2 kids tell me the other day that that particular day she didn’t leave the house with the kids and it was a mistake. Kids thrive off exploring new places/things and getting out of the house. And you will too! Aim for one outing a day. This could be an outing to the park or the zoo. It could also be a smaller outing like a drive to Starbucks or Target. It helps break up the day and acts as a reset for emotions too (for the kids and yourself!).
Get outside each day.
You and the kids both need Vitamin D. Even if it’s 10 minutes, get outside with them. There are a lot of things to do outside with the kids. Here are some things we’ve been loving lately.
- Long walks- good exercise for me and they love being in the stroller
- Bike rides- either you walk while they bike or my husband loves biking and having our toddler in the bike attachment carrier thing
- Chalk & bubbles- these are cheap and easy outside entertainments for littles
- Water activities- either a sensory activity with water or fill up a pool
Get up for the day before the kids.
I’ve never regretted getting up before my kids. I like to read my Bible and get ready in silence. I also like to get started on breakfast. Even just 30 minutes in quiet helps set the tone for the day. To me, a little lack of sleep is worth it to be able to start my day alone and not wake up to a crying baby (cause we all know that feeling).
Prep for the day.
This is pretty broad, but one thing I like to do is prep ahead of time for what’s coming later. Here are a couple examples:
- Lay out pjs and tomorrow’s outfits after nap time finishes
- Keep toys, diapers, & wipes in the car at all times for easy access while out and about
- Always keep the diaper bag stocked and don’t wait to grab it and add things until right before you want to leave the house
- Always have snacks and water accessible when out and about
- Keep your stroller in your car so it’s one less thing to pack up when trying to leave the house
- Start breakfast before the kids are awake
- Do toy resets throughout the day so it’s less to clean up right before bed
- Never go to bed with the toy room (or kids’ bedrooms) messy
See it as a blessing not a burden.
Being a stay at home mom is truly a blessing. It can be easy to focus on how challenging it is and forget the important role we have! It can be easy to feel a lack of purpose or identity in this season at times. Even the mundane things we do all day like cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry are making a difference in our homes and the lives of our kids/husband. Your kids one day will thank you for sacrificing for them.
If you’re also a stay at home mom, what tips do you have that have helped you?
Tia Marie 🙂
tia marie 