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Keeping Your Sanity with Little Ones When your children are little it is often seems hard to keep your sanity all in one piece. It seems that some days all you do is talk to someone three or under. Words like "potty", "dink" or "cookie" are the limit of your vocabulary! I know how it feels to go through this. I know what it is like to long for another mom just to share baby woes with or talk to like an adult. I now what it feels like to be made feel like you am doing less than you should be because you choose your baby over a job! The first three of our seven children all came within the first four years of our being married. There were times I thought I would go bonkers! But let me encourage you to enjoy these years, it does get better. Here are some things stay at home moms can do to help themselves stay sane. First of all please realize that no matter what anyone else tells you it is so worth it!! You will never, ever regret it! Now find yourself some support -- for some of you the Internet may be your only support. Thank God for it! That kind of support was not here years ago when mine were little. Try and keep up with what's going on in the world - watch the news, read the newspaper, listen a favorite program. Just keep a feel for the world around you. Keep time alone with your husband a priority. Make sure you and hubby have time alone even if it is what we do still - date night in the living room with a special dinner cooked by me or subs ordered and a video after everyone is in bed. Try to find another mom to do things with, your own mom, another lady at church, someone to go shopping with or just to walk in the park with. You might try to look for a play group or even a homeschool group. They always have little ones and often have play days, who knows you may even decide to try it. Scout out places that have things going on for families, often they will be low cost, free or offer scholarships. The local YMCA here has Mommy & Me type days where moms with little ones can come in, do a craft, play or swim for an hour and it's free. Most libraries have story hours once a week for toddlers and preschoolers. During the summer the pools often have a cheap or free day and a baby pool. When weather permits take your little one to the park or playground. Even a baby likes to sit in the stroller and look around, they may even nap while you sit on the bench with a good book. Go walk the mall with your little one. Push them around or let them roam the long aisle and treat yourself to a milkshake. One of my favorite ways of relaxing is a bubble bath and good book while my husband plays with the baby. Another way to relax is to find a hobby that you enjoy. Crochet, cross-stitch, whatever you like to do. Keep in mind it may take a year to finish those baby booties, but hey, give it your best shot. Prayer and quiet time, even if it is just fifteen minutes, is a great way to rejuvenate and we all need it. But the thing that can help you the most is knowing that these days will be gone sooner than you can blink and you will wish they were back! So, find ways to help you get through the hectic time of life with babies and toddler, while cherishing the moments.
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Copyright 2001 by Belinda Mooney. Belinda has been homeschooling her 7 children for over 16 years. She is the author of The Sugar Creek Gang Adventure Guides as well as unit studies for homeschoolers. In her spare time she manages several websites including www.learninghaven.com and teaches classes for homeschoolers at www.universalclass.com. |
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