Staying Home with Your Children

I always knew I wanted to be home with my children. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I had no idea. I hear this sentiment echoed amongst many other stay at home moms I know. So what should you expecte if you plan to stay home with your children? I’ve heard it said before and it’s so true that being a stay at home mom is the most challenging job you will ever love. It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but it’s also important to keep a few things in mind.

*Balance is key. You can’t possibly get it all done and you shouldn’t put that expectation on yourself. It’s been said a million times but making a list and prioritizing everything on it can work wonders. The baby may not nap as long as you need her to, feeding may take longer than anticipated–there will be unexpected circumstances that can put a damper in your most well meaning plans.

*Keep the baby interested and stimulated. Whether you join a mom’s group, have playdates, or take a class with baby, ensuring that the baby has social interaction is key. This is not only an essential part of baby’s development, but will help you to get out a bit too. It’s a great thing for everyone, so start slow and pick an activity that sounds like a good  match for both of you.

*Try to break your day into blocks. There’s the morning feeding and then (hopefully) nap, think of what you want to accomplish during that ahead of time. Then there’s lunch and the afternoon block, and then the evening routine. Determining when you will fit in meals, naps, bath, reading, and playtime can make the day run smoothly. This schedule will certainly not always run the way you want it to, but it gives you a guideline to work towards. Structure is good for both of you, but just don’t get carried away because you can box yourself in if you’re not careful. It’s a fine line and you will find the best patterns for you and baby.

*Do whatever prep work you can the night before or on a chosen day of the week. If you find yourself struggling to get everything done, then designate the evening to do certain activities. Washing bottles, taking a shower, and even throwing in a load of laundry can easily be done while the baby sleeps at night. it also helps to designate a day of week to cook up some meals to freeze or do your grocery shopping so that it doesn’t build up and weigh you down each and every day.

Being a stay at home mom is the greatest gift and most wonderful job in the world! With some preparation, planning, and a lot of patience you can enjoy being with that little baby each and every day.