stay-at-home moms
Mommy Time
Let's face it—parenting children is challenging. Not only do kids demand our constant attention, it's our job to protect and teach them. It's not an easy task, and it wears down even the most devoted mother. Fatigue takes over, exhaustion sets in, and it doesn't take long before your body gives you a message: Take a break!
Whether you're a full-time mother or full-time working mother, demands of raising children deplete emotional, physical and spiritual reserves to dangerously low levels. Motherhood is rewarding and worth the sacrifice involved, but we can spend so much time caring for others we forget to think about ourselves.
If you are growing increasingly impatient with your children, are always tired or are unable to pray, you've probably come to the end of your reserves and need to make some changes. These following suggestions may help recharge your batteries and create balance in your life:
- Practice good medicine by caring for your body. Exercising regularly can be invigorating. Eating fruit and veggies instead of junk food can also supercharge our immune systems. And when was the last time you had a full night's sleep? Taking cat naps during the day does more good than you might think—it restores our physical and emotional energy.
- Take a vacation … every day! Leave the laundry, dishes, and dusting behind and take a mini-break. Allowing ourselves 30 minutes to relax or engage in a hobby alleviates stress.
- Be a Pollyanna and focus on all that is good in your life. We have much to be grateful for, and the more ways we express our gratitude, the more we enjoy life and are able to handle the tough times.
- Be passionate. Pursuing interests creates positive feelings that translate into physical energy. Revisit your dreams. Spend time thinking about your talents and abilities and find ways to use them now if possible.
- Remember that you can't control it all. Don't try to control everyone or fix everything. Control is God's job, and the more we allow Him to be in charge, the more emotional and physical energy we will have. If we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves or our families, we'll end up tired and disappointed. When deciding to take on a task, learn to gauge your time and energy.
- Plug into your true source of power. Bible study, prayer and worship keep our spiritual tanks full and enable us to sail through difficult days. Research indicates that people who belong to a church, experience greater happiness and better health.
Remember, God commands us to care for our own health by achieving a satisfying balance between work and play. As we pursue our passions and fulfill our dreams, we can show our children how they can care for their own mental, physical and spiritual health—through God, who strengthens us.
Background Information
Making Good Decisions
What to do about avoidance — one of the biggest time wasters around.
Safe at Home
Staying at home with the kids isn't necessarily the "easy way out" of working.
Questions and Answers
What would you and your wife do if the resources permitted her to stay at home after the kids were in school?
Answer
Do you feel it is still important to have Mom at home in the teen years?
Answer
I love our baby a lot and wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, but I don't understand why I'm so depressed.
Answer
I'm about to leave my position as a corporate executive to become a full-time, stay-at-home mom. What can I do to make this transition go smoothly?
Answer
We need a little more income to make it in my family, but I have preschool children and don't want to seek employment outside the home. Is there an alternative for me to pursue?
Answer
Review Frequently Asked Questions
Stories
How Motherhood Changed Me
One professional woman recounts her first few weeks at home, alone, with her new baby.
If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.Share Your Story
Other Things to Consider
Even Though We Ain't Got Money…
That phrase – live on love – kept bringing to mind a song they played on the radio when I was a kid. I scoffed at its utter lack of common sense.
Following the Leader: Helping Your Husband Find His Place in the Home
Moms, do you ever wonder why dad doesn't "connect" with the family? Try these gentle nudges to help him find his place in your home.
Related Topics
Transitions: Changing Jobs, Moving
Relationships: Communication Gaps
Parenting Teens: Communication Problems
