Choosing to be a stay-at-home mom can be scary for sure! Especially when you are used to bringing home a paycheck. As a stay-at-home mom, you will lose out on some things. But, what you gain will be priceless! And the truth is, you don’t have to lose it all. You don’t have to wear your pajamas all day long and feel worthless. Instead, you can wear the title of a stay-at-home mom with pride and know that you have one of the most important jobs of all! A full-time mom and wife. Stay happy as a stay-at-home mom with these tips.
Being a stay-at-home mom requires a lot of love, patience, grit, responsibilities, and commitment. As a stay-at-home mom, you will wear many hats from hockey mom to cab driver to in-house chef to janitor to doctor to a teacher to a mentor. You name it!
Yes! It gets overwhelming at times which can lead to mom burnout.
It’s so easy to lose ourselves when we become moms because we are so caught up in perfecting our roles as mothers that many times we are running on auto-pilot.
The adage that – “moms don’t get sick” no longer holds. Moms do get sick. I’m living proof of that! And I’m sure you are too! ?
Another thing we have in common is wanting to be the best stay-at-home mom we possible can be. And to give our little ones what they deserve while staying happy as stay-at-home moms.
Here’s how you can stay happy as a stay-at-home mom.
15 Ways To Stay Happy As A Stay-at-home Mom
1. Stay happy as a stay-at-home mom by waking up early
Waking up early obviously means going to bed on time. It’s super important to get enough rest as a mom. So make getting enough rest non-negotiable.
Waking up before everyone else will allow you some quiet time for yourself. You can use this time for self-care where you get to do whatever you want for YOU. Whether that means:- reading your favorite book or magazine. Listening to a podcast or binge-watching one of your favorite episodes while enjoying your morning coffee. Journaling, meditating, checking emails, reading a blog post. Do something for yourself!
This will set the stage for your entire day. You will feel happy and accomplished because you were able to take care of yourself as a mom.
Related post:
2. Set an intention for your day
Setting daily intentions is such a powerful tool. A tool that we should all utilize to get the most out of our day. Setting an intention for your day allows you to align your goals with your daily routine. You identify how you want to feel throughout your day, and the things you want to accomplish. What do you want to give and receive today?
By focusing on your daily intention you will find that you can easily embrace the realities of being a stay-at-home mom and whatever your day throws at you.
Your daily intention can be something like:
- Today, I want to focus on all the good things in my life
- I’m embracing my journey as a mom
- I am committed to being present for my kids
Related posts:
3. To stay happy as a stay-at-home mom, get dressed
There’s so much truth in the saying – we feel how we look!
When was the last time you woke up and got dressed? Wore jeans and a beautiful sweater or blouse? Ditch the mom bun and brush your hair? Wore some makeup or lip gloss?
It’s been a while, is my guess?
Hey mama! Being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t require you to wear your jammies all day. No! It doesn’t!
So what if – small handprints of ketchup get all over your sweater and jeans!? 20 years from now, you would look back and smile at these wonderful memories. You would love them all!
Spending a few minutes to get dressed in the morning will influence how you feel throughout your day. You will feel like the confident and proud mama you are.
Are you ready to ditch those jammies and mommy buns?
Relate post:
4. Get that body of yours moving
Science shows that moving our body makes us feel good and help us to be more creative. And most importantly – it’s good for our health. If you don’t like exercising or find it difficult to commit to an exercise routine. Turn the famous Cocomelon on and dance away with your kids. It’s perfect for any age if you ask me. GoNoodle is another hit in my home. My kids love it!
The important thing here is to get your body moving while having fun with your child/ren.
You can also go outside for a walk. As soon as you head outside, you will feel less stressed and tense as you release some of that bottled-up emotions. That’s the effect nature has on us.
5. It’s ok to ask for help even when you are a stay-at-home mom
As stay-at-home mothers, we believe that we have to do it all. That is far from the truth. Yes! we have a lot of responsibilities, but it doesn’t mean we can’t ask for help when things are feeling out of control, and we desperately need a break.
Asking for help doesn’t showcase that you are weak or unable to take care of your kids.
To me, it’s quite the opposite. You are demonstrating that you’ve recognized the importance of caring for yourself and ensuring that your cup is full to serve your kids and spouse to the best of your abilities.
So every once in a while, call up your mom, in-law, a trusted friend, or family member, your spouse. Ask if they can help out with the kids for a few hours while you have some time for yourself. You can choose this time to go for a stroll in the mall, get a mani/Pedi done, or just stay at home and get some rest.
6. Setting up break intervals will help you to stay happy
Kids are full of energy! Wouldn’t it be nice if we had half of their energy?!
Chances are – they will want to keep going all day. While this is great stimulation for them, it can wear you out. Plan your day and have regular break times where you can sit for 15 minutes and either scroll your phone, call your mom, or read the newspaper…
Translate to your child that now is where we each get a few minutes to do something we love. Allow your child to choose an age-appropriate activity. Whether it’s building a puzzle, coloring, watching a cartoon, or playing a game by himself.
Regular breaks will allow you to have time for yourself to decompress and release whatever tension you may have built up during the day.
Plus, when your child plays with himself, he is learning to be independent and will be able to explore more on his own. Just ensure you are sitting where you can keep an eye on your child for safety reasons.
Related post:
7. You don’t have to always say yes
Do you feel like you always have to say yes because you’re a stay-at-home mom? Why do you think it’s necessary to say yes? Is it a sense of obligation because you’re a stay-at-home mom?
To stay happy as a stay-at-home mom, you must learn to say no. You don’t always have to run an errand you don’t want to or help out that friend or family member who always needs a favor yet never has time for you when you require help.
You don’t have to be the first to volunteer to make play-doh for your kid’s class or bake Sheppard pie for a family gathering. As a stay-at-home mom, you already got a mountain of duties; you don’t need to be adding on top of it. Learn it say NO!
8. Know your worth as a stay-at-home mom
It’s easy to lose your identity when you become a stay-at-home mom. We forget our authentic selves and our worth and assume that because we are homemakers, we can’t make decisions involving finances, investments, and even our own lives. We look at others for validation and often turn to others for advice rather than looking deep into ourselves to find out what we truly want.
Don’t let the title of stay-at-home mom make you play small or feel less than. You are doing so much good for your family and are contributing to saving. Think of your monthly babysitting bills and having to purchase a lot more dinners than you would like. Don’t be mistaken about who you are and your contributions. You don’t need a paycheck to know that you are worthy and provide for your family. A paycheck doesn’t define you!
Related post
9. Commit to doing something you love while you’re at home
Stay happy as a stay-at-home mom by doing something you love! Whether that’s having a family garden, knitting, craft, writing, or coloring. Whatever it is! Get started with a hobby. Having a hobby forces you to take some time for yourself as a mom. It helps you to declutter your mind and tap into your creative side. And who knows, maybe one day your hobby will allow you to create your dream career. The skies are the limit when you find a hobby that aligns with your values.
10. Be kind to yourself and don’t compare
There are a Kazillion ways to be a mother. Don’t compare what you are doing to what another mom is doing. Every child’s needs are different. Show up and be the best mom you possibly can be to your child/ren. We all mess up as moms. It’s inevitable in motherhood. Don’t be harsh on yourself. Forgive yourself and understand your actions. The best part is – you can always try again and improve on those actions. When you are unkind to yourself, your kids will sense it. Everyone around you will, and we don’t want that now. Do we?!
Give yourself the same love and compassion you give your loved ones. It will make you a happy and proud mom. It will make your home a happier and more beautiful home.
11. Enjoy being a stay-at-home mom by focusing on what you can do
You can’t do it all every day. Period! Some days will be better than others. Some days you will be able to have the home spotless, dishes cleaned and packed away, dinner on the table, and laundry folded. Other days – well, it just won’t go as planned. You would feel like you ran a marathon yet accomplished nothing. Days like these are normal. Don’t feel like you’re the worst mom on the planet or like you’ve messed up big time. You haven’t. Day’s like these call for pizza. And it’s okay to order in once or twice a week if you have to. You don’t have to do it all. Focus on what you can do!
12. Communicate with your partner
If you don’t share your feelings and needs with your partner, there’s a high possibility that they are not going to know how you are feeling. They will probably not ask you either because they assume you’re doing fine.
Let’s face it; our spouses also face a lot of crap at the workplace! Let’s be compassionate to them.
Have conversations with each other. Share about your day and ask how their day went. Let them know when you need help. Ask for what you want help with. Do not assume they should know you need help. We all fall into the trap of thinking our spouses know what we want and when they don’t – we throw ourselves a pity party. Sounds familiar?
13. Meet up with other stay-at-home moms
It can get pretty lonely when you’re a stay-at-home mom. You will miss those coffee chats and having adult conversations with your besties or co-workers.
Be courageous and start a conversation with a mom at the play park/mall or while walking through your neighborhood.
Is there an organization in your community that hosts weekly or monthly meet-ups for moms? If not, consider starting one. Seek out moms from your local community mom Facebook group. If there’s none. Here’s another great opportunity for you to create one and get other moms together. They will appreciate it, and you and your kids will build some amazing friendships.
14. Planning the night before will help you to stay happy as a stay-at-home mom
Proactive is better than reactive.
For as long as I can remember, this has been my motto. I love staying organized and on top of things. It’s one of my pet peeves. To do this, I usually plan my day the night before. Some days not everything will go as planned, but hey, at least you have a structure for your day.
Take a few minutes and plan the night before. If you are heading to the park or public library/ mall, have your diaper bag or backpack packed and ready to go. Have snacks prepared and easy to grab and go.
If you’re staying in, plan meals and activities for the day. Always be prepared for the unexpected as well. As a mom, you probably already knew that!
15. Have fun being a stay-at-home mom
Every once in a while, you may look back and miss the paycheck, the career you spend years building. When this happens (and yes, your ego will visit you often) don’t give in. Look at your kid’s smiling faces and all the first times you were fortunate to witness. The dropping off and picking up from school. Raising strong, confident, and happy kids who know mom is always there when they need her. That’s a win for sure! Focus on the positives.
Here’s to being the best and happiest stay-at-home mom
Being a stay-at-home mom is a luxurious privilege. It’s one that I’m truly grateful for. Yes! It can get pretty overwhelming at times. But I feel like that’s all part of the motherhood experience.
If you’re on the fence and unsure if being a stay-at-home mom is right for you. Take some time and weigh your pros and cons.
Grab a notebook and write how you feel about being a stay-at-home mom.
Ask your future self what she would do if she was allowed to be a stay-at-home mom.
Look deep within, and you will get the answers you are searching for.
And for all the stay-at-home moms out there, please share with us in the comments – how do you stay happy as a stay-at-home mom. I would love to hear.
As usual, please share this blog post with another mom.
