5 Tips To Make SAHM Life A Little Easier
And more enjoyable to boot!
5 Tips To Make SAHM Life A Little Easier
As I sat down to write this week, I initially looked at my list of ideas. Many of them are big, philosophical questions about the state of motherhood and why we as women often struggle with this amazing role we’ve been given. But sitting down at the computer, I realized I wanted to share some practical, boots-on-the-ground advice for my first-gen SAHM sisters out there. Because even though I think daily about the big questions, I am also constantly figuring out how to make my days at home feasible and fun.
Being a SAHM to my two little boys is my great joy, but as with any job, it takes commitment to the craft. And so today, I want to share some simple tips that can help you through your day as a mom and hopefully give you some much-needed tools to make each day more enjoyable. So let’s dive right in!
Stations. I came across this idea on the internet a while ago and it has been such a great addition to our daily routine. Even though we don’t do it every day, we try to do it at least a couple of times a week! Essentially, while my children are napping or in quiet time, I set up five stations for them to enjoy when they wake up while I take care of chores or cook dinner. I try to keep them independent activities so that they don’t need my help (as much). Some good station ideas include: play-doh, kinetic sand, sensory bins, the Yoto player, stamps and stickers, and books. But we change them out each time and sometimes I just take out toys from the rotation cabinet that my older son hasn’t seen in a while! It’s such a fun system and the structure of the toys presented in this way makes it all seem very exciting to my 2 1/2 year old.
Playdates. Ladies, playdates are EVERYTHING. Not only are they wonderful for your kiddos, they are good for YOU. I have found so much joy in setting up playdates because I have someone to socialize with while my children have fun. We often go to our friend’s houses, and my son gets to play with a whole bunch of new toys we don’t have at home, plus he gets to make friends. And that means less for me to clean up when we get home, too!
Remember you’re the boss. I think sometimes it’s easy to get derailed when your child expresses discontent at the day’s plans. There have been times when my older son told me he didn’t want to go out for our daily activities, and I listened. We stayed home and he got more wild and I got more frustrated and it wasn’t good for any of us. Instead, I’ve learned that I need to remember that I’m the boss. My son doesn’t always know what he wants - he’s at an age where the simple act of transitioning from one place to another is hard for him to comprehend. But once we get to where we are going, he’s a happy camper and I’m happy too because we retained the structure we all need. So remember - you’re the boss. You know what’s best to keep your family’s day going the way you want it to!
Goodwill. Goodwill is one of our favorite places to visit. It’s like a treasure hunt! My sons love to see what toys are available and we save a ton of money on brand new toys that people have donated. Many of our cars and trucks are from Goodwill and they were in perfect condition when we purchased them. And even if you don’t buy anything, it’s fun to see what they have. We often head to Goodwill and then go to a nearby park to play with our thrift finds. Plus, if your children choose a toy that doesn’t have as much longevity as you’d hoped, it’s nice to know that you only spent a few dollars on it and you can donate it right back to where you got it in the first place.
Get on your children’s level. Sometimes I think the hardest thing to remember about being a SAHM is that we are gifted the opportunity to simply sit on the floor and play with our little ones. It’s easy to get caught up in the chores, or only want to read to your children. But sometimes, they want your help to build a magnatile tower or megablocks house; sometimes, they want you to pretend to be a dinosaur alongside them; sometimes, they want you to put the puzzle together as they help. I find that on the days I don’t spend as much time just playing with my kiddos, they actually act out more. So I’ve purposefully built into my schedule chunks of time to just sit and play. My children’s cups are exponentially more full when I do so, and they are therefore more pleasant to be around the rest of the day. If you’re ever struggling with behavior, shower your child with attention and love for a solid 15-30 minutes. Then see how they respond.
I hope these tips inspired you to try some new things with your children! Do you have any tips? Share them below!
Thanks Abby!
The hack I've found that's made a big difference in my days is to make my children's lunches the night before or after breakfast. We're often out in the morning and when we come home everyone is hungry and tired. Making lunch used to be so chaotic and my children would complain or say they didn't want what I was preparing. Now, I grab their plates from the fridge and I'm free to take care of things and they don't complain about what's on their plates. It sounds small but it's made a big difference for me in making the day run smoothly.
Love this!!