Staying home with my three boys is a wonderful blessing and a dream come true. But it didn't take very many diaper changes, Barney marathons, nose wipes or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for me to admit to myself, very quietly at first, that motherhood can be monotonous.
The daily, mundane tasks moms face each day, combined with the lack of communication with the "outside" world, can often cause stay-at-home moms to turn to food, TV and the Web to fill the time and to assuage the boredom they face.
But here's the good news! MM (Motherhood Monotony) is treatable and its symptoms can be alleviated and in many cases reversed. By following just a few guidelines, moms can turn these bouts of monotony into rewarding periods of self-improvement.
Don't Forget to Take Care of You
At one point, we had three children, ages three and under. Finding time to sneak in a shower was often next to impossible, let alone fixing my hair and putting on makeup.
But then I realized that taking care of my outward appearance made a huge impact on how I felt on the inside. Taking time for me became a necessity, not a luxury. When I was clean, with my hair fixed and some make-up on, I was in better spirits and more likely to tackle the day with gusto and enthusiasm. Try taking just a few minutes at the beginning of your day to get yourself put together and presentable - you'll be amazed at how much more you will accomplish during the day and how much better you will feel about yourself.
Get Out, Get Out, Get Out!
BK (Before Kids), I never knew that moving children from Point A to Point B would be so physically and mentally demanding. It takes planning, coordination and a lot of patience to safely buckle kids into car seats, maneuver little bodies through treacherous parking lots and encourage proper in-store behavior.
That being said, it is so important for stay-at-home moms to get out of the house several times a week. Here are some ideas:
- Visit the neighborhood park.
- Make a play date with another family.
- Join a Mom's Group.
- Take advantage of preschool activities at the library.
- Find open playtimes at local gymnasiums. These times are designed for families with young children and the cost is usually minimal.
- Visit your city's Children's Museum. Call the museum and ask if they have any free days that are open to the public.
- Adopt an elderly friend as a "grandma" or "grandpa". Your friend will look forward to your family's weekly visit.
Become an Expert in What You Do
Being a mom and a homemaker has pretty much been an on the job training experience for me. I've learned through a lot of trial and many, many errors. Over the years I've battled Motherhood Monotony by becoming proactive in my education and the Web has been an invaluable resource for me. Some of my favorite websites have helped me to become more knowledgeable in my chosen field - Stay-at-home Mom.
Cooking
Need a new recipe for chicken breasts? All recipes allows you to search their site for recipes and then rank these recipes based on the ratings each recipe has earned. This site is a huge time saver!
Parenting
Parent Hacks allows you to hear from the real parenting experts - other parents. Find solutions to common parenting problems and get daily practical advice.
Money
Living on a budget? Wise Bread offers great advice for frugal living and managing your personal finances.
I believe that a major cause of MM is a daily lack of intellectual stimulus. Stay-at-home moms often forget that we need to continue to learn and grow personally. The Web can be a valuable resource that we can use to further our own education and to become experts in our field of expertise.
Actively Participate in a Charitable Organization
It is so important for stay-at-home moms to become engaged in outside activities. There are so many charitable organization that desperately need volunteers. Find an organization in your community that gets you excited and get involved. Don't use the "I can't because I have young kids" excuse. Pack up the kids and all their necessary paraphernalia and take them with you. You will be a better mom for the experience and you will be teaching your kids at an early age to care about important issues in the community.
Curing Motherhood Monotony is possible! Use these ideas to make each day more exciting and rewarding for you and your children.
