Hello fellow mamas!
Well, I have found myself in quite a different season of motherhood in the last several months. First, my husband and I have made it permanent that we will have no more children. So we have our three precious darlings. We are in the child-rearing phase, no longer the child-bearing phase. It is a little odd that we are now focusing on just the children we have, but it is also very amazing and freeing to know that our home is full and our family is complete with these three!
Our two oldest children are back in school full time. So far the school year has been amazing! I am beyond thrilled with the teachers they have and my children are excited about school! I am on the PTA Board at school and absolutely love that! I have amazing ladies on the board with me and we are coming up with some great ideas for the year! If you haven't joined your PTA, make sure you do! Even if you can't be at school during the day you can volunteer in other ways. A perk of being active on your PTA is the teachers know you and they know your children and you get to see more of the inner-workings of the school.
Our youngest child will begin a half-day, three-day-a-week preschool beginning next week. I am excited for her and know she will thrive in the classroom setting. We had preschool orientation today and she had a really fun time in the classroom.
So, this leaves me with time on my hands. That is something I didn't think I would have for a few more years. I have to learn to re-organize and plan my days around other schedules and make sure I am making effective use of my time alone. I have committed one morning to PTA, but the other mornings I am being very protective of. I have warned my friends and others not to ask me to commit to anything because the answer will be a resounding NO! I look forward to cleaning my home uninterrupted. I know it may seem silly but I really do look forward to this. Cleaning sometimes becomes a form of meditation for me. I enjoy it that much.
Today I was looking online about how to be a successful stay at home mom, especially in this new season. I found a great article on WikiHow.
1. Be confident! Our society downplays the stay at mom, but you know that your child[ren] is your greatest masterpiece. Feeling inferior will only sabotage your efforts to be successful in the home. You are the queen of your home. Act like one!
2. Be organized. As a stay at home mother, you are your own boss. Only you will decide if things get done or not. A daily schedule and to do list are very important. Have a basic schedule in which you make time for house work, meals and snacks, naps, play time, study, and personal time. Each morning list five things to accomplish that day. More than five tasks can be overwhelming and create a sense of failure if they aren't completed. Any uncompleted task can be moved to the next day's to do list. Important note: be flexible. Stay at home moms are subject to many interruptions. Maintain routine but make room for changes if they arise. Set aside a nap time, that will help a lot.
3. Make time for yourself. Too many stay at home mothers do not take care of themselves as they should because of their many responsibilities. Schedule in bubble baths, putting on makeup, hair appointments, anything that you need to work at your optimal level. Don't forget some girl time. Staying at home with kids all day can be overwhelming. You always need adult time. A happy, pampered mom is a better mom!
4. Show Tough Love. Children need the security of a loving and firm mother. Requiring obedience from an early age will keep you from unnecessary conflicts and stress. Giving your children age appropriate tasks around the house teaches children to be assets to the family and to society. And it is giving them a sense of responsibility.
5. Continue to stretch your mind. Being at home does not have to limit your development! Learn something new everyday. Schedule in time to read, study, exercise, or write that novel. Be the best example of intelligence, character, and discipline to your children that you can be. You are their primary example.
(Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Successful-Stay-at-Home-Mom)
What tips do you have to be a successful stay at home mom? Do you use some of your mother's and grandmother's tips for being successful?
- Rebecca
