In The Blink Of An Eye by Kristen Math
It seems like just yesterday that we were preparing to have our first baby. We were both so young and it seemed like time stretched out in front of us full of endless adventures and possibilities. I felt like I would be that young forever. This past week has brought a frenzy of back-to-school shopping and end-of-the summer vacation planning. The summer has literally galloped on without me, leaving me in its dust. Time has begun to move faster than I can follow it and I have begun to feel old.
In literally the blink of an eye, we have finished 8 years of residency training and have brought three beautiful children into this world. Now, that first baby that we so anxiously awaited is beginning the second grade. Our middle child will be in the first grade, and our youngest will be starting preschool.
They have begun to venture outside of the nest and I am just now finally figuring out how this whole stay-at-home mom thing works.
Staying sane as a stay-at-home mom can be challenging. To make the most of these few short years, here are some suggestions that I have learned along the way:
- Get Up First: Wake up before your children and enjoy some time for yourself. Have a cup of coffee, work out to Richard Simmons, or read a good book. Even if you aren’t a morning person, you’ll begin to look forward to this time every day.
- Create Structure: Children, and moms, thrive on routines. Being at home with young children can at times seem overwhelming. When you work outside of the home, your schedule is set for you. Bringing these routines into the home can help bring order into your day. Plan a daily activity for the children. There are several websites that have free printable worksheets or activities. Some of my favorites include:
a. Family Fun
3. Enforce a nap or 1 hour quiet time: If your children are too old to nap, insist that they spend one hour a day in their rooms reading or engaging in quiet activities. This gives children the chance to spend some time relaxing and unwinding, and will give you the opportunity to relax, check your email, or nap with them. The golden rule here though is that you do not use this time to cook, clean or catch the day and you will need your energy for dinner, baths and bedtime.
4. Join a Playgroup:Most medical spouses will have to relocate at least once during the course of the medical training years.This can create an additional challenge for stay-at-home moms, who may feel more isolated.Joining a playgroup is a good way to get to know other women who are at a similar point in their lives.You will enjoy the opportunity to meet with other adults and the children will have fun playing with other kids their own age.
5. Regular Date Night: Plan a night out every month around your spouse’s call schedule. Find a babysitter through your auxiliary group or church. You may even meet someone at your playgroup that would be willing to co-op with you. It’s important to stay connected as a couple.
6. Nurture yourself: Being a stay-at-home mom does not mean that you can’t focus on your own interests or dreams outside of the home. Use this time to explore your own interests. Enroll in a course at the local university, take an online class, or go to the gym a few days a week. Make time for yourself. You are teaching your children to explore their own talents and interests and to take care of their own needs.
Next week, my children will be heading back to school. For the first time in almost 8 years, I will have two mornings a week all to myself. I feel like I spent too much of my children’s early years trying to figure out how to make things work and be happy as a stay-at-home mom. Enjoy these years. In the blink of an eye, they grow up.
