Isabel

As a Mom of 3 boys, all under the age of 3 1/2 who runs her own home business, as well as her husbands, here are just a few things that I have found to be useful as well:

1) Be aware. Recognize when you’re kids want down-time: My kids, and all kids have a routine – one that works for them. In our home, they like to do something with Mom first thing after breakfast – like arts & crafts, or baking. During this time I work with them one-on-one. Then, they like to go outside, and play – burn off some steam. During this time I work from my porch, or from just inside the window at my computer so that I can work, and keep an eye on them. Then, they come in, and snack, and have some of what I call “down-time” where they like to sit quietly: reading books, doing a quiet activity like drawing, or watching tv for a bit. I work during this time. My boys, and I also have desks that are side by side, and enjoy working together.

I think that one of the biggest mistakes you can make, is to ignore your childs needs. When the kids get demanding, step back and recognize their needs, don’t fight it.

To become aware of their needs, and their routine, gives them comfort, and allows you to feel less stress as you try to do more than be a stay at home Mom; which is, less face it, a job in itself!

Another useful strategy I find is to not make things harder then they have to be.

2) Keep things simple. A lot of us get caught up in having a perfect looking home. I have learned to let a few things go. That doesn’t mean that I don’t shower, or get dressed, or clean my house, it just means that I have learned to recognize what’s really important, and what’s not. Stripping life down to its bare bones so to speak.

For instance, priority is given to feeding the kids, attending to their needs, keeping the laundry done, and the house functional – not perfectly tidy. A functional home for us, has allowed me to truly maintain my sanity. I have a place for everything, and everyone is on board with working together to keep things in their place so that not just one of us has to clean up all the time.

So, we work together, and we do what’s easy.

We have a system that even the kids have found easy to learn. Everything has its place. For example, when we all come from outside everyone has their own tub for outdoor clothing, the kids toys have certain places – a tub for arts & crafts, cars & trucks, blocks, etc. The kids are in charge of keeping their things tidy.

We don’t fold laudry – it gets done one load at a time for each member of the household, from their laudry hamper. They then take it up to their room and hang it right up (my youngest still can’t help with this yet).

We have cutlery already at the dinner table in a caddy. I think it actually looks nice.

Daily household chores like cooking, cleaning up after meals, and laudry get done, but all “extra” house work gets done on 1 designated day. For instace, Saturdays morning is when the bathrooms, floors, dusting, and other jobs get done.

The kids have jobs too. There jobs include: being in charge of their toy clean-up, taking their dirty clothes to the laundry, putting their clean clothes away, setting the table, clearing their dishes, and extra jobs if they want to earn money to buy things they want to buy.

This all might sound like a “military-like” way of life, but really we’re all quite layed back, and happy because there is less stress.

“Many hands make light work” – is how our household works. This has allowed our family to have it all – earn a living from home, spend more quality time together, and to teach our children important values in life.

Lastly, and most importantly in my opinion – 3) Look after You. Don’t lose who you are as a Mom, and a woman. Make sure that you look after yourself, and take time for yourself, because otherwise you’re not doing any favors for your family, and not being all you can be for them.

Yours truly,

Jennifer Wheeler
Founder of Your Family Wellness http://www.yourfamilywellness.org An inviting Wellness Community.