LET’S TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES OF STAY-AT-HOME MOMS

Moms come in all shapes, forms and sizes, don’t they? Some go to work, some are running their own businesses, others are stay-at-home mothers. But there’s one thing they all have in common – the overwhelming love they have for their precious children.

Like all other mothers, stay-at-home moms are faced with various challenges. They have a lot of responsibility at home and they need to work hard to maintain their role as the primary caregiver. They have to juggle between parenting and household chores. They have to manage their time well in order to take care of their kids and themselves.

At thedatingmaven, your favorite children’s clothing online store, we know that all you stay-at-home supermoms tackle a bunch of challenges every day! Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones.

FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN FAMILY AND WORK 

As a stay-at-home mom, it can be a juggling act to balance family and work. After all, your job isn’t limited to just being a full-time homemaker and caregiver. It can also include being a part-time worker, assistant, advisor, and manager.

The good news is that there are many ways that you can balance family and work. Use time-saving hacks, like ordering your groceries and other necessities online; this helps save time and also ensures that you don’t forget anything. There are a ton of useful planners, apps, and other resources available online to keep track of your endless to-dos and ease some of your mental strain. 

Make the time that you spend with your family really count. Plan fun activities like a picnic or game night, that everyone will look forward to and enjoy. Focus on them rather than your phone or the TV to ensure that the time spent together is meaningful and intentional. 

Here are some useful organizer apps that will make family-work balance a breeze:

https://thedatingmaven.com/articles/featured/the-lifehack-big-list-50-top-productivity-apps-for-iphone.html 

MAINTAINING YOUR HEALTH 

Staying at home and looking after the kids is no cakewalk and we know it! Recent studies show that stay-at-home mothers are prone to depression, anxiety and physical health problems.

Maintaining your health as a stay-at-home mom can be tough if you’re not careful about what you eat, how much you exercise or how often you take care of yourself. This is because it does not involve a lot of physical activity and can lead to weight gain, stress and other health-related issues.

As with everything else, planning is the key here. Make a weekly schedule for days and times when you plan to get some sort of exercise, write down healthy meal plans and make food grocery lists. You’ll find it easier to stay committed to your healthy mom goals when they’re down on paper.

One of the best ways to get healthier in terms of food is to eat more superfoods. Have a list of superfoods on your refrigerator and make sure you eat each of them at least once a week. Talk to your doctor and have then draw up a schedule of regular health check-ups for you so it can be one less thing you have to remember.

Exercise can be the hardest thing to fit in when you’re a stay-at-home mom. A great motivator is to have another stay-at-home mom as your workout buddy. Having someone who’s in your own shoes motivating you and doing the same for her can work wonders when you feel too drained to go for that run or pop in that Pilates DVD!

Check out this great article on looking after your own health as a mom:

https://thedatingmaven.com/news/time-to-look-after-your-own-health-from-now-onward-may-8-is-mothers-day-ag0516-397985/

FEELING ISOLATED FROM SOCIETY

Do you sometimes feel like your universe has shrunk to the four walls of your house and that you’re totally disconnected from the rest of the world? You’re not alone.

The feeling of isolation is a common thing for stay-at-home moms. You often feel distanced from the world and your friends because you don’t go out and work, and end up spending much of your time at home. The feeling of isolation can be a challenge to your mental health, so it's important to find ways to keep in touch with the outside world.

One way is by joining online communities where you can chat with other mothers about anything, from babies to postpartum stress to cooking. Knowing that other mothers out there are going through the same thing as you can be incredibly comforting. Schedule regular catch-ups or phone conversations with your mom or bestie – a heart-to-heart over steaming cups of coffee is the best therapy!

Read more about why moms often feel lonely and how to tackle it at:

https://thedatingmaven.com/why-you-re-feeling-isolated-as-a-new-mom-and-what-to-do-4769084 

FINANCIAL CHALLENGES 

If you were a financially independent working woman before choosing to be a hands-on mom, you might find that finances are a frequent challenge. Budgeting, cutting corners and having to think twice before every expenditure can be tough. A shopping trip for yourself may well turn into a guilt trip.

A recent study found that stay-at-home mothers are more likely to be in financial straits than working mothers. (https://thedatingmaven.com/sites/default/files/assets/updated_hertz_et-al_when_paid_work_invades_the_family-.pdf)

The reason behind this is that they usually have lower income than working mothers and spend more on childcare. Stay-at-home moms also do not have access to benefits such as paid sick days and paid vacation days that are offered to full time employees.

To manage your family finances, it is essential to have a full understanding of your family income and expenditure. First of all, sit down with your partner and do an expense check. What are your family’s essential and non-essential expenses? With online shopping, are you ending up spending more than you actually need? Decide on a limit for the monthly amount you are comfortable spending for different categories like clothes, shopping and eating out. There are some excellent expense planners and financial checklists available online that you can put to use. Plan for contingencies by keeping 6 months of expenses as an emergency fund. Have all your financial instruments in joint names for easier operation.

This excellent article talks in detail about financial planning for stay-at-home moms:

https://thedatingmaven.com/parenting/work/stay-home/stay-at-home-moms-money/ 

TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF 

Time! The one thing you never have enough of, isn’t it? And when it comes to time for yourself, it seems like a distant dream.

Taking time for yourself as a mother can be hard because you might feel guilty and like you are not doing enough. But it is important to remember that taking this time out will help you be more productive in the long run, and make sure that you don’t burn out.

Me time is extremely important, not just for you, but for your loved ones too. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, it will reflect on your health and demeanor when you are around your family. Kids are highly sensitive to their parents’ moods, and will instantly pick up on and be affected by any negative vibes.

When planning your daily schedule, pencil in some alone time, be it a half hour or just 10 minutes. This is time free from chores, kids or housework, that is just for you. Do whatever destresses you – catch up on your reading, have a relaxing bath, go for a quick jog, or just plug in those headphones and boogie all the stress away!

Check out thedatingmaven’s earlier blog on practicing self-love as a mother:

https://thedatingmaven.com/blogs/news/practicing-self-love-as-a-mother 

There are many challenges that come with being a stay-at-home mom, but there are also many rewards. The most important thing is to remember that it's okay if you don't have all the answers or if things don't go according to plan. As we know at thedatingmaven, your top choice for best kids’ fashion clothes, there's no one way of being a great mom, so just do what feels right for you and your family.

With the right mindset and approach, you can be the best stay-at-home mom ever!

Sending love from Be Kind blogs. Happy reading.