One thing I know about being a mom is how quickly the days can escape you. All of us are caught up in the whirlwind of working, cleaning, feeding, helping with homework, and at the end of the day … we are spent.
In the beginning, I never really felt like I was getting anything done. Quite honestly I just felt like a maid. I wanted to enjoy the precious time I had with my kids at home while they were still little. It was not easy to accomplish and I struggled with this…. FOR YEARS !!!!
Like you I have a super busy life. I was running a business from home, repairing an old house we just moved into, and was trying to do ALL THE THINGS! But at bedtime, my kids would look up at me and say they wish that I could have played with them and that I didn’t work all the time, UGHHHHH (mom guilt ! )
And the worst part is I still didn’t feel like I got anything done during the day.
So, just like I tell my kids when you see a problem, step back, observe, and find a solution. And if that solution does not work, try a different one.
Well my solution was to put systems in place to help your mom game run smoother, easier, and most importantly …. simpler.
If we had less housework and laundry and easier meals to make, then we would have more time for our kids. And if we focused that time on spending it with the ones who matter the most, Success! So let’s look at some steps to making your mom life easier.
Organize your house and have a system to keep it clean.
I know … this one is completely overwhelming. But It can make or break you. A cluttered house is impossible to keep clean on a regular basis. I encourage you to really take the time to look at your home room by room and organize it. Get rid of the clutter. The less stuff we have – the less there is to clean. Then stick to a weekly cleaning plan to keep it neat and tidy. Let’s be honest, as stay at home moms we are cleaning all the time. But we should strive to have daily and weekly tasks so we don’t get overcome by the workload.
Organize your Time …
The mom game is a busy one. We have too much to do and not enough time to get it done. Having a main family calendar and schedule is a lifesaver. Schedule all those tasks, playdates, doctor and dentist appointments. I am a paper and pen kind of girl. I love a great planner. If you prefer to keep it all online, Cozi is a great app to keep your family organized. It will sync up all your calendars so you are all on the same page, and even sync up those e-shopping lists!
Organize your Tasks and To-Dos
Having a to-do list can sometimes be overwhelming. We write down all the things we have to do and then stop in our tracks, not getting anything checked off. I like to organize my to-do lists by breaking them down into realistic goals that are much easier to achieve. I have daily tasks lists, weekly to-do lists, seasonal to-do lists, and honey-do lists (things for my husband). There are lots of ways you can tackle your to-do list everyday…. And the next step is the key …..
Have a daily routine – for you and the kids
So you have organized your calendar and tasks list. Now here is where the magic happens. You are going to figure out how to get all the things done !!!! Yes – I promise.
Children thrive on routines. Whether you are staying at home during the day or working outside the home, routines are so important for staying organized and on top of things. They allow us to put in place the vision we have for our families. By having a strict routine we can make sure that the important things we want our kids to do every day, like read books, take quiet time, or help with chores. I resisted having a routine for a long time because I thought I didn’t want to be weighed down by a schedule. It turns out having a routine that everyone follows has freed up time at the end of the day.
I have a routine for my kids and one for me. For example, while my toddler is having her TV time, I am working on my blog, while they are outside playing, its my chore time. While they practice their instruments or take reading time, I am prepping dinner. Our routine has freed me to find more time in my day while getting all the things done. I have even put exercise and playtime with my kids on that list.
Teach kids to play by themselves
Um… believe it or not this was one of my biggest struggles as a mom. My kids are a bit far apart in age so sometimes I only had one home at a time. Naturally, I felt the need to entertain them all day and keep them busy with the next activity always on hand. I quickly realized I was not going to get anything done this way. I tried a few different things like taking the age-old advice of letting them help you. Come on. Have you ever folded laundry with a toddler? If you are anything like me then you will not have the patience for that. I want to get it DONE!
Now sometimes I will give my toddler a few clothes or a few dishes to dry… but let’s be honest they slow you down. My kids have always struggled to play independently. I like to get them started on a task … and then walk away. It is also totally fine to tell them…. It’s time to play alone, mommy has grown-up work to do. Now – if you hear them say they are bored? Hand them a broom….. they will leave you alone really quick.
Schedule in Quiet time
So if you have a little one at home, nap time can be your best friend. Kids need their sleep. There is nothing worse than having a cranky toddler wrecking your day. Naptime has to be flexible in the lengths and time of day as your child grows. But that is ok. We can adjust our daily routine around that. But what you don’t want to do is give up on the nap!! You and your kids need breaks. Some quiet time. Parents need to shower, pay some bills, or just relax in the quiet for an hour or we will go insane. When my little ones got a bit too old for the nap, I started to morph it into quiet time in their rooms. They could read books or play quietly. But it was our family downtime.
Schedule time to play or spend time with your kids with your kids
So – this is the point of all this effort right? To spend more quality time with our kids. They are only little once. One of the biggest regrets I hear from parents with grown-up kids is that they feel they missed out on the magical years. They were too overwhelmed with all of the chores and housework to take in the special memories you will only get when your kids are little. So let’s make sure we put it on the schedule! I strive to carve out time for each kid every day. Either playing dolls with my daughter or extending bedtime time with my son by reading and talking in his bed for 30 minutes. Also try to schedule family activities, like movie nights, hikes, and adventure days.
For more ideas on how to plan amazing family time with your kids on a budget … click here.
Let’s stop with the mom burnout, the overwhelmed feelings, and the mom guilt.
This mom thing is hard, and like another job, sometime we need training and guidance to get it better at it. Make sure to subscribe for more tip and tricks to make your mom life easier.
Let me show you how to enjoy your days, and still be productive with your kids. We can stop overthinking all of this and get a grip on this parenting juggling game once and for all.
