How to Enjoy Being a Stay-at-home-mom
My SAHM Schedule
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Do you like being a stay-at-home mom? I consider it such a gift and privilege to be home with my kids, but of course, stay-at-home mom life comes with its challenges.
It can feel challenging when your schedule is wide open without the structure that a typical 9 to 5 job adds. It can also feel difficult to manage your time and prioritize without an external reward system.
I've been a stay-at-home mom since my oldest was born, and I've always worked to find little bits of structure and gratification in my day. In this post, I'm sharing five of my stay-at-home mom tips and hopes to inspire you as you create your own SAHM routine.
Work on Your Motherhood Mindset
Your mindset is your greatest asset. You get to choose whether or not you want to hold on to thoughts of bitterness and resentment thoughts like “My husband gets to go out and work all day” or “he gets to talk to adults while I‘m at home with toddlers.”
Or you can choose to focus on the positive side. “I’m so thankful I get to witness all the sweet moments and cute things my kids do!”
In the same way, you can choose the expectations you form. I’ve learned to have realistic expectations for myself and my to-do list and expect my kids to act like kids. Each diaper change and snack request is far less frustrating when I expect interruptions and plan my to-do list accordingly.
Have a SAHM routine - not a schedule
Decide on a loose framework for your day. I like to have a routine, not a schedule. A schedule would mean you live your life around the clock, trying to accomplish certain tasks or activities at a specific time. A routine is much more free-flowing. You know the order in which things will happen, but you don’t watch the clock.
My loose routine has always been based around naps, but now that my kids are starting to grow out of naps, I view meals as the main anchors for our day along with quiet time after lunch.
My Routine
Wake Up
I don’t wake up at a specific time. I get up whenever the first child up calls me.
Breakfast
We eat sourdough oat pancakes and eggs every morning.
Homemaking Block 1
Depending on how well the kids are playing, I will do some dinner prep or cleaning
Walk/Fresh Air
If our morning isn’t going well, this will happen sooner. I find we all need the fresh air as a little reset!
Lunch
Again, we eat the same thing every day. The kids can choose chickpea noodles or a sandwich.
Quiet Time
Everyone is in their beds reading or sleeping. I also use this time to read.
Homemaking Block 2
I try to get dinner fully oven ready or in the Instant pot at this time. Does anyone else feel like the WORST time to cook is right before you plan to eat?
Fresh Air
We play outside until my husband comes home.
Dinner/Bedtime
Close the Kitchen and go to Bed
I’m one of “those” people. No matter how tired I am, I can’t bear the thought of waking up to a dirty kitchen so I get the dishwasher running and pull out everything I’ll need for breakfast the next day.
Work Ahead
I don’t plan anything super tightly, but I like to have a loose idea of my week so I can plan ahead.
if I know we’re going out, I try to pack the diaper bag the night before
I make dinner in the middle of the day, not the end
if we have a playdate, I try to make it a day when I don’t need to cook dinner
I find, especially as a three-under-three mom, I really have to stay on it and ahead of things to feel at peace and not stress out in my role as mom and homemaker.
Leave Room in Your Week
Because I like to make a lot of food from scratch, I don’t feel good about going out every day of the week. If we’re too busy, I feel stressed trying to keep up with my regular homemaking tasks.
Two to three outings tend to work best for us. Of course, you might have a different preference, but I think it's important to figure out what works for you and stick with that.
Minimize Decisions
If there’s a decision you make every day, make it once and do it every day. (The Lazy Genius describes this principle so well in her book!) We eat the same breakfast and lunch every day. We also have a very small amount of dinners, maybe 10, that we rotate through. I dress my kids in black pants 90% of the time because everything matches. Choosing an outfit doesn’t feel like a hard decision.
These decisions might seem minor, but all of them add up. I can feel very stressed out and exhausted if I spend my whole day making a million decisions, which we do anyway as moms. Make it easy on yourself when you can.
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Compare in a Healthy Way
Don't be afraid if life looks different from your friends or the people in your community. Of course, it’s natural to compare our life and our schedules to other people. That can be a good thing when we’re learning from each other. But don’t let your comparison make you feel inadequate.
My schedule looks a lot different than my extroverted friends. Our house is quieter (full of books with no tv) because I’m easily overstimulated. It can feel easy to look at my friends and wonder if I’m depriving my kids of socialization or educational tv shows. But ultimately, we all need to do what works best for our family, and YOU are the only one who can make that decision.
Final Thoughts
Is it possible to enjoy life as a SAHM? I say YES! I’m so thankful that I get to shape my life and routine in a way that really works for me and my kids. With a loose structure, preplanning, minimal decisions and a positive mindset, I’ve really found a way to build a life I love!
Are you a SAHM? What has helped you enjoy your role? Let me know in the comments.
