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This song is stuck in my head. Maybe it's because my 2-year-old says in a low voice, "Everyday I'm Shufflin." (It's so cute.) It could be because my husband tries to dance like the people in the video - and it simply delights me!! I even love the look on his face when he's bopping around and smiling at me to see how hard I'm going to laugh (or snort-laugh).But seriously, are you Shufflin' everyday? Sometimes I feel like I am - but with much less enthusiastic dance moves ... and certainly without the 90's fashion flashback. (I'm not cool enough to pull that off.) All SAHMs can feel like we're stuck in a monotonous, hypnotized pattern of the SAHMlifestyle. It goes something like this: Feed them Clean them up Change/dress them Entertain and/or referee playtime Feed them Clean them up Change them Get them to sleep Entertain and/or referee playtime Feed them Clean them up Change them Get them to sleep Call it a day! The shuffle can seem mindless. It's completely up to us if we want to be stuck. So instead of breaking out our clothes from the 90's, let's mix things up. Add some New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer, or Wilson Phillips. (BTW, I totally loved the Wilson Phillips bit in the Bridesmaids movie! Hilarious!!) Take the kids to the park, sit them down on the floor and teach them how to do the Running Man, or invent a dessert. Let them go roll in mud puddles - and join them. I mean, we can have fun with this SAHM gig. What are you going to do to keep from Shufflin' Everyday? Comment below!
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I clearly remember my first day home with my son ... alone with my son (and I guess the dog was there, too). I was terrified. My husband was back to work. Now what?
I sat on my purple couch on that hot July morning, not knowing what to do until my husband got back. There was no real schedule. I nursed on demand. Changed a diaper when needed. Let the dog out when he looked at me in that "I-need-to-go-out" sort of way. I felt like I was lost at sea except for the cues to feed myself, the baby, and the dog. So what do I suggest to brand-spankin'-new SAHMs on their first day home? What can you do to make your first day home a success? How can you avoid the overwhelm of feeling like there is a whole day and you have no idea where to begin? Here's my list: Don't:
To become a Stay At Home Mom is to start a new profession - so much to do, but where do you start? On the one hand, more demands are placed on your every waking moment because children (bless them!) are 24/7. On the other hand, you don't have a boss or deadlines the way you had in the workplace, so there's more freedom.
So this free-for-all can seem scary. But there's an opportunity here. You can establish your personal work style. Below are important questions to ask yourself as a new SAHM. Following your instincts on these questions (as opposed to answering what sounds "right," "good," "hip," or "popular") will get you going in the right direction in the SAHMlifestyle. Are you more of a home body or social butterfly? Where you fall on this spectrum will tell you how much you will want to plan for little outings with your little one. If you know ahead of time that you need to be around people to be happy, then join little play groups or MOPS or regularly attend library story hour. Have errands planned out (i.e., Groceries on Tuesday mornings or a walk in the park every afternoon) so that you have something to look forward to. If you are more of a homebody, then make sure you have hobbies, books, and activities that you can do at home to keep your personal life interesting. Do you want advice from others on parenting? If you don't, then don't ask. Once you open this box, it is hard to close. Sure, you're a new mom and have a lot to learn, but beware of unwelcome advice from family, friends, and strangers. Come up with a simple canned response like, "Thanks for your opinion." or just give a blank stare. More Type A or Type B? If you need a schedule, then make one. If you don't, then avoid it. If you're not sure what you are, try both and see what happens! Consider it Research & Development. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Your natural body clock will help you decide when your best time to have personal time and do chores that you prefer to do without kiddos underfoot. Some SAHMs stay up all night to get personal time and regret it the next day because they're exhausted and little Johnny is up at the butt-crack of dawn because that's what 2-year olds do. What do you expect of your husband? How much apart of everyday life (diaper changing, play time, dishes, laundry, etc.) do you expect your husband to participate in? It's wise to be honest and work this out ahead of time. Many husbands resent being left out as much as they do having chores dumped on them. Find a balance. P.S. If you say nothing, much can be interpreted. What's your personal care regime? If you are a prissy girl and need lots of primping time every morning, plan on getting up early and finding fasionable machine-washable clothes. You can make it work, but you'll have to put in the extra effort. If you don't require more than a ponytail with your jeans and t-shirt, that's fine, too. Just know where you're comfortable with your appearance and stick with it instead of falling down the frumpy SAHM black hole. These are just some questions I wish I would have considered when I first became a SAHM. It would have saved me a lot of grief to know myself better from the start. But we all learn, don't we. What do you wish you would have known about yourself that would have made your life as a new SAHM easier? Being a SAHM requires a great amount of power ... Super Power, that is. Just for fun, I compiled a list of super powers that might make my life a little easier. Which powers do you long for?
Super-Stretchy Arms. Elastigirl knew what was up when using her powers for good housekeeping. I've often been stuck in a chair nursing and stretched my arms as far as I could to try to reach for a glass of water or the phone. All to no avail. Stretchy arms are first on my Wish List! Floating. This would be useful when leaving the room once a baby or toddler has drifted off to sleep. How many times have you wished for this, too? Teleportation. I would basically use this as my primary mode of transportation. My husband would be glad because we wouldn't have to buy a second vehicle. Parking would be a breeze, and talk about saving on gas! Very eco-friendly. Physical Duplication. If there were more than one of me, there is a greater likelihood that my house would be cleaner and my hair would look better. Only a chance, though. I'd have to be able to turn the duplicate on and off because, seriously, I'm not willing to share my husband ... even with ... myself. (Not sure if that makes sense.) Super Speed. For all of the unpleasant tasks that SAHMs have to do, like changing poopy diapers, raking the leaves, and mopping floors. The things I just want to get over with as soon as possible. Also, I've always been kind of slow on account of being pigeon-toed and generally un-stealth. Being fast at something other than my multiplication tables would resolve some childhood issues for me. Super Strength. I will use this to open all jars and possibly carry all of my children at one time when trying to exit a building instead of herding them like cats. Invulnerability. To tiredness and illness ... and mood swings. Oh, and chocolate and coffee cravings. These things just make trouble for me when I give in. It's silly to brainstorm what Super Powers I would like, but all in good fun. Have you ever wished for super powers? What would make the top of your list? |