Life isn't always easy and staying at home can take its toll on your mental, physical well being, and your pocket. What I mean by mental is the only people you have conversations with during the day is usually your children. So its baby talk, signing, cleaning up, playing with child toys, discussions about fairies, princesses (or whatever your child is 'into' at that moment, I have girls BTY) meals revolve around what they will eat (if they haven't decided they don't like it after you cooked it), more cleaning up, crafts, playing again, dishes, dishes......and you don't get that coffee break, or that moment where you can sit down and read that magazine or book or finish that item you started (for me it's the cross stitch I started when my youngest was inutero)
There are somedays that at the end of the day you sigh, and once the kiddos are asleep you smile knowing it was a good day for everyone. And then there's the days where by 11am you think to yourself "where is the fast forward button, lets just get this day over with", and by 4pm you look at the clock, slump your shoulders and hang your head knowing there still is dinner and bed routine to get through. Oh dear God! Why is this day going so slow?!
Sometimes it seems like everyone is having a bad day including yourself and you want to lock yourself in the bathroom and pee alone. Not everyday is like that though. Waking up to hugs and kisses, a tickle too before breakfast is always a good start.
Being that this is the mental posting, I suppose we could touch on the alone factor. Sometimes we feel alone. Not the fact if being alone because we have our child/ren with us, but we want a conversation about the news....yes, you know that channel on tv or on the radio that doesn't include Toopy and Beano, or Bingo was his name O. Moms do talk a lot about our children because we are submerged in them all day, but it's not the only thing we enjoy talking about. How about the weather......on the other hand don't discuss the weather because we will tell you it's too cold or to hot to go outside and how our kids are bouncing off the walls. Tell us about.....ummm life outside the home.
We SAHM'S don't 'earn' an income, so don't discuss the cost of your new Coach purse, holiday, shopping spree, or how much anything actually costs. Talk to us like you would discuss finances with your own child. Not number signs. Cause kids don't get it, and we don't want to hear it....unless you over spent and now your power is being threated to be cut off.......poor you, been there.
SAHM's need time away from the house without children and partners. Whether it's a hobby, social group, or a few hours on our own to schmooze around a mall and have a coffee or smoothie. We need a break from buckling car seats, temper tantrums, potty breaks, and coats on-coats off stuff. Yes, yes.....we get it. Our kids are our life. But that doesn't necessarly mean we enjoy it 24/7. We also want to be OURSELF, you know....the person we were before children. The person who went bra shopping without a tiny person (aka our child) staring at our sagging boobs.
We love our child/ren with all our hearts and we become selfless people for their sake. We become SAHM's for them. So if partners can understand that we need some mental time away from ALL of it, that's great! Soak it up! If a partner isn't there to help you get your mental break....find a baby sitter, friend, family member to help. There is no shame in asking for help.