Stress! 10 Ways to Deal and Still Enjoy Your Kids

Kids are crying. Toys are everywhere. Dishes are overflowing. Bills need paying. And it’s only 9 AM.

You’re starting…to come…unglued…

Been there? Me too!! Seems like an ever-present emotion for Stay-at-Home Moms is stress. So often I’ve run to the pantry to find release in chocolate! As much as I love it, it provides me only a very temporary fix (and ultimately adds to my stress because I know I’ll just be stressing about all those extra calories later!)

Here are my 10 best ideas for really coping with that “staying-home-with-kids” stress, and none of them involve chocolate. Unless you want them to.

1) Get your pen, notebook, and a kitchen chair, and write down everything that’s making you stressed. It is amazing to me how much better I feel when I’ve gotten it out of my head and into a journal.

2) Turn on your favorite music, really loudly, and sing. Who cares if you’re not in tune? The kids will love it and want to join in, and you’ll feel better as soon as you start crooning.

3) Dance like crazy around the house while singing to that loud music.

4) If it’s naptime, singing and dancing are probably out as options. In that case, try marching up and down the stairs. Activity of any kind helps because it releases those feel-good brain chemicals, endorphins.

5) Keep certain markers, crayons, and paper that the kids can only use during your “special quiet reading time.” Light a scented candle, and while they’re busy working, read at least one magazine article, or one chapter in a book. With babies, this one works great during naptime.

6) Get out that stroller and hit the streets. A little fresh air, a little activity, and a little break from the house. You’re bound to feel renewed as a result and your kids will be glad for the time outdoors.

7) If you can’t get outside, go to the window in your house with the best outdoor view. Look outside and take 5 deep, slow breaths. I can almost feel your tension releasing!

8) Take a hot bath, or if time is shorter, a nice, hot shower. Again, waiting until naptime may be key here, but, ohhhh…it’s so worth the wait.

9) Call a friend and do some venting. No one else home? Come online and read this, or any of the other wonderful blogs written by Stay-At-Home Moms (check out the ones I've listed in my blogroll). No one can relate to the stresses of being home with kids better than another woman who is also home with kids.

But what if you can’t do any of these things because the kids just won’t settle down?? If all else fails…

10) Turn on that (I know, it’s terrible) TV. No, I’m not saying, “sit your kids in front of the TV all day.” But if sitting them down for a half-hour – and there are wonderful, educational, enriching choices out there - gives them a chance to chill out and you a chance to take a breath, I’m all for it. Once they’re in, try any of the above remedies.

See? Don’t you feel better already?