Showing posts with label Motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motherhood. Show all posts

Thursday, April 16

My So Called Life: One Stressed Out Mamma

I was having one of those mornings. Where every little thing was stressing me out...
Most morning my son is on top of things and is ready before any one else. Well not this particular morning. He did not want to go to school, so he was going to drag his feet about getting ready. And to add this Tina had physical therapy at 7 am, Vicky needed her uniform washed for the softball game that afternoon and Sammy was not being her cheerful self that morning.

Due to lack of sleep the night before (didn't get off work until 1 am), I was a little tired and not functioning correctly. So after yelling at everyone a half a dozen times or more, I went to the safest place in the house. I run up the upstairs and locked the bathroom door behind me. I sat down on my throne, took a few deep breathes and thanked God for blessing me with four very strong willed children. Then asked God to help me get through the rest of the morning. I walked out of the bathroom, carried on the rest of my morning, and got all the kids to school.

Being a mom, plus working full time can be hard and stressful. With a Monday morning like that I was ready to crawl back in bed and forget about the rest of the day. But it does not work that way. I took some time myself, did some researched and reflected on the things in my own life. I was able to come up with a few things that help other moms, like myself handle stress.


Stop, and Just Breathe - 
When feeling a little anxious, just take a 5 minute break and breathe slowly and deeply. Slow breathes have been proven to help reduce the stress hormones in your body. Hey, we all need to breathe any ways. So give it a try. Nice and slowly.


Take Time For Yourself - 
Schedule time for yourself. It can be anything, from reading a new book, attending an art class, lunch date with a girlfriend, or starting a blog. Each week I have a few hours put the side that I call ME Time. I use that time to do something for myself. And that does not mean cleaning the house or grocery shopping. 


Reflect on the Joy in Your Life- 
Journaling promotes reflection and organization of your thoughts. Your entries can be long or short, as longs as they are positive. Write about the achievements of your day, what your grateful for, the little things of life. There is a two fold with this Journal, not only is it making you think and write down positive things, but you can look back onto those little blessings God has given you.



Exercise, Health Body, Health Mamma - 
Did you know when you exercises it releases endorphin's, which actual helps improve your mood and general well being of your body. You can start out small with a 10 minute walk during lunch, join a Zumba class, or even download the C25K app. What ever it may be, just get up and move.



Sleep, Mamma needs her rest too - 
Lack of sleep can be the cause of many different health issues, included being a Stressed Out Mamma. And face it, us moms just don't get enough sleep. New born babies need to be feed every few hours, toddlers have a hard time sleeping in their own beds, and teenagers seem to miss their curfew. Regardless of what season of life you are in moms just don't get enough sleep. Need to make sure that you are getting the sleep your body needs to function correctly. 



Slow Down and Take in the Scenery - 
Did you know that spending time in the outdoors acts as a natural antidepressant? One of my favorite things to do is hike. I feel at peace, taking in the Creation of God. You might like to go fishing off the river, or walk the dog through the park or sun bath in the back yard. Whatever it may be, spending more time outdoors will help lower your feeling stress.



Little Bitty


Thursday, January 23

Little Bitty's So Called Life: One on One Time


Being a mom of four, has plenty of challenges of its own, but when you add a full time management position in retail, makes it crazy. I have been working a crazy schedule for the last two months, and I can tell it is taking a toll on my youngest. She wrote me a letter wanting me to take one day a week for 'mommy and Sammy time'. After reading this letter, I felt heart broken. I have been working a lot and have not had a whole lot of time with my kids, one on one time with each.

The two of us find a quite spot and made a list of different things that we want to do together. We did not stop there, I opened up my planner and we started planning our first date. 

Twenty-Five plus date ideas with your kids:

  1. Picnic: at the park or on the floor in the living room
  2. Hiking or long walk with the dog
  3. Coffee Date: Coffee for Mommy, hot chocolate for Sammy
  4. Afternoon of Crafts: I have Pinterest Board full of them
  5. Special Dinner/Lunch: out on the town or just stay in
  6. Enjoy a sunset or stargaze
  7. Movie: at the theaters or at home
  8. Play a sport: shoot some hoops, throw the softball around, run a 5k, 
  9. Spa Date: go get a mani or pedi
  10. Shopping: shoe shopping, clothes shopping, or just window shopping
  11. Plant a garden
  12. Read: go to the library or book store and pick out a chapter book to read together.
  13. Go to a water park or the YMCA pool
  14. Bake something new together
  15. Take a class: cooking class, basketball clinic, art class
  16. Game Night: board, card or video games
  17. Museum/Zoo
  18. Photo Shoot: at home, dress up, do makeup, take some glamour shots
  19. Volunteer together
  20. Go to a concert
  21. Write a story together, then act it out
  22. Blanket fort in the living room or in the backyard
  23. Tea & Scones and watch 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
  24. Bowling
  25. Camp out: in the back yard or in the living room 
  26. Start a Mother Daughter Journal
  27. Overnight trip
  28. Ice cream
There are plenty of other date ideas out there, all that really matters is that you are spending that one on one time with your kids. 


Little Bitty

Tuesday, January 14

Little Bitty's Book Shelf: 'No More Perfect Moms'




"You are not the only mom who feels worthless sometimes.

You are not the only mom who yelled at your children today.
You are not the only mom who is trying to blend two families into one and finding it far more difficult than you thought.
You are not the only mom who has struggled with infertility.
You are not the only mom who has had 
trouble bonding with an adopted child.
You are not the only mom who wishes her 
husband would just hold her and listen to her."
-No More Perfect Moms by Jill Savage (page 22)


No More Perfect Moms:

Learn to Love Your Real Life

As moms, we all struggle. We fall short to our own standards. You are not alone. You are among friends. Jill Savage in No More Perfect Moms provides the antidote to the Perfection Infection so that imperfect moms can be set free from impossible exceptions of life. 

Like most moms, we have this desire to be the perfect mom. We read books and magazines, we plan and prepare, we dream and determine that everything is going to be perfect. 'There are no perfect moms - just imperfect women who will fall off the pedestal of their own expectations more often than they can care to admit.' 


'We must understand that the imperfect parts of our lives are counterbalanced with the reality of a perfect God who longs to shine His light through the cracks in our lives.'


This is a must read survival guide for moms of all ages. And don't just read it alone, get a few other moms to read it with you. Jill has a leader's guide, discussion videos and other additional information to go along with this book.

www.NoMorePerfectMoms.com
www.hearts-at-home.org  
www.KnockItOffMoms.com




Little Bitty