Managing Bad Days as a Stay at Home Mom without going CRAZY

Hey Good Mommas! I have to say I’ve been having some Bad Days as a Stay at Home Mom. It’s not fun, but I can tell you there will be some good days too!

Before I start on about finding your inner SAHM-sanity, I just want to put one thing out there: I am not on either side of the “stay-at-home,” “go-to-work” debate.

Nope. I am firmly standing beside that fence with a shovel, trying to dig it up. Parenting is hard ladies, we all know that, so let’s do what we can to support each other AND our differing parenting choices in the process. Ok?

Managing Bad Days as a Stay at Home Mom without going CRAZY

Ok. Now that that’s said let’s talk about how to help our SAHM sisters survive the bad days that happen from time-to-time when caring for a brood 24/7. Because bad days as a stay-at-home-mom can be epically rotten. We’ve all heard the gory tales from other bad day survivors; diaper blow-outs, yogurt tube explosions, public temper tantrums, and they’re somehow all happening at once.

When a flurry of disasters pop up during your day, try some of the following tips and ideas to help you get through them. And remember, you will get through them. You may end up with some battle scars and your tales of glory to frighten new moms with, but you WILL survive. And still, love your kids too, I promise.

Feel like Crying When You’ve Had a Bad Day? Go ahead. It’s Ok.

Being a good parent doesn’t mean being a superhero. It can involve exposing your kids to your own limitations and vulnerabilities sometimes. And if that means you need to cry because you’re three-year threw food at you; food you hastily prepared while they screamed and pulled at you? Go ahead. That’s a tear jerker.

Feel like a Time-Out? Go ahead. It’s Ok.

Taking ten minutes to break-free from circling chaos is a GOOD idea when feeling overwhelmed. Go in that bathroom or bedroom. Lock the door. Breathe deep, fantasize about Nanny McPhee coming to rescue you. She’s not coming, by the way, but sometimes having a time-out can be just as good for saving your sanity.

Feeling lonely as a stay at home mom? Call a friend. It’s Ok.

Being a SAHM can be surprisingly lonely. Not having another adult to interact with all day can feel isolating. When Baby Shark is set on repeat in your head, and on your playlist, call a friend and plan a date.

Haven’t left the house in a while? Go Out. It’s Ok.

Get out of your house and away from your family to get a good hold on your sanity. Satisfying the needs, wants, and irrational demands of a family are draining. You don’t get lunch breaks, so, when you can, give yourself a much need break. Being at home without remembering to take some ME time can make bad days as a stay at home mom worse.

In all honesty, the good days as a SAHM are wonderful. SAHM “good days” seem to be full of sunshine dappled moments and a sense that our kids really are “advanced for their age.” Those are the days that SAHM’s go to bed happily exhausted (because, reality check: good-day or bad day, moms always go to bed exhausted)! Getting through a bad day, mentally intact, isn’t easy.

Be as kind to yourself as you are to your loved ones to find the right trick that works to get you through.

So, go on, be kind to yourself. You’ve earned it. And when you have those bad days as a stay at home mom tell yourself, this too shall pass. One day you’re going to miss these days.