From the article: Stay-At-Home Moms and Stress Relief
While the life of a stay-at-home mom may seem relaxed and privileged, stay-at-home moms face many stressors--some of which are shared by all moms, and some that are unique to them. Sometimes talking about these stressors can help you feel less 'alone', and make it easier to cope. Are you a stay-at-home mom? What are your main sources of stress? Share your answers, and read what other stay-at-home moms have to say. (Or see this article for working moms' stressors.) Share Your Stressors!
Really Burnt Out
- I am usually a very scheduled, organized person. Always have been and it makes my life as a stay at home mom sooo much easier. I have a 7 yr old, 3 yr old and now a 3 month old. I had my oldest at 18 and was a single mom. I got married and two more children later I am beat. I am laying on the couch, nauseous, with a migraine, and weak as we speak. My husband is never home he works 3 jobs and when he is home he "tries" to help but really doesn't know how and when I try to show him how he gets mad so he just doesnt do much. Before my 3 rd child, I would get up before the whole house would at 4:30, start my coffee, do some yoga, get ready for the day, and do some cleaning before anyone would get up. Always made my days go sooo much smoother. Now I just don't have the energy. I barely have enough to properly take care of all 3 kids 4 days a week straight by myself. That's not including activities each child has. All the in betweens of a stay at home mom. There is no help around.
- —Guest BurntOut
Parenting is Rough
- I am a stay at home mom of two--a 6 year old and a 14 month old--both boys. My husband works a lot but helps me out when he can. It isn't too often but he does make an effort and is extremely patient...unlike me! I am so impatient and at times I just lose it. Between the house, my 6 year old's energy, my sleepless nights with my just-past 1 year old and his leg cast from a hairline fracture, dinner, laundry, church 2x a week, hubby's needs, MY needs... Well I may just go crazy! I try....I really do but sometimes I feel like throwing in the towel and hiding under a rock :(
- —Guest Need sleep
Does Anyone Hear Me?
- I share all your stressors and responsibilities because I am a SAHM AND I'm still in post secondary. So much is expected from me, at my age, I cook, clean, take care of the kid, teach him abc's and 123's, plan activities for him and make time for school work somewhere between all that. I have to deal with how people think and treat me because of my age and social status. Rarely do I engage in adult conversations, and when I do, I have nothing meaningful to contribute to a politics, religion, etc. conversation because I'm so busy taking care of things. I don't even go to school for what I am passionate for because my child might benefit better from my new career choice, and I feel like i'm losing myself! Does anyone have any tips?
- —Guest Young One
Please Help!
- I have a 5 yr old and a 1 yr; My oldest is in school for about six hours and my baby is in the house with me ALL DAY. I'm cleaning up, fixing lunch and chasing the baby around all day, then by three, my oldest is back home. So I'm cleaning up, cooking and now chasing around two kids. I feel like I dont get a minute to myself and I get no help from the man of the house, at times I feel like I am Supermom. I am so stressed and don't know what to do.... Moms, any suggestions?
- —Guest mom of 2
Feel Like Screaming
- I often feel like something is wrong with me. I am a stay at home mom of an almost 6 yo daughter and 2 yo son. My husband works a lot and doesn't help around the house. I love my family, but sometimes I want to run away from everything. I am expected to do so much, cook, clean, play with the kids, pick up after everyone, do all the running around, etc. I wasn't that ambitious before kids, and really liked my alone time. Just because I am a SAHM doesn't make me superwoman, able to do it all.
- —Guest just a mom
Not Now, Honey!
- For me, it was hard to do SO much caretaking work when the kids were babies, and then have my husband still want to be 'taken care of' at the level he was before we had kids. I hated that I had less to give, but I also hated that I had less help than I thought I would have. Fortunately, things got easier as the babies grew, and I have more to give again. (And I'm even able to focus on my own interests again!)
- —Guest CreativeCat
