By Joanne Giacomini 
So you thought staying home with your kids would be peaches and cream and everything nice on top. You said to yourself, sure I’ll miss the extra money, but being there to see my kids grow up is more important. I’ll have time to catch up on the money stuff later. Then there you were at home with the kiddos, and yes, it’s great for the most part, but what about the rest of the time? What about when you are aching for adult conversation? What about when cleaning up another spill, picking up toys, changing another diaper or have to answer yet another “why?” question and you think that you gave up a paid job that people think of as a job for being home with your darlings that people think of as you being home and having fun all day?
There is a lot to say for both the stay-at-home camp and working outside of the home camp. In the end, the best way to reach a decision of what works for you, is to look at your life, economics, personality factors and logistics of what it means to stay home. There are lots of ways to go crazy working outside the home or being a stay-at-home Mom. Your kids and partner expect a lot from you. She’s home. She can do it. You often place more on your own shoulders not wanting to bother the partner who is ‘working’ while you are ‘home.’ There are still those stereotypical notions around, even as we fight them as women in all walks of life.
So how does a woman who loves her family and herself stay sane under these circumstances? Here are 5 ways for stay-at-home-Moms to stay sane while enjoying their children and their own lives at the same time:
5 Ways for Stay-At-Home-Moms to Stay Sane:
1) Make sure you know the resources in your community to get out with your kids: This applies whether they are little ones, preschool, or older and in school. Library programs, YMCA or other Mom/Tot or extra-curricular activity groups like Girl Guides or Boy Scouts will help you meet other Moms most likely in your situation and form bonds.
2) If you can, volunteer at your child’s daycare, preschool or school: You will meet other parents, again most likely stay-at-home as volunteers tend to come in the daytime, and form friendships and people to commiserate with.
3) Go online to find organizations in your neighborhood and volunteer your time: You would do this around your children’s schedules, but think how good it would feel to give your time to a worthy cause and it gets you out of the rut of being home doing housework and taking care of little people. Places like YMCA, Meals on Wheels, and Delivering Library Books to seniors or Hospital Visits do well for you and others.
4) Find a hobby group and get out and enjoy: There are cooking courses, crafts, writing groups, etc. offered at community organizations, libraries. You will meet like-minded people who will remind you who you were before becoming Mom. This is a very important thing to remember.
5) Take personal time for you: This is the hardest one. Whatever your situation and what is possible, try and take some time for a walk, gentle exercise, yoga, meditation, reading a book or magazine, whatever makes you feel whole and alive inside. You can only give to others when you are full of life and serenity yourself.
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