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Stay-at-home Moms with Toddlers
A Survival Guide to Help Keep Your Days a Little Less Stressful
By Shannon McKelden
Barrett agrees with this stress-relieving strategy. "Let others help you!" she says. "Take offers from parents, grandparents, etc., to give you help with Baby." She also points out that the sooner Dad does his share of the work, the better. "If you do everything, it gets harder and harder to change that as time goes on," she says.
Don't forget other moms as a source of stress relief. Sometimes just having someone to talk to who understands what it's like can be a relief.
"Let's face it, every mom needs a killer 'mommy network,'" says Dr. Jeanne Hurlbert, Professor of Sociology at Louisiana State University. "Staying connected to other moms, particularly those with children of similar ages, can be a lifesaver. Getting together with other moms and their kids provides welcome respite, as well as an opportunity for the kids to begin learning to interact with each other. And talking with other moms can provide enormous help dealing with the stress and uncertainty of parenting a toddler."
Lastly, Barrett wants moms to remember that toddlers needn't be entertained every moment. "It is OK to get your chores done, take a shower, etc.," Barrett says. "The little prince will not start losing neurons if he isn't actively engaged in something constantly. In today's ever changing world, many moms feel guilty that they don't do 'enough' with their toddlers all day. A little goes a long way. Plus it is also very important for growing children to start developing the ability to entertain themselves."
So take a break, have some fun and everyone's day may just go a bit more smoothly.
