7 Simple Solutions for Stay At Home Moms in Danger of Mommy Meltdown

From the first baby cries in the early morning hours to the last trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night for the newly potty trained toddler, stay at home moms are moving. We don't get a lunch break or a smoke break. We are on call 24-7. Our most important clients are sometimes whiners and crybabies prone to temper trantrums. We get no sick days, no holidays, and no vacation time. Frequently we can be found doing jobs that other members of the household should be doing on top of the many things we already have to do each day. Most of our training is flat out on the job often via the learned that one the hard way method.

So it should not be shocking to anyone that from time to time, every now and then, stay at home moms need a break. Although, somehow, it seems like it is shocking to some and we begin to feel guilty about this. As if somehow, we should possess superhero strength and be able to go on and on day after day exhausted and sleep deprived, yet somehow with a cheerful grin always prepared to make up that next story about the exciting adventures of Squeaky the mouse (or whatever lovable character you've created for your child) right after we wipe up that mess of "yucky" spit out food we so lovingly prepared and get that load of laundry in the dryer so we don't have to wash it for the third time.

We are not superheros, but we are good at what we do. In fact, we are excellent at what we do which is part of the reason why we feel guilty. We look at the other stay at home moms we know and think "man, she's got it together. What's wrong with me?" We're all (well ok maybe not all, I'm sure some of you out there are actually supermom, but if you are then I'm going to ask you to please just move onto some other hub. We want no comments from you this time around) living on the edge here. Slightly frazzeled, very tired, trying to get everything done while being pulled in nineteen different directions. THIS IS NOT GOOD! It isn't good for our families, for our friends, our neighbors and especially this is not good for us!

"A happy mom is a good mom," was the best advice I ever received from one of the strongest women I know, my mom. She shared it with me on one of those days. You know the ones. The kind of days when your toddler responds to everything you say with "no way". Or your baby has pooped completely through her clothes for the third time. Or you finally get everybody loaded into the car for the trip to the doctor's and it looks like you might actually make it on time, but then your car won't start. Or you go to shake up your energy drink, diet drink, or whatever drink you prefer that needs shaking, but you don't screw the top on so you find yourself changing your clothes once again. Days like that. Days when you feel like your eyelids might possibly just close on their own and there will not be a thing you can do to stop it. Those days.

Here are 7 Simple (yet I've found refreshingly effective) ways to save yourself (and your family) from mommy meltdown and they all center around one thing YOU TAKING A BREAK:

Solution #1: Exercise. Totally seems backwards I know. You're already so exhausted and here I am telling you to go exercise. Here's the thing though, if you exercise, you will have more energy. Find something you like to do run, walk, bike, swim, take a class to make it easier to get started. You'll feel better once you do.

Soultion #2: Find a Hobby. What was it that you used to like to do but you never get to do anymore? Anything coming to mind? Now do it. Schedule the time. Call in a babysitter if you have to. If you can't think of anything, find something that is yours and only yours. Read, write, garden, cook (but not the mac & cheese or chicken nugget variety), get into photography or music. Taking some time out ALONE to do something you love without the frustration of interruptions can be a great way to recharge your battery.

Solution #3: Take a nap or get to bed early. Sleep deprivation is not good. Unfortunately, we are big bad culprits in this department. We go on and on without sleeping a full 8 hours and when we finally come close, those are nights of interrupted sleep due to a child's nightmare, a baby's growth spurt, or an accident requiring a change of bed linens. If you can get a nap, take it. If not, at least try to get to bed early once or twice a week. Dishes and laundry will wait.

Solution #4: Discover Social Networking. I was personally not a fan of social networks until a niece of mine convinced me to get an account. Here's the thing, you can actually have grown up adult conversations about more than which Imagination Mover is friends with Warehouse Mouse or whether or not Pluto AND Goofy are both dogs (although I have seen this debated in adult circles as well) and you can do so at your convenience. I'm all for play dates, talking to a friend on the phone or going out to lunch with an old college roommate, but social networking will allow you to have at least SOME communication with the outside grown up world everyday even if it is just for 5 minutes. And both parties communicating can do so at their convenience without having to worry about a toddler tantrum in the middle of the conversation.

Solution 5: Do Some Volunteer Work. I am always reminded of the blessings I have in my life when I am serving those in need. My frustrations just seem to melt away. There are literally thousands of charitable organizations of one type or another looking for people to lend a hand. Do some research. See if you can find one that you are passionate about.

Solution 6: Consider a part time job. Now don't harpoon me just yet. Here me out. I know you chose to stay home with your children and I know you did it in their best interest. I'm not suggesting that you go apply for something that's 30 hours a week. I'm talking a couple of days for a couple of hours. A part time job would give you a break from the babies, get you out of the house, get those creative wheels turning in another direction, allow you the time interact with people of the adult variety and possibly positively impact your family's budget. I say possibly because you're going to want to make sure you take into consideration the cost of childcare, work attire, transportation, etc. in light of your take home pay. Try to find something flexible and that you enjoy doing so you're not going from one set of frustrations to another.

Solution 7: Start a Home Based Business. If a part time job isn't your speed, maybe you're not interested in a boss, you're not willing to leave your kids or maybe you've got another reason, starting a home based business might be a little more your speed. A home based business will afford you alot of the same benefits as a part time job like positively impacting your family's budget, getting those creative wheels spinning, and adult interaction and in addition allow you the freedom to work as much or as little as you want when you want. You'll need to be efficient to be effective, but this can be done easily by automating those mundane repetitive marketing tasks through a pipeline marketing system so that your business doesn't have to be just an additional stress. Remember we're about breaks here not creating more frustrations.

A break means different things to different people. Some people need to get moving. Others will need to slow down. One thing is certain though, if you're feeling frustrated, that won't just magically disappear. Whether it's one of the above, all of the above, or something completely different, give yourself a break moms so you can get back to playing dollies or dozers with a smile.