Top 5 Ways to Stay Sane when you are a Stay-at-Home Parent

It is a universal fact that stay at home parents are usually more stressed out than working parents. At least all the stay at home parents will agree to this!

Let’s admit it, between all the potty training, feeding, napping, playing, cleaning (and repeat); you are this close to pulling your hair out! You often feel the need to walk in sunshine and feel the wind in 

your face, without having to deal with temper tantrums.

Yes! Your little one is precious, but, he/she is also exhausting. So let me jump into my ‘Top 5 Ways to Stay Sane if you are a Stay-at-Home Parent’. (image courtest: www.pixabay.com)

1. Use Every Opportunity to Relax

Relaxing will keep you calm and focused. Be sure that you grab an opportunity to DE-stress. Relaxation can be anything that you like, meditation, yoga, reading, art, music, dance whatever it is that helps your nerves to settle down amidst the chaos of your life. Even if it is 5 minutes of shutting your eyes and lying still, be it! Or a simple doodle on a scrap of paper. Something is better than nothing. The best time is nap time; you can take a nap with your child or do whatever it is that you want to in that 1-2 hours of your day.

2. Stay Passionate About Your Passions

It is very important for you to stay passionate about what you love, be it a career or a skill you are good at. Keep yourself updated with your field even if you're temporarily not pursuing it. This will help you a great deal when you get out in the industry and start working. Your knowledge about your interests and industry needs to be up to date to remain competitive and efficient. Just because you had a child should not mean you have to give up on your dreams forever. Your child will grow up and you will have a chance to get back to your career.

3. Socialize with a Variety of People

Socialize Socialize Socialize! The more the people the better it is. Making acquaintances will help you get out of the house and also will broaden your scope for communication (get a change from baby talk). It will allow for a breath of fresh air. What I mean by variety is that, don't just look for parents with kids your age, find people with similar interests, likes and career path. Don't get me wrong, if you find peers for your child; that is awesome! However, while you can share characteristics about your child with the other parent, (and they share theirs in return), it will also become monotonous. Therefore, having other groups will help you talk about other topics, and that will help you keep your mental balance. It is also a good idea to let your child spend some quality time with grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts to give them a feel of family environment, and you take a short trip without the child worry free since they are with trusted people.

4. ‘Play’ ‘Date’: Two Magic Words

'Play -Date’! I think these events are exciting for parents and children alike. The reason being children play with children, allowing the grownups to do anything apart from babysitting (one parent will have to though). It is a great way to get other things done that you can't find time for while at home with your little one. This time can help you take your mind off from the baby issues you have to deal with all the time. Play dates will benefit your child as well, since they learn to socialize, behave, and interact with other people. It can teach your children a great deal.

5. Learn to Ignore and Let Go

This skill will come handy to all you Working-with-Children parents (as I like to call it). Sometimes, you might get bogged down with stress and pressure, you might have others telling you, ‘You should just get out there and work!”, or others who say, “Oh! So what do you do all day at home?” There will be some who say, “You are so lucky, you get to stay home and do nothing.” To all these comments, I would say, “IGNORE”. You cannot fight them, or explain to them, or get them to understand exactly how much you do; and you don't need to. Everyone has their own challenges and to each their own. Do not let these snide comments bother you the slightest. It is too small compared to the other important things that need to occupy your mind.

So my dear Working-with-Children parents, don't fret, you are not alone, and you are doing an amazing job of bringing up responsible, kind and good human beings. Who knows, they might change the world tomorrow, and the credit will be yours to take. Always remember that the world might be a better place tomorrow, because you invested your precious time to raise your child right. 

Yes, it is not easy, but hang- in there, these years won't last forever.  

How do you stay sane? leave a comment below ☺

Stay Sane! Stay a loving parent!