5 Keys to Being a Great Stay-At-Home Mom

There is no advice we can offer about being a great stay-at-home mom. No, honestly, we could offer some advice, but we think that it’s all relative. What I consider a great mom is not what others consider a great mom. Or maybe it is; I don’t know. Actually, I do know. I stay home with half my kids (the other half are in school) but I work from home. So what I consider being a great stay-at-home work-from-home mom differs vastly from my regular mommy friends who don’t work from the house. I’m not big into arts and crafts – they’re messy – but others are. At the end of the day, the general consensus is that all parents parent very differently and, therefore, have a very different definition of what constitutes a successful parent. However, we can all agree that if the kids are alive, happy, and healthy at the end of the day, you’re probably doing a pretty good job. That said, we do have some good ideas for those who are in need of a inspiration, those looking for the key to being a good stay-at-home mom.

Have Patience

There is nothing in life that requires as much patience as staying home with your kids. They’re demanding, occasionally annoying and sometimes downright frustrating. And that requires patience. To spend this much time with kids in a successful manner, you must have patience. I cannot stress this more.

Take Time for Yourself

Neglecting yourself does no one any favors. Take time off from your ‘job’ as a mom when you get a chance. Even if it’s just to ask grandma to babysit so you can run to the store by yourself, do it. You need time alone to be a good mom because you have to care for yourself. Have date nights, have days at the spa. Get in the tub and read a long book and drink wine while daddy handles bath time by himself. He can do it.

Make a To-Do List

If you have things that you like to accomplish during the day, make a list. If you have a list, you will be more likely to stick to it. If you cross things off, you will feel accomplished. If you feel accomplished, you will continue to be successful in your day. It helps; trust me.

Have a Routine

Kids love a schedule. If you know that they eat at this time, nap at this time and do this at this time every day, you’re going to be a better mom. It helps you plan out the day, keep the chaos to a minimum and it really does help you to stay sane to have a schedule. I assure you of this.

Don’t Compare

Whatever you do, don’t compare yourself to other moms. It’s a surefire way to feel like a big, fat failure. Besides, all you see of other moms are their highlight reels. You didn’t see the chaos and breakdowns before they got to the park looking picture perfect.

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