How do you de-stress?

I book a float session! Or I take a bubble bath 🧼

Walking and hiking are good for me when i need to destress!

I've been there with more than 3 children, all 2 years apart and it's mega HARD to de-stress, especially if you're a stay at home mom. The important things to make yourself remember daily is that you are NOT alone. The idea/feeling that you're alone and no one understands nor cares creates a huge impression/imagination that opens doors to self-pity, depression and yuck in your heart/mind and eventually can/does/will affect your body.

Also, it's URGENT that you MAKE yourself realize and understand that life is far more than your experience(s). IF you fall into the "trap" that your experience(s) is everything and the "only" reality that will make for some UGHish attitudes and choices. IF you choose to believe that all of life is just your personal experience, you'll put yourself in a depressing/hopeless box and it will be super HARD to embrace mercy, patience and love. ALWAYS remember that your personal life's experience is NOT all there is and that it's a HUGE world outside your "world" and that as you make it your business to make this "season" in your life a time of learning and quite frankly humbling yourself and embracing this "role" you're playing just for now and HOPE for growing mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally is ALL around you...you just must Ask, Seek and Knock for change (much like what you're doing in starting this thread)---BOOM, it will come and bring even more hope with it...I promise!

Okay, so what can you do to "de-stress" with babies/toddlers/preschoolers/children/teens around you all the time?

1.) DANCE with them and alone. Put on some cute and happy-making music for both the children and you and DANCE all the time. Dancing does something funderful in you and the children too. It allows you to "go crazy" in a super fun and good way. If you are really overweight or obese and dancing is a bit to hard for you now, just do some wee marching and wee movements until you build up your strength and endurance. PLAY SOME HAPPY JAMMING MUSIC AND DANCE ALL THE TIME WITH AND WITHOUT THE CHILDREN.

2.) WALK--Make yourself walk a lot, to and from the grocery store and even around the block or whatever, make it your business to go for wee walks and get some fresh air daily, with and without the children. If the weather is bad, just step outside or open the window and get some fresh air for at least a few minutes EVERY DAY.

3.) SUPPORT--Make yourself get involved in activities with other mothers with children. Make it your business to search out FREE or low cost activities for children and mothers. Local libraries often have these and you will get the opportunity to meet mothers in your shoes and the fellowship will help you tremendously.

4.) SELF-TALK--Tell and remind yourself that this is a "season" in your life and even though it looks and feels like you're "d$mned forever to be locked down with this sometimes mind numbing business of being a mother and the huge and many times thankless "JOB" of motherhood WILL get better and change over time. The ole "This too SHALL pass" is real and true. Focus on that. Sharply and I mean business rebuke/cast out/replace ANY negative self talk with the exact opposite. Example: I HATE my life and I HATE these little nerve wracking monster children. IMMEDIATELY refuse to embrace this type of thinking (no matter how many million times a days these "thoughts" come into you heart/spirit/mind) and say outloud and to yourself I LOVE my life, my life is HARD and this is a mega yuck struggle dealing with all these children all the time. but I'm learning what real love and patience is all about--so bring it. My children are darlings and a bit helpless at this time in their precious lives and I'm GLAD to be the one to help them become the people I want to be around. They are struggling just like me, but in a different way. I LOVE them and NEED them as much as they need me. Yes, they are nerve wracking, but so am I to a lot of people. They are not monster, or even if they are...I am big ole monster too, so I will use this agitation to be less monster like and more loving, patience and merciful, period. Stuff like that!

5.) MOTHER'S HELPERS--There are a lot of young ladies who work as "mother's helpers". Look for them in mother's groups, church and other public bullentine boards, local newspapers and school and friends, family, neighbors, etc.) If you are like me and don't/won't leave your children with baby sitters, get a mother's helper that actually "baby-sit" of sorts but while you're at home with them too. They will help entertain the children while you have an hour or so to yourself. And even help with chores around the house too. Mother's Helpers are also relatively inexpensive, because they are young ladies (ages 12-16 or so). Make it your business to find one or more. Also, if you don't mind leaving your children with baby sitters, invest some time in interviewing some young ladies that you and develop a relationship with and eventually become a baby sitter for you.

6.) Give yourself over to positive and uplifting reading. I used to listen to the bible on cd a LOT, low especially at night while I'm sleeping. Also, reading and listening to audio books are entertaining and help you feel less like you're losing your mind and/or just getting mind-numb from being around young children all the time.


{{{{{{{{{ HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}} Thank you ever so much for posting this and again, time seems like it's standing still and it will be this way forever...but it won't I promise. I've been there for many years and it was super HARD. You're a super-star and shero for giving yourself over to motherhood. These days, motherhood is looked down upon and poo-poo'd/wooed as being stupid/useless/unnecessary/weird. For you to take on this "opportunity" to help your children and yourself (by learning patience, caregiving and so very much more) You ROCK, period. ALWAYS remember that what you are doing is shaping a new generation and that's just tremendous!!!!