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Would you believe it if I told you that my children and I have not left the house since March 12th? It’s true! My husband takes care of our shopping and errands and I have been home with our boisterous little girls (ages five and three) for what feels like an eternity. Obviously, I’m beyond grateful for our health and I love spending time with my family, but I believe that there can be too much of a good thing. On top of just being a parent, I’ve also become their full time teacher, nurse, chef, maid, coach, referee, personal entertainer, art curator, and dance instructor. It’s a lot!
Being under the same roof as my tiny humans 24/7 is tiring and sometimes this mommy just wants to be alone. Whether it’s to read a book, talk on the phone, toss on a face mask, exercise, or just bask in silence, we all need these uninterrupted moments for our sanity. It was a struggle initially, but now that we’ve been sheltering in place for over three months, I’ve gotten pretty creative about how I navigate my day and make more time for myself. That means finding opportunities to simplify our daily routine, carefully evaluating where I want to exert energy, and choosing my battles with my little ones.
Here are the most significant changes I’ve made to give me a bit more “me time” while home with my kiddos:
1. Use a Schedule
The best way to make sure that you allot time for everything you want is by using a schedule. My kids no longer take naps, but I make sure to put independent play and bedtime on our schedule. This gives me periods throughout the day when I can take a pause as well as make sure that they aren’t up too late at night (demanding attention and creating chaos). When you have a consistent routine, your kids will know what to expect and it should be a little easier to get your mommy time.
2. Easy Snacks and Meals
So many hours are spent in the kitchen each day preparing food and cleaning up after stressful meals. Malt-O-Meal cereal is a deliciously convenient way to feed your family any time of day! Need a snack? Grab some cereal! Not sure what to cook for dinner? Pour a bowl of cereal!
This is one food that I know my kids will never ever complain about. They are especially big fans of Tootie Fruities® and Berry Colossal Crunch®! With over 30 flavors, Malt-O-Meal cereal is always affordable, great-tasting, and a genius way to save time!
3. Tire Your Kids Out
I don’t know about you, but those few quiet hours between my kids’ bedtime and mine are essential to my mental health. The more energy your little ones exert during the day, the easier it will be (hopefully) to put them to bed. Go for a long walk in the sun, have a cardio dance party, play tag. Do whatever it takes to wear them out so they’ll sleep better and give you those precious moments each night.
4. Screens Are Your Friend
A pandemic is a highly unusual situation for all of us and there is no shame in loosening your screen time rules, especially if it means that you get a break. Educational TV shows, tablet games, and guided exercise videos are all engaging ways to keep your kids occupied. You can even arrange a virtual playdate and let your kiddos be entertained by their buddies from afar. I guarantee their moms would love a break, too!
5. Many Hands Make Light Work
You could also say teamwork makes the dream work, strength in numbers, or the more the merrier. Basically, I just mean that you don’t have to carry the weight of the household on your shoulders. If there are ways that your family can contribute, let them!
Since we’ve been home, I’ve given my kids more responsibility for their belongings. They have to put away their own clean laundry and tidy up their bedrooms and playroom every single day. That’s three fewer tasks that I have to worry about and more free time at my disposal. Take a look around and see how the other people in your house can lend a hand so that you aren’t overextending yourself.
Malt-O-Meal is the Champion of Moms
Being a mom is always challenging, but in the midst of a pandemic, our duties have been amplified. For the ladies who have also found themselves wearing all of the hats, Malt-O-Meal sees your efforts! In recognition of the extra work moms are putting in, Malt-O-Meal is giving away $30,000 worth of personalized gifts to moms (two $500 gifts each day for 30 days) as well as Malt-O-Meal cereal for each winner’s pantry!
For a chance to win, enter the contest on Malt-O-Meal’s Facebook page from now to June 25th. You deserve it! Enter now!
What are some other ways that you make more time for yourself?
If you’re looking for a schedule, here’s my daily stay-at-home mom routine! And if you’re short on patience, here’s how I stay calm with my little ones!
Talk to you soon!
