Make the Time That You Do Have Count
For now, forego lazy days off. Children are smarter than we realize. They will be much less upset about Mommy having to work every day if her day “off” means something special is going to happen. Make the most of the free time you do have with your child to make memories:
- Plan an outing to a favorite location like the zoo or a park with a play area for the kids.
- Come up with a home project that gets something off your list, but is also fun for your child. Getting the front flower beds in order is a great excuse to make mud pies at the same time.
- Combine errands with going to a movie or visiting the mall. You know your child needs school clothes. They just know they’re out with Mom having fun.
- And don’t forget to take pictures. Digital cameras make it easy to snap instant memories. Put the pictures up on the refrigerator or some place clearly visible. It reinforces the idea that when mom isn’t working, we’re doing something fun.
It’s Okay That You Can’t Do It All
Many moms, especially first time moms, feel they should be able to do it all. The real goal is to achieve the correct balance so you are the best mother and employee that you can be. (And taking care of yourself.) Trying to “do it all” will only leave you so exhausted that no aspect of your life is well served. Remember:
- When a friend or relative offers to pitch in and help, smile and say thank you. It will do your child good to be comfortable with other people and you can use the break.
- Don’t exclude your partner. Fathers and domestic partners should be part of the child’s life and disaster will not ensue if you let Dad take over an outing. (Dirt and inappropriate snacks maybe, but not disaster.)
- Ask for time off when you need it. Even the most hard-nosed boss can understand that sometimes a mother needs to be at home. Don’t abuse the privilege, but don’t be afraid to be honest either.
- By balancing your energy for all the different roles in your life, you will do better at keeping up and far less likely to lose patience with your child for no good reason.
