Mommy sanity

Mommy Sanity:

Warm weather

3+ Friends young and old

Sunshine

Outdoor activities

Sprinkle in Advice from other moms

May substitute Story time and play dates as needed.  

I don't know about you but this winter is for the dogs. Don't get me wrong we really need the snow pack and are way WAY below our average but 64 degrees the first week of February?! I'll take it!  The moms in my neighborhood have started a play group that meets once per week.  We have been meeting in our churches chapel that is just around the corner for most of us, but when we realized the beautiful weather that was to be had we changed plans and headed to the park.  It was AMAZING.  Take it from one cabin fever survivor: Park=Sanity.  The kids were able to run and play and we were able to commiserate with the other mothers.

As a working mom I never understood why SAHM would complain that staying home was hard.  They got to stay home with their littles. They were able to stay on top of their housekeeping (or at least they SHOULD be able to).  They could do fun Pinterest activities and crafts.  Then the best change that ever happened in my life.  I became one of those SAHM's.  For the first little bit I stayed on top of things.  I pulled out fun activities with L while E was sleeping.  Then reality set in: exhaustion, screaming babies, screaming toddlers, ginormous play date messes, piles of laundry that have no end, I offer all SAHM's an apology for my thoughts and sincerely ask their forgiveness.  More often than naught my poor husband no more walks into the house that the children are thrust into his arms and I hide for a 'mommy moment.'

I am one of the lucky ones.  I have an understanding husband and a strong network of mommy friends who are teaching me the trick of the trade.  From my neighbor the sage advice, "count backwards when giving warnings.  It works."  She also swaps toddlers with me one day each week so we each have a day to run errands and catch up on housework.  The best part is the kids keep each other entertained so we can tinker or even relax.  Then on Fridays we head out to our Library which just happens to be walking distance from our house.  They have a great story time for the kids and then afterwards an old roommate and her three littles stop by for another play date that turns into the moms getting some much needed friend time.  

This has indeed become the recipe for my sanity and pull from the nasty seasonal depression that hits me every year.