Stay-at-home moms have certain days where everything goes wrong. But it is possible to change the course of the day and get back on track.
Everything is Going Wrong
The baby is crying, the dinner is burning, the phone is ringing, the 3-year-old wants to color and mom has a headache and needs to go the bathroom. Basically, the perfect storm has opened up in the middle of the kitchen and is blowing everything out of control. SAHMs find times like these so stressful that it can be easy to get sucked in and feel helpless.
Start With One Thing
The best way to regain control and reduce stress is to fix one fixable thing. It helps to pick the one that can be fixed in the least amount of time. In the above scenario, moving the dinner off the stove or out of the oven would be the easiest thing to fix. Leaving the answering machine or voice mail to pick up the ringing phone would be another easy solution. With those two things out of the way, mom could pick up the baby and go to the bathroom. Grabbing some headache medicine on the way to get the coloring books would defuse the situation all around and help the situation get better going forward.
Make Things Better
When everything is spiraling out of control, it is important for SAHMs to address and fix one fixable thing. Working to make the situation better can give SAHMs a sense of being back in control. It reduces the amount of stress and helps to make the situation better. Not all situations can be fixed immediately, but there are usually one or two things that can be taken out of the mix to make things better during a stressful time.
Focus on the Positive
One of the best results of fixing one fixable thing is that it creates a positive outlook. Instead of dwelling on everything that is going wrong, SAHMs in crazy situations can look for things that can be changed. Of course, not all scenarios will be easy to fix or immediately resolved. But getting into the habit of looking for one thing that is easy to fix can make life easier at home, in the grocery store and out in the world.
The key to getting control over crazy times is to look for one thing can be changed or fixed to make the situation better. Practicing this method will result in a more positive outlook and a greater sense of control when things are going crazy.
Genna Cockerham - Genna Cockerham has been writing online since November 2008. She served as Marriage Feature Writer from December 2008 to February ...
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