“Do you go somewhere everyday?”
One of my best friends asked me this after she was home with her sick little one for a few days. She works a full-time job and then comes home to tackle mom-life, household chores, family time, dinner, and everything else.
I know it’s pretty much impossible to relate to those of us who stay home with our littles unless you’re a fellow SAHMer. And even then, I don’t know because we all seem to do things a little differently. When I think back to my 40-hour work weeks, I couldn’t have envisioned the trials and triumphs that I’m now faced with every day.
Ariana and I make an effort to go somewhere everyday but I’ve found is that it’s helpful to have a variety of things I can do while we’re at the house, too. It’s lots of trial and error and what works one day won’t necessarily work the next. When you’re home with your kid all day, isolation can creep in, if you let it. Here’s a peek into some of the things that keep me energized and make the day fun!
- Pandora for the win. I’ve always been the person to turn on music but it saves my sanity now that I stay home. We listen to a variety of different stations for different moods but it definitely helps keep things interesting.
- Workout. I get up every morning and workout before Ariana wakes up. Some days I look forward to it and other days I really dread it. But after I’m done, I feel ready to tackle the day. Sweaty, but ready to go at it. Plus, even if I don’t get much done while she’s awake, it makes me feel better knowing that I was able to check a few things off my list before she woke up.
- Find a podcast. Maybe I’m out of the loop or something, but I’m new to the podcasting world. Actually, I’m new to finding a podcasts that I listen to regularly. There are so many podcasts out there on basically any topic you can think of. It’s the perfect background noise while I’m making lunch or we’re playing in the floor or folding laundry.
- Invite friends over. I think at one point, I always waited for others to initiate thinking that I was bothering them. Or that if they wanted to hang with us, they’d mention something. And then I realized probably neither of those are true. And since I’ve started initiating more, I find that people reciprocate.
- Find a good book. It sounds ridiculous but I have had to get back into reading. My entire childhood and teenage years, I loved reading. As an English teacher, it felt like that was my job and I never wanted to come home and read very much. I probably read an embarrassing 15 books in seven years of being in the classroom. Now, I’m getting back into my book-loving ways and really enjoying it. (Shut up. I know it’s ridiculous that it took me this long to get back into it.)
- Binge watch a TV show. I’m new to the whole binge-watching thing but Parenthood has officially sucked me in. Well that and I downloaded the app so I can bring it anywhere with me. I use this kind of in the same way I do with podcasts — it’s kind of just some background noise while we’re doing something else. I don’t even really have to look at the screen that often to know what’s going on.
- Find a group. Engage with moms and kids at your library or church or the park. I promise, they’re somewhere. Go regularly — it’s worth it.
- What’s your hobby? I work from home so when the babe is sleeping, I’m hanging out with my laptop. But I didn’t secure that until she was about 5 months old. I think the key is being excited about naptime for more than just that I need a break feeling. Find a reason you’re excited to do something. Write. Crochet. Paint. Cook. Clean. Can’t think of one immediately? Try a bunch until something just won’t let you go.
Life is all about seasons so find what works and what keeps you energized. Share some of yours; I’d love to hear them!
And happy Friday! This one’s been a long time coming 
