by Maureen LoBue - President of the Mean Moms Club
When your first baby was born, did you look at that perfect little face and say, "I'm going to be the perfect mom for you"? Most of us did. But you know what? There is no such thing. Most of us realize that when we have the second baby. By the third baby, experienced moms look at that perfect little face and say, "I hope I can survive this".
Most of us truly believe we can be perfect moms and want to be with our whole hearts. Unfortunately, it is impossible. There is no such thing, unless you watched Leave it to Beaver. And we know June was really an android that Ward built in his garage.
Three points need to be made about this idea of being the perfect mom.
- First, realize it's impossible and be ok with the fact that you are not, and never will be, the perfect mom. Take a deep breath & say it, " It's ok!"
- Second, once you accept that, life and parenting will get much easier because you get to buy out of the guilt that we are typically so good at. That guilt just wears us down and we don't need anything else to wear us down!
- Third, recognize the fact that this is beyond tough, beyond exhausting, beyond anything else you'll ever do. You must have a support network, whether that is family or friends or playgroups. If you are exhausted or overwhelmed you cannot be there at all for your kids, let alone part of the time.
Many women experience a dip in their level of self confidence once they become a mom. You begin to doubt your ability to be a good mom, you doubt the fact that you are still an attractive vibrant woman, you worry that your husband may find you less attractive… you begin to question exactly who you are a person. This is normal… I know, I say that often in these pregnancy articles. The reason I say that is because it’s true. Wondering why no one ever talks about it then, that is because if you knew all of the changes physically and emotionally that you were going to experience before you got pregnant… you may not want to get pregnant at all. However, most women that have had a baby, once they hear what you are going through will smile in acknowledgement for we have been there too.
Hey Dads, this article is for us. I have been brainstorming fun ideas we can do for the women in our lives, and the mothers of our kids. Mother's Day is coming soon, next Sunday in fact, and it's time to start thinking of great ways that we can surprise mom this year. Sure, we could buy her a gift and she'd love it, but why not go the extra mile to make her day extra special. Dad and kids can get together and work to make Mother's Day exciting and relaxing for mom. If you are stumped for some good ideas, here are some great ideas to use. Pick one or combine a couple to show mom your love and appreciation on Mother's Day. Give Mom a Spa Day
Plan a Picnic for the Whole Family
READ More on Mother's Day Surprise - Ideas for an Extra Special Mom's Day
When I was a kid, I always wondered why my mother was such a GROUCH in the morning. “Never,” I swore, “will I get mad at MY kids in the morning! They’ll never get on the school bus crying!” Well, I’ve managed not to put them on the school bus crying, but some mornings there is definite grouchiness in the air. What is the key to pleasant mornings that start the day off on a good note and still get us all to school and work on time? Here are some tips to help us all have better mornings:
by Joy Burgess
One of the main faults that work at home moms tend to have is not taking out time for themselves. If the last time you had time alone was in the bathroom for 2 minutes, and that was interrupted by the kids bugging you through the door, it's time to change some things in your life. While the life of a work at home mom is always hectic, it's important that you start finding some time for yourself. Although it's often difficult to find the time, this is important and you'll just have to make the time. It's very easy to get busy with your job, the family, and your husband, and you suddenly realize that somewhere along the way you begin to lose a bit of yourself. So, it's time you start changing things a bit and taking out a bit of time for you.
The Importance of "ME" Time for WAHMs
So, you may be wondering why having "me" time is so important. Well, remember what they say about oxygen masks on the airplane. Before you help anyone else out, get your own mask out. It's the same way in life. If you are going to try to help others, you have to help out yourself first. You can't be everything to your kids, your husband, and your job if you aren't taking care of yourself. Many work at home moms spend time taking care of all the obligations except for the obligations that they have to themselves. In order to stay healthy physically and mentally, there are times when you need to take a "time out" and spend some time doing something you enjoy. Spending some time with yourself for a change.
by Shayla Taylor
Unfortunately so many people seem to have the idea that a day in the life of a stay at home mom is an easy one and most feel that being a stay at home mom is not a real job. When you’re a mom and you work at home, most people think that “work at home” is code for watch television and take a nap; however, there are so many things a stay at home mom does during the day that no one sees or appreciates. I myself have two step-children, a 13 year old daughter and a 14 year old boy with Down’s syndrome, so life can get a bit hectic in this home. So, the following is a small glimpse into a day in my life as a mom who stays at home and runs a home based business at the same time.
READ More on A Typical Day in the Life of a Stay at Home Mom



