How You Can Be a Stress Free Mom

No, really, you can be stress free! I know it seems like a foreign concept but it can happen. It has been said that being a mom is like working two full time jobs. I believe it! In the working world no one could ever afford us! Sometimes the wonderful blessing of motherhood can be stressful and when you are stressed that just takes the fun out of everything! As mom's we feel happiest when we are not stressed. You know the saying, "if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".

So what's a Mom to do? I think an answer here is what's a mom NOT to do. We tend to put the title "Super Mom" before our name and sometimes we feel like we have to be everything to everyone all of the time. We often put ourselves last. That right there is another foreign concept and goes against every grain and fiber of our being. Put myself first? I can't do that! That is selfish! My children and husband are first! It is that way of thinking that has depleted mom's energy, happiness and overall well being. Putting yourself first enables you to be able to take care of the other people in your life.

Learn to say no. It is hard to do, I know, but something we, as mother's, have to learn to say. It is so easy to say yes even when we know we can't, or shouldn't, follow through. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, we don't want to put someone out so we just say yes knowing it is not in our best interest. It is okay to say no. Especially if it interferes with your family time. Even if it doesn't. If it is something you really don't want to do or just plain don't have the time to do, it is okay to say no. Repeat after me: IT IS OKAY TO SAY NO. See, you can do it!

Schedule quality alone time. This is probably the most important thing you can do to start on the journey to being stress free. Get a babysitter if you have to and schedule a day to pamper yourself. Get a manicure, pedicure or massage. Go shopping. Stay home alone and just read your favorite book while sipping on a glass of your favorite drink. Look at it like refeuling. You are refueling yourself to be able to do what you need to do. You can only go on empty for so long.

Have date nights with the hubby. A strong relationship between mom and dad is so important for a child and plays such an important part in becoming stress free. When things are going good between mom and dad it just makes everything go more smoothly. If mom is stressed over problems with dad that carries over to the children and the children will carry that weight on their shoulders even though it has nothing to do with them. I'll tell ya, a stress free mom equals stress free children.

Stay calm. This is a hard one, but you can do it. In that tense normally stressed moment stay calm. Don't yell. Don't scream. Do whatever you have to do to remain cool, calm and collected. Talk quieter and do the opposite of what you may have done before. Don't give the reaction your children (or husband, friend) is expecting you to give. Usually when you stay calm it is harder for everyone around you not to start to calm down too.

Exercise. Scheduling time each day to do some sort of exercise has a calming effect and will make you feel better overall.

Last, but certainly not least, is pray. I am Christian, and without prayer I honestly don't know how I would make it sometimes.

Being stressed out is considerably easier to do than being stress free, but if you want it, you can have it. We ultimately have the power and control of what we think and how we react to certain situations. We can't control how others will behave, but we can control how we behave and what we are going to do about it.