Simplifying the motherhood load
We are expected as mothers to be everything and everywhere and do them perfectly.
We wear multiple hats:
Doctor
Nurse ‘Booboo betterer’
Cleaner
Chef
Friend
Mender or fixer
Finder of lost items
Teacher
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Mother
Wife
Business woman or working woman
Motherhood in all it’s components is a busy word.
How do we simplify our lives as mothers?
List making or planners. I am a visual person and lists are part of me. I write lists for everything. What to eat. Things to clean or Declutter. Packing list. What I want to write about or post. Things to remember or do. Budgeting. Gratitude Etc. Journaling helps with getting my mind clear when I have lots on mind. Grocery shopping; I actually met my husband when I was grocery shopping with a list in my hand many years ago. I constantly have a book and a pen in my hand and I write a lot. My husband was telling a friend, “if you are looking for my wife, you will find her at home with a book and a pen in her hand.”
Declutter: getting rid of things that don’t serve you reduces the amount of work you need to do and how much you need to clean. And it gives you the space to breathe. Allows for your children to have space to play and keep themselves busy while you quickly make a meal for them to eat.
Reminders: I live off my phone reminders. I set alarms to get me going through the day I probably have 6 to 10 alarms on my phone at different times for various activities. When you get a new date for something in the future, set a reminder on your phone immediately. So you don’t forget. Tell someone about the thing you need to do. Speak aloud so your children can hear too. So they can remind you when you forget something. My oldest son knows some of my alarms. When one goes off he asks if its bedtime or time to go downstairs to go to school.
Preparing in advance: Meal prep, getting things out for the next day. Doing dishes at night. Soaking beans for the next day. Packing your child’s school back. Getting homework done. Signing homework books. Starting the laundry machine before electricity goes off, so that it will have less time for washing when electricity comes back again. Preparing the diapers in advance. Getting everything out and ready before bathing the twins. (I have a whole OCD set up of what should be out lol). Tidying up the lounge before bed. Folding and packing clothes away immediately they come from the wash. Boiling the kettle before bed so you have cooled down clean water to drink the following day. Thawing baby food overnight. Doing what you can to make the load lighter for the next day. Every small thing counts and is one less thing for you to do the next day.
Multitask: use this in a benefitial way. Change two diapers at the same time. Breastfeed two babies at the same time. Carry two babies at the same time. While you cook clean up. Carry something that doesn’t belong there while you walk to the next room. Switch the kettle on while you open the tap for the toddler to bath. Soak the toilet and sink in natural cleaning solution while you sweep the floors. Sleep while the baby sleeps. Not all tasks can be multitasked.
Being present in the moment and slowing down: some tasks require you to slow down, breathe, relax and enjoy the 5 minutes of silence or absorbing the smiles and laughter of your children. Giving them atleast 30 minutes to an hour of your undivided time. Baking together. Taking a walk in nature. Enjoying your meal with no phone in hand.
Enlisting help: If you can get help do it. Get someone to clean your house or sign up for a meal prepping service. Get someone to manage your social media accounts etc.
Getting the children involved: giving them the tools to do it themselves. We guide our children so that one day they will be able to stand on their own. That’s why getting the child involved in house chores is very important.
Balance: Remember to find balance. If you keep up with small daily tasks they won’t build up too much and if you have times or days when you can’t get everything done, the small clean up you did the day before helps. I find it easier to upkeep daily than to start from scratch and clean up the whole mess. It will be easier to clean up and get things back on track when you have been up keeping with small everyday tasks. Have grace on yourself. You are allowed to have lazy or slow days. Just don’t prolong it unnecessarily and get things back on track as soon as you can. If you can’t do it ask for help. You are not expected to be a robot or superwoman. We are human with flaws so we won’t get everything perfect all the time. Curb in sometime to yourself mentally, spiritually and physically. When your mind and heart and inside is at peace, we project this peace into our nests. Don’t do too less and don’t over do it. Prayer also helps us find balance. When I’m struggling I simply ask God for help and He comes through in many ways. Gives me His strength and new fresh ideas to go on. We are mother’s, God gives us the strength. We got this.
