6 Ways to Fake it ‘til You Make It :: Secrets for the Stay-At-Home-Mom Life

2

6 Ways to Fake it ‘til You Make It - Secrets for the Stay At Home Mom Life - Columbia SC Moms Blog

My fellow moms, let me first say, “Congratulations!” You are kicking booty and taking names … you are a total boss at this whole motherhood thing … and you all rock!

I’m probably about to tell you a bunch of things you already know… ‘cause let’s be honest, we all have secrets for making the mom life work for us. For all you moms who work full time outside the home … I don’t know how you do it. You should seriously get a gold medal every day for getting yourself and your kids up and out the door to daycare, school, and work on time (or heck, late) all while wearing real pants.

To all my stay-at-home-moms … you’re killing it too. Ain’t nothing like staying at home with your children all day long and never actually speaking to a real adult until help daddy gets home just in time to tuck the kids in in the afternoon. My first couple of months as a SAHM were a sleep-deprived blur of baby snuggles, yoga pants and the occasional nap … it was a dream (a really freaking awesome dream). Until I woke up to a mountain of laundry, inch thick dust all over the house, and a baby who was starting to really wake up and want to do more than just nap and snuggle all day.

This was when I decided I needed a plan. After my first two months of parenting, I still (much to my surprise) didn’t have a clue about what I was doing … enter my 6 Ways to Fake it ‘til You Make It!

1. Shower Everyday

Put your sleepy newborn, smiley baby, or wiggly toddler in the bathroom (lock the door if you have to) and shower on, mama! Now I’m not saying you need to try and shave your legs (who has time for that???) but at least wash your body and your face. This will actually make you feel halfway human again.

2. Dry Shampoo

I wash my hair twice a week. All of the other days, I dry shampoo. On particularly hectic days, I go for a ponytail. My hair is “trained” now and actually looks better on dry shampoo days than it does when it is first washed! Even the appearance of clean hair will make you feel like you’ve accomplished a momentous task.

3. Makeup

PUT IT ON YOUR FACE. I went almost two full months without putting on makeup when I had my daughter. When I finally did, I was amazed by how much better I felt about myself and my day, in general, when I could look in the mirror and not see the zombie bags under my eyes. You don’t even have to put a lot of makeup on … just opt for some concealer, a little blush, and mascara and you will feel like a super model. Watch out Adriana Lima … the SAHMs are coming for you!

4. Real pants

Not yoga pants (even if they are fancy Lululemon yoga pants … still doesn’t count). Say it with me now “PUT ON REAL PANTS” … like pants with a zipper and a button. They don’t have to be “fancy” pants … but you need to wear them. If I do NOTHING else on this list, I put on real pants every day. Much as I love my yoga pants, when you reach a certain point in the day (and you still haven’t worked out), yoga pants have a way of turning into pajama pants … and the next thing you know you can’t remember the last time you took them off…

5. Get out

Leave the house at least once a day. It doesn’t matter if you go to the grocery store, the Starbucks drive-thru, or out for a walk … just get out of the house. Get a little fresh air, a little Vitamin D … and maybe even a little human interaction. Leaving the house is good for you, good for the kids, good for your husband … good for your liver because on days that I don’t get out of the house 5:00 seems to occur a little closer to 4:00 … if you know what I mean.

6. Smile

Finally, number 6. This will sometimes be the easiest one of the bunch … and on certain days, the hardest. Put a smile on your face, laugh even.

The truth is, being a mom, stay-at-home or otherwise, can be so hard … so freaking hard. BUT, your boss (she might not even be able to walk yet) loves you like no one else does. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if someone spilled milk on your favorite rug, or if your toddler tried to clean the toilet with her bare hand (please tell me I’m not the only one). At the end of the day, what matters is that you survived. Your babies survived. Everyone is fed, healthy, relatively clean and, my guess, is pretty darn happy.

I know I’m not the only one who has tricks and tips for how to survive this crazy, messy life we live. What gets you through the day? Do share … I mean I know I need all the help I can get!

2 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here