Stay at home moms

[bilowi]

Hi,
I am a new stay at home mom and I am trying to figure out how the heck to get it all done. How does one eat well, fit in a work out and take care of a demanding one month old??? Any tips are welcome. I was just so geared up my whole pregnancy that as soon as I could I would jump back on the bandwagon and I cannot believe how hard it is.

[Lisa]

Re: Stay at home moms

Hello!

Congratulations on your little one!

Well, I'm a SAHM during the summer time and my two kids are 9 and 12 (both are getting older and giving me more gray hair in the next two months). But I do remember how tough it was trying to take care of an infant and myself and the housework and the bills and _____ (fill in the blank). It's tough at first but you can do it!

If you're good at schedules and like to plan ahead, you'll do excellent making time for you at the same time either during nap times or when the baby goes to bed---but nap times were usually nap time for both me and the baby (I loved nap times). Even going for a stroll during the day helps clear the mind and gives you and the baby a nice change of scenary. Find friends at the church nursery or neighbors to go for a walk with you. Eating right is something you'll be glad to do now and set that tone of healthy eating with your little one. Stay focused on your goals and a new healthy life style, and I know you'll do great!

and most of all, don't forget to... play hard! You'll burn calories, fat cells, build stamina, and speed up your metabolism!

[Trisha001]

Re: Stay at home moms

hey there..
I am a stay at home mom of two(19months and 3 1/2)!!! It can be quite a difficult juggling act sometimes...
I have a "flexible" schedule... I eat 3 times a day, but I always take care of the kids first..their meals then mine..and I usually eat while playing or tidying... I make sure I get my exercise everyday...my hubby is a great help with that...I either get my workout in before he goes to work or when he gets home...
I "play" ALL DAY..so that I think is also doing something..I have been blessed with a large home so cleaning is non stop also...more exercise...
You will definately get a hang of things..your baby is still very young and I am sure it is still all so overwhelming...
Remember baby steps...YOU CAN DO IT!!!
T~

[joee5]

Re: Stay at home moms

That I cant help you with. But i give me Mrs the upmost respect and admiration for managing to do it twice. And both times with beaming results . I honestly dont think I'd be able to do it by meself. Gotta give her tons of credit. I knew there was something about her when we met that made me pop the question. Our parents managed with less also. God Bless,Joe

[chinadoll]

Re: Stay at home moms

LOL Those days are long gone for me, but I remember not even having time to brush my teeth.

Here's two ideas: invest in a running stroller and take your workout outside with the baby, and

if you know another SAHM in the area, trade a workout hour with her--you watch both for her workout, she watches both for yours

I feel for you--I never made time for myself until they were in high school.

[bilowi]

Re: Stay at home moms

Wow, thanks for you support and understanding everyone. I know that it will get better as she gets a little older. She will hopefully get on a regular nap schedule and at 6 weeks I can take her to the daycare at the gym. I'm just frustrated with being home and starting to feel better and not really being able to get anything done. There are some days that I swear my husband gets home and I haven't showered or eaten (other than shoving something in really quick). I guess it just takes work (esp with the first one).

[hrgillespie]

Re: Stay at home moms

First of all congratualtions on your new baby!!!!! Also don't forget that she is only four weeks old and you are only 4 weeks post partum. Take care of your body let yourself heal completely and don't stress over getting it all done. I have 7 children and 4 grand my oldest is 23 and my youngest is 3. I have been a SAHM for 20 years now and the hardest part is just reminding yourself you are NOT super woman and also that taking care of you makes you a better mom wife ect......

Hang in there, routine will come with time and you will figure it all out. Post a picture and show off that precious baby!!!!

Congrats again!

Heidi

[Lisa]

Re: Stay at home moms

Oh, trust me, it does get better. Honsestly. The first one is awesome! I remember that. When the second one came along, I felt like a pro. Well, I knew what I could do better the next time....lol.

Just make sure to use the people around you when you can for support. And about the shower/dressed thing, honey, if you can get you and the baby up each day and enjoy the sunshine---that's a good thing!

Until you can get to the gym and out of the house, you can turn your home in to your own gym and won't have to pay for the sitting. Golly, there's a lot that I learned about making your home a gym, but I didn't know it much back then. I learned from the pros here

Use your broom for squats
Lift soup cans and work up to laundry detergent bottles.
Walk across you living room in lunges
Walk in place for 20 minutes
Dance like your entertaining the baby and you---you might close the blinds on this one
Sit ups and push ups are okay, but becareful while you're body is still retracting back to it's prebaby phase
Lay on your back and lift your baby up---before you feed them
Got stairs? Instant stair master

I'm sure there's more.You just have to use your imagination.

[DesertRain]

Re: Stay at home moms

Hi and Congrats on your baby!

You have gotten some fantastic advice! It's so overwhelming at first, but like everyone else mentioned, it's all about routine, and it takes a moment to settle into it. In the words of Kate Gosselin, "Stay one step ahead". LOL, I always made sure to plan for the next day the night before when the kids have already gone to sleep. I packed diaper bags, prepared outfits, organized breakfast, etc...
My son was born just as my daughter had started Kindergarten and she was only there about 2.5 hours. I invested in an awesome jogging stroller (A Mountain Buggy Urban) which was like an SUV for strollers and there was nowhere my son and I couldn't go. We walked through trails, on the street and even on the beach, to vary my morning strolls, and that was how I got the majority of my exercise in. The best was the trails, nice workout! He was usually asleep but would wake up towards the end, I would nurse him, then it would be time to pick up DD from school. We would do lunch and then it was nap time, where I would throw in the laundry or the dishes in the washers and do pilates, shower, then prepare dinner. I made sure that the kids were in bed by 7:30 back then, no later, because this left me a lot of time to do whatever else I needed to do for me, and plan for the next day.
Did it work out like this every day? Of course not, but soon enough you learn how to alter your schedule to allow for the unexpected, or the expected....like playdates and hmmmm shopping
LOL, sorry so long, kinda took a drive on memory lane there, but that was a schedule that I pretty much molded on my own. I know it's not feasible for everyone, but perhaps might give you an idea or two!
Good luck and enjoy your little cuddle bug!

[Privettewifey]

Re: Stay at home moms

I sent you a message pm! To answer the post, Im a new mom of a 2 wk old, and YOU DON'T GET IT ALL DONE! Make sure you and the baby eat, the baby stays dry and the rest you ask for help!

[valleriek]

Re: Stay at home moms

What a lot of terrific advice!! I agree with the above, you don't get it all done, so if you find that to be the case, don't be too hard on yourself. Heck, there are days that we are out of towels because the laundry gets so backed up. Having a 5 and 6 year old around is a big blessing though, they are super dishwasher unloaders! You kinda have to pick your battles.

Walking is the key for both of you. I had a preemie and had to drive an hour everyday, DID NOT MISS A DAY, for 9 weeks, and had to walk through the whole hospital to get to baby at the NICU, It was about a 15 min walk from the ramp, each way. In fact, I started this walk 2 days post-c-section due to the fact that I wanted to see my baby WHEN I wanted to and I didn't have time to wait for a nurse with a wheelchair to bring me. I ate whatever I wanted, and the weight came right off, I was down 25 pounds by the time baby came home! (Put it back on during the winter but am battling it again.)

Enlist your DH to help with some stuff around the house, it is such a big help!! You will get back into shape in no time. I guess you need to make your priorities walking, baby care, grocery shopping and cooking! LOL Just enjoy this precious time, it goes fast!!!