How To Utilize Parenting Resources Effectively?
Being bogged down by stress and pressure is normal and understandable if you’re a working mother- we know that being a work-at-home mom has never been easy. All that family pressure, child-rearing dilemmas, and issues of management are guaranteed to take their toll on you soon enough. But don’t feel tempted to quit your work, throw it all up in the air, and sign up for psychological therapy, if it all seems too much. You can’t afford to let your frustration and anger get to you if you’re a work-at-home mom, it will be evident in your behavior, and will affect your husband and children. Learn how to manage your time better, and utilize your parenting resources effectively. We give you some suggestions.
Delegation of responsibility in the family is a must. Work-at-home jobs are time-consuming and stressful; you will need extra efforts to help you with house work. Before bedtime every night, have a family cleanup, where every family member can help to put things back in their right place. Remember: “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Supervise your children to see that girls’ clothing goes in the right cupboard, and boys’ clothing in its separate cupboard. Older children can assist with the folding of their laundry, and even make their beds – not only are they helping save precious time, they are getting a sense of independence. Involve your toddlers by asking them to pick up their toys.
Praise your children when everything’s done. Ask for your husband’s help with setting the dining table and clearing it. Explain to him which plates and glasses and cutlery to use, he will get the hang of it after a while. Don’t criticize and don’t be negative. Avoid comments like “Oh no! Not like that!” or “You did it wrong again!” like the plague. You must admire him for his efforts and support.
Mornings are always a difficult time, especially for those work-at-home moms, because they know that once the children are sent off to school, and the husband to work – they must sit down with their own business. So make mornings less hectic and rushed by planning ahead- ensure your kids’ school-bags are packed and their clothes ironed the night before. Have a planned menu for breakfast – much valuable time is wasted deciding what to cook. Make a mental note: “Pancakes on Monday, Sandwiches on Tuesday, Waffles on Wednesday, etc” Make sure all the ingredients are ready. Simplify meal preparations- keep the elaborate menus for the weekends, when you have the time. For the weekdays, when you are tired from work, and need to make dinner, use simple recipes that require little time, and few ingredients. Don’t compromise on nutrition, though, and avoid convenience foods, as these are unhealthy in the long run.
Use timesaving devices (microwaves, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners). They’re here to make things easier for you. Ask the children to assist you with loading the dishwasher, or putting the laundry out to dry. In time, you’ll see that with a little creativity and a sensible routine, you can make things much easier!
