Tales of an Introvert Mother
We just spent nearly 3 weeks on vacation with friends and family and visitors in and out of our home. It was so much fun, but by today I had reached my limit and was people'd out.
Thank goodness it was my husband's day off today and he was willing to take the kids out of the house and give me a break.
For me there is nothing like being at home alone in a quiet, clean house. There were so many odds and ends to deal with coming back from vacation so I literally spent a few hours just puttering and putting things back in place. That is totally refreshing to me! I am so much more productive when I am alone. I realized that what stresses me out most is to be trying to finish a job with constant distractions... which is pretty much what stay-at-home mom life looks like. A few hours alone when I have a job to do is such a gift!
I know we are already halfway through summer but the next month has pretty much no agenda for me and the boys, except for a few visitors. I definitely need to put a plan in place so that I don't go crazy from the constant time I will be spending with them. How do you do it, fellow introvert moms? What are your tips and tricks?
For me, there are a few things that help.
First, having a bit of a rough outline of a routine makes a big difference. We have noticed since being on holidays that one of our little guys really has a hard time without the regular rhythms of routine. He gets very excited about all we are doing, but then he is ramped up and has a hard time settling himself. With no specific agenda for the next few weeks, I decided to make up a bit of a picture routine for the kids, so they can kind of see what our day holds. I was able to find a free printable from this blog and I plan to adapt it and use a sticky tape or magnets so we can arrange the day depending on what is going on.
Next, I came up with a list of ideas of things we can do to get out of the house. Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed with the noise of the day, it helps to get out of the house. We only have one car right now, so we have to be a bit creative in planning our days, but I already have a list of places to check out over the next month. These include libraries, splash parks, beaches, berry farms, playgrounds and biking trails.
Third, it is SO important for me to have some kind of alone time to let my thoughts be. For me, this happens most while I am exercising. I make sure to schedule in either time at the gym, or a walk, or just an at-home workout while the kids watch a show. This is a sanity saver for me, and usually if I have checked this off my list, I am much more able to handle the constant stimulation of my kids.
Last, I really really look forward to bedtime. Once the kiddos are out and the house is quiet, I am able to regroup. It is still light outside so I love to sit outside and sip my tea and have the space to just "be." Sometimes I read, sometimes I write, and sometimes I just listen to the leaves in the trees. I love to do this in the morning as well, but usually that time is full of distractions and interruptions. It would be magic if I could find a way to keep my kids occupied without screen-time so that I could do this over coffee in the morning as well... hmm...
So there you have it. Admissions from the crazy mind of an introvert mother, who loves my "job" but also finds it stressful and overwhelming too!
Thank goodness it was my husband's day off today and he was willing to take the kids out of the house and give me a break.
For me there is nothing like being at home alone in a quiet, clean house. There were so many odds and ends to deal with coming back from vacation so I literally spent a few hours just puttering and putting things back in place. That is totally refreshing to me! I am so much more productive when I am alone. I realized that what stresses me out most is to be trying to finish a job with constant distractions... which is pretty much what stay-at-home mom life looks like. A few hours alone when I have a job to do is such a gift!
First, having a bit of a rough outline of a routine makes a big difference. We have noticed since being on holidays that one of our little guys really has a hard time without the regular rhythms of routine. He gets very excited about all we are doing, but then he is ramped up and has a hard time settling himself. With no specific agenda for the next few weeks, I decided to make up a bit of a picture routine for the kids, so they can kind of see what our day holds. I was able to find a free printable from this blog and I plan to adapt it and use a sticky tape or magnets so we can arrange the day depending on what is going on.
Next, I came up with a list of ideas of things we can do to get out of the house. Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed with the noise of the day, it helps to get out of the house. We only have one car right now, so we have to be a bit creative in planning our days, but I already have a list of places to check out over the next month. These include libraries, splash parks, beaches, berry farms, playgrounds and biking trails.
Third, it is SO important for me to have some kind of alone time to let my thoughts be. For me, this happens most while I am exercising. I make sure to schedule in either time at the gym, or a walk, or just an at-home workout while the kids watch a show. This is a sanity saver for me, and usually if I have checked this off my list, I am much more able to handle the constant stimulation of my kids.
Last, I really really look forward to bedtime. Once the kiddos are out and the house is quiet, I am able to regroup. It is still light outside so I love to sit outside and sip my tea and have the space to just "be." Sometimes I read, sometimes I write, and sometimes I just listen to the leaves in the trees. I love to do this in the morning as well, but usually that time is full of distractions and interruptions. It would be magic if I could find a way to keep my kids occupied without screen-time so that I could do this over coffee in the morning as well... hmm...
So there you have it. Admissions from the crazy mind of an introvert mother, who loves my "job" but also finds it stressful and overwhelming too!
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