Feeling accomplished as a SAHM
As a working mom, making a list of things I want to get done in a day at work, and actually doing it was no big deal. As a stay at home mom, even thinking about things I want to get done usually ends up a failure.
Now that my littlest babe is 2 months old, I’m recovered, moving around the house a lot better, and sitting amongst growing piles of laundry 24/7 is becoming a little more unacceptable as it were say, 6 weeks ago.
Thankfully my 3 older boys are all in school during the day, but with the baby still thinking his crib is strictly for decor only, that leaves me with one free hand most of the day. My husband is a kind, smart man, and never questions why the dishes sit in the sink all day. But even with the pressure off, as a go getter, it’s hard not feeling like I accomplish very much during the day.
So instead of making a huge long to do list, I started breaking things down into bite size pieces. In the morning, I will ask myself, “what will make my day feel like a success?” The answer might be something like, wash the baby’s clothes, follow up with the electricity company about the unknown charges, and vacuum the living room. So at the end of the day, even if the kids shoes are everywhere, or the dishes are still in the sink, I only set out to accomplish the 3 items on my list, and still feel like I had a good/successful day. Once I started consistently doing this, the burden of the house always being messy lifted.
Of course there are days when I make my well thought out list, and I still don’t get things done. Sometimes the list gets thrown out the window when baby has a poop explosion in the pack and play, or will only stay asleep if I lay down and nap with him, and that’s ok too. But on the days where I do get two free hands, watch out world, I just might clean up, write a blog post, make myself some lunch, or even shower!
