4 Easy Steps to Survive a Tough Day as a Mum

 

Hey my Niki MENAGES!

Whether you’re only adjusting to motherhood for the first time, or you’re balancing 3 kids just like me and going on a decade, or even dealing with a whole basketball team or more, being a mum can make anyone grovel for dear life.

You’d think that it’s the huge issues that make things difficult; but you’d be surprised to find that it’s usually the little things that continue to pile up until…

BOOM!!!

…An explosion occurs!

Motherhood definitely has its seasons that can make it extra challenging, but sometimes it’s that day-to-day stress that breaks the camel’s back.

Picture this;

Right before you take off in an airplane, you are reminded that in case of an emergency, you should put on your oxygen mask first, before helping others. The same is applicable to motherhood. Are you taking care of yourself before anything/anyone else? Remember, dear mama, you need your oxygen (a breather) first, before you can be able to help the kids and others. That’s the only way you can be well equipped for survival.

Here are my few survival tips:

1. Eat what the kids eat, as well as making them eat what you eat.

Don’t have a separate menu, unless it’s absolutely necessary. And by absolutely necessary, I mean giving them a birthday treat, or making a special medicinal dish for an ill child.

• Do what you love.

What do you enjoy doing? I’m pretty sure some of you can tell at least one of mine or more. Just keep doing what you love. It helps to keep your sanity in check and can be quite therapeutic too.

• Take a timeout.

It could be a girls’ trip, a baecation or a staycation. Whatever would make you feel more like an adult and less like a mum, for a while.

I may be writing this right now, but I’m still trying to figure out how this works exactly. Just the other day, I rejected a very tempting offer of a few days time out away from home and all the hulabaloo, just because…

Later, I mentioned this to a friend of mine, and her response was,

‘Sorry to burst your bubble, but you can never have it all figured out until you just take that step and do it! Just do it! Have that time out!’

Ok, so knowing that now, I may have new plans of trying it out one day in the near future, and I will definitely tell you all about it when I do.

• Communicate

I remember a couple of months ago, I was going through a lot at the time and I began to experience feelings of being overwhelmed. While the girls would be eagerly telling me all about their upcoming school event, my mind will be going haywire.

I need to bring out the tomato paste to fix dinner quickly and prep school lunch for the next day…

…the tailor hasn’t completed the outfit I need for an upcoming event.

The thing is, it’s not usually my intention not to pay attention, but I just had a lot on my plate at the time and felt like I was being pulled in by an undertow.

But one thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want to be the type of mum who would be dragged around by doing everything else, all at the expense of her kids.

That was when I knew it was time to communicate my thoughts and feelings to find a solution. It helped me to set my priorities straight and begin to heal.

So, if you’re having a tough day, talk it out- talk to your kids, talk to your hubby, talk to a friend, talk to that therapist. By all means, do talk to someone.

What’s your secret to being a mum survivor? Please share in the comment section.

Cheers to a happy mum survivor –‘You and I!

XOXO,

Yours Truly

Nikimandi