Handling Chaos As A Stay At Home Mom

Do you feel like life is a Chaotic mess especially now that your kids are home from school full-time?

I know I have and many other women that I have talked to agree, this is a unique time and there is a lot of fear that can create chaos in our lives right now.

So to help, I thought I would do a little research for you and me to figure out how to best handle this chaotic time sanely as possible.

To help I found this Podcast by Brooke Castillo who is a Life Coach and found her Handling Chaos series useful towards being a SAHM and suddenly having to home school.

How to Handle Chaos?

During this time, it is very important to understand how to handle the chaos in that is happening in the world and how to internalize it so that we not showing up anxious or panicking with our kids.

One main point I got from listening to her podcast was that the anxiety and panic that we feel is not from the facts of the media, its how our own thoughts interpret the facts found in the media.

So she had a three steps that you can take in order to calm your thoughts.

1) Stop And Recognize Your Thoughts

So many times as a stay at home mom, we often find that we don't have a lot time to ourselves and now that the kids are home full-time, it's doubly so.

For example, if you get frustrated with something (like my kids fighting over the same ball... deep breathe), make sure to realize that you are frustrated, recognize it, give it a moment and live out, and then breathe.

2) Reach Out To A Friend

You are not in this alone!

We may be told that have practice "Social Distancing" right now, but that doesn't mean you can't call, FaceTime, or even do a Google Hangout with a few of your closest friends to talk about whats going on.

One thing that has really helped me not feel so isolated has been a group chat that is with all the neighborhood woman.

We chat about what we're reading in the news, share ideas of how to keep the kids busy, and then let each other know when we are at the store in case anyone needs anything.

If there isn't anything like that for you, come on over to this group to get the support and connection that you may need.

3) Write Out Your Thoughts

Find your journal or start a new one and just write out the main thoughts that have had on your mind throughout the day.

This may be something you do at the end of the day, but writing out your thoughts allows them the freedom to no longer dwell in you mind.

How To Stay In The Know Without Overwhelm?

Now what if you just HAVE to know what's going on and need to watch/read the news, this was another tip I got from the podcast that I found very true in my own life.

Our brains are wired to find the bad, to keep us safe, and look for danger.

Too much bad with no where to run leads to overwhelm.

With this, set a limit to how much you are paying attention to the news, then balance it out with something with something positive.

If I may, I would like to suggest some positive and uplifting podcasts that I have found

• Straight Up with Trent Shelton

• The Ed Mylett Show (he does a lot of interviews, so find something you want listen to)

How To Take Control While Feeling Out Of Control?

In this time of unknowns, it can be easy to get caught up in the downward spiral what could happen, how the world seems to be coming apart at the seems, or how our kids are always asking, "what are we doing now...?"

Let me share something that has helped me from pulling out my hair.

I take stock of what it is that I do have control over and what I am grateful for in my life.

By doing this, I am more able to center myself and then face the craziness.

For example:

• I know I am safe in my home.

• I know my kids are safe (even while they are driving me crazy with not having enough to do).

• I know I can find activities online - just remember how much resources we have access to! Pinterest, Google, or as a community. Check some of these out.

• I know I can go to the store at any time, I just have to be aware that others are not as centered as me and to remain calm in my shopping.

Then remember that while it may not feel like it,

You Do Have Control Of Your Emotions

You are so much more capable than you may think.

Another tip I got from the podcast was to change your short term vision (day to day) that is currently scaring the crap out of everyone and switching to a long term vision of how life will be in 4 months from now.

It will be Summer, maybe we will be playing in the sprinklers, or in the pool (it's small, but perfect for filling up with the hose), or riding bikes with my kids, or hiking.

I will have survived the home schooling without killing my kids and have enjoyed seeing them blossom from my daily help.

I am doing this as an example how to calm your mind, but be careful not to get lost in how you think the world should be and accept how the world in using the steps above.

Then let's remember that we as the Human race have survived, adapted, and thrived through many things in the last 50 years and find a few things that you can be grateful for right now.

How To Handle Working From Home?

As a mom that has been working from home for a few months now, but now has all kids at home, it isn't easy, but it is doable.

Here are my top 4 tips to working from home:

1. Use the morning time. Now that the kids don't have to be up and ready to go to school, make sure that you are continuing to wake up and get some work done.

2. Have planned activities to distract and keep them busy. These are activities that my girls can do on their own, drawing, digging in the dirt outside, playing with toys. One thing I have found is that the distraction to get work done doesn't always have to be a movie.

3. Set clear intentions. If you know that you need to get some work done, sit down and have a chat with your kids, tell them you need to focus for 15 mins (make sure to set a timer for you and your kids) and if they are younger, use something that they can see. For example: someone on my team told their kids that if she is wearing her hat, she needs to focus and as soon as the hat comes off, it's time to play again with her.

4. Be Ok with what you can do. I know I struggle at times with knowing how much I wanted to do and only getting so much done. I want to say It's Ok!! Accept that not all the cleaning may be getting done, your hair may be a little crazy and makeup may not need to be done, and there may be days that you spend all day in sweat pants (yes that was me all last week).

Now I also want to help those that have been sent home and have no work to do, with no income coming in.

First of all, I know that this is a terrifying time and truly feel for so many that have been sent home that don't have work to do at home or have an income to be able to provide for your families.

So I have an side hustle business that I have been working with for 18 months that has provided me daily pay and I can show you what me and my team have used that has been proven to work no matter if you are looking to help pay the bills, or have a business to work at home.

So if you are looking for an opportunity to add extra income while at home, I would be glad to show you what it is that I am doing and see if it would be a good fit for you. Go ahead and check it out here to learn of a system that you can start today and start earning daily pay.

And yes things will get back to normal with your job and this could easily be something you continue on the side around your job.

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In Conclusion

Life will continue, sure it may a look a little different now, you may be ordering a lot more online and have more of what you need shipped to your door.

Make sure to check out my Healthy Living Products that I have used to live a Healthier Life and a Cleaner life that is free from harmful toxins that is found in everyday products found at the grocery store.

Allow yourself to slow down and enjoy the extra time that you would not have had with your kids.

Smile, Laugh, and Be Grateful.

If you found this information helpful, let me know by sharing and leaving a comment.

Sincerely from a mom in the trenches with you,

Sarah Lawyer