5 Things To Do To Survive the Tough Days of Motherhood

Being a mom is hard work!

 

There are days when we lock ourselves in the bathroom just to have a few minutes of peace.

 

Or days when we can’t wait until dad comes home so we can pass the kid duties off to him.

 

Or days where it seems like the only thing we hear is kids fighting and complaining.

 

There are even days when we want to throw in the towel and sell the kids to the gypsies.

 

There are a lot of tough parts of motherhood.

 

So, what keeps us going? What motivates us to get out of bed and face another day? What kinds of things help us survive the hard days? What helps us be the best moms we can be?

 

For me, it’s 5 things.

 

#1 A Sense of Duty

My biggest motivation comes from a sense of duty. I’ve been called to be mom, and I am going to be the best mom I can to my kiddos. I feel that it is my job to get myself out of bed, take care of my children’s needs, teach them, nurture them and prepare them for the world. My kids are my responsibility.

 

#2 Love

My love for my children is another thing that keeps me motivated. Stephen Covey teaches as part of his first habit, that love is a verb. So because I love my children, I serve them. The sacrifices I make as a mom are because I love them. The sleepless nights, the sharing of ice-cream, the re-reading of the beloved book for the umpteenth time, the day 3 of no shower, the playing of Barbies or Legos on the floor, are all things I do because I love them.

 

#3 Self-Care and Personal Growth

I want the best for my kids so I need to be my best me. I take time regularly in my schedule to refuel. Usually that means taking a nap, but sometimes it means going grocery shopping by myself (though now that my kids are older I prefer having them come with me as my helpers. They can find an item I’ve forgotten, push the cart, load the groceries into the cart, or even buy items when I’ve reached my limit). Other times it’s reading a book with no pictures, watching a movie, or spending time with friends or my husband sans kids.

 

Another part of this for me is personal growth. I’m often looking for another book to read or podcast to listen to or master mom to learn from. If there’s an area I’m struggling with, I know that if I look or ask I can find an answer to the problem. I’m always trying to learn the next things to make me better and help me survive the stressful days.

 

#4 Routines and Schedules

Routines and schedules have been a life saver for me. There is something about a routine that helps keep kids calm. They know what to expect for a particular day and there is less worry. The structure of a schedule means organized chaos and peace.

 

Now I don’t mean planning every day and activity down to the minute. That’s way too restrictive. I mean having a basic outline of what your day will look like.

 

Our schedule has changed as the needs of the kids have changed, but there are a few things that have always stayed the same. We have a wake up time with breakfast and chores. Because we homeschool, school time is next, then lunch. After lunch we have quiet time. This is when I take my afternoon nap. And it means that my kids do something quiet. They either nap or read or play a quiet game. We’ve done it since they were babies. Our afternoons are usually free for play or school co-ops. Dinner is usually around the same time every evening, and we have family time afterward. Then we have a bed time routine. As my kids got older, the routines we created when they were young, helped them do things on their own. When I leave with my husband, the kids know how our day runs and can help grandma or the babysitter.

 

#5 Focus on the Good Times

This one is probably the most difficult to do but is the most significant. At the end of a tough day it is important to reflect on the day and find something to be grateful for. Look for the small things. I am thankful for the day when my son fought me over everything, but at bedtime, he apologized for being a monster and told me he loved me. I am grateful for the time I walked out of my bedroom to see my oldest child sitting on the floor reading stories to her younger siblings. Even though they fight sometimes, they are each other’s best friends. I’m thankful for the time when my middle daughter decorated and sold her first cake all on her own and the proud look on her face. I’m grateful for the mundane jobs we do together because they provide opportunities for us to have conversations. I’m grateful every day that I get to be the mom to 5 wonderful kids.

 

Saran Lucly from The Power of Moms once said, “In motherhood the hard moments sometimes outnumber the beautiful moments. But the beautiful moments always outweigh the hard moments.”

You can do this, mom! Comment below with how you survive the tough days of motherhood. If you struggle and can’t find your motivation, borrow one of mine.