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Mommy Convos

Surviving a Tough Mom Day in Three Simple Steps

in Motivation, Parenting, What's Working Wednesday on 10/01/18

Have you ever felt like you are surviving another tough day as a mom? Coping with the mundane daily tasks of motherhood can sometimes feel soul-sucking. I’m not saying I don’t love my children. And I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy being a mother. I’m just saying that some parts of the day I feel lost. Could someone say my real name, not mama or mommy, but Morgan today? If you have ever felt guilty for feeling this way. You are not alone. If you have ever questioned what difference you’re making by being a mother… this post is for you! When I am struggling with my kids that day, it is because I forgot three simple steps: to first take a time-out, communicate and then reclaim some personal time.

Surviving a Tough Mom-Day in Three Simple Steps

 Surviving a tough mom day. Simple self care plan for moms. Steps to cure mom burn out. Mom time. Surviving motherhood. 3 simple steps to surviving a tough mom day. Mommy time. Time out for moms.

1. Time out– For Parents Too!

When a child is misbehaving a parent usually gives that child a warning and if the behavior continues, the child goes to time-out. The purpose of time-out is for the child to be removed from the situation that may be causing the bad behavior and then once in time-out has an opportunity to reflect on their behavior and invoke change- hopefully.  As a parent I know I often wish for nap time to come earlier in the day so I can close my eyes in peace, but most of the time- my nap doesn’t come.  Most days I choose not to nap during my baby’s nap time to take care of me instead.
Right before you take off in an airplane you are reminded: in case of an emergency- put on your oxygen mask first and then help others. The concept is the same. Are you taking care of yourself? If the answer is no, then perhaps I can suggest some simple solutions:
Self- Care Simple Solutions:
  1. Get ready for the day.  Get dressed, put on makeup or just lip gloss- take care of yourself in whatever way you’d like to take on the rest of the day.
  2. Take a moment to review your day. You could plan your day out the night before or in the early morning before the kids wake…make a plan for the day. Last year, I talked about using a planner, serious life- changer. If you have a planner- use it! If you don’t have one- look into one getting one. Giving meaning and purpose to each day fulfills the personal and motherhood category of self-fulfillment wonderfully.
  3. Prioritize the list of to-do’s- and let the rest slide until kiddies are in bed.

2. Communicate:

When my second child had colic he literally screamed at the top of his lungs before his eyes even opened in the morning.  I would find myself while still asleep prepping to handle this child I loved, deep-deep down but truly did not like. I felt myself emotionally drained before the morning even began and yet- I still had to function and be nice to two children allllll day long…  Days, weeks and months of enduring this screaming kid taught me that he and the situation was not going to go away. I had to learn how to handle the extremely stressful situation differently.

Talk to Your Partner

I learned, that if I was going to survive a tough mom-day with this little man in one piece I needed to tell my husband what I needed. The baby was clearly expressing his feelings- loud and clear. Why couldn’t I? Because I felt selfish. Telling my husband I wanted to run away and never came back was extreme- yes. But, expressing my need to leave the house and get a break from my kids was not a selfish request. My husband gets a lunch break at work, your significant other gets to take a breather from their work-day and you my dear mother- deserve a break too!

Talk to Your Children

I am a firm believer in “keeping it real” with my kids. If I’m having a bad day- I let them know why and how they can help.  In fact, the other day my sweet daughter could tell we were in the middle of surviving a tough mom-day and asked, “Mom is it hard being a mom?” I sighed as I thought about the perfect picture I wish I could paint her- and instead said, “Only when my kids don’t listen or obey and leave messes for me to clean up all day.” She paused and said, “Kinda like today?” And with a nod she said, “You know, we could do better.”  Interesting… telling my daughter the truth worked to my advantage and we did have a better afternoon because they knew where they could improve.

Talk to a Friend

Everyone needs a friend that will just listen when a mom needs to vent. My mother used to tell me that she and her sister called it the “beef hotline.” Where one sister could call the other and without exchanging pleasantries would simply ask, “is this the beef hotline?” and the sister would know it was time to listen. Sometimes- we just need to scream, shout and let it all out without hearing solutions. And then, we can move on with our tough mom-day.  Whatever form of communication works best for you, remember dear mother- you need your oxygen before you can help others.

mom-day

3. Mommy-Free Personal Time:

  1. Change of scenery. The winter blues or cabin fever can hit any unwilling recipient, especially when the weather cools for the Fall and Winter months and you stay indoors more.
    • Go for a walk! Where I live- the sun is always shining and fortunately for me- the weather is usually warm around noon. Walking around the neighborhood expels everyone’s energy- which is awesome.
    • If you live somewhere cold and are gifted with the fluffy white stuff during winter- plan activities to be out of the house.
    • Run to McDonalds and use their playplace with the kids-  there’s no shame in letting the little ones run wild while you drink something hot in peace.
    • Go to the library for toddler time or story time.
    • Grocery shopping counts as an outing too!
  2. Find a Tribe!
    •  Find friends with kids the same age as your kids and get out of the house! Make lunch dates for the park or find a play-place.
    • Support group, book-club, walking group… whatever! Find a tribe and hold each other accountable by getting together often as mother’s who need a break.
  3.  Physical activity
    •  If this means getting a gym membership with day-care do it! Self-love and improvement while getting a break from the kiddies is always a plus.
  4. Service
    • There are days where I feel like all I do is serve my family. But, thinking outside of your home might put your life into perspective and discover that perhaps your family situation is not as bad as it first appeared. How can you help serve your neighbor?
  5.  Hobbies
    • My daughter and I were in a community play together one summer and it was a answer to my prayers. I just had a miscarriage and felt depressed and personally lost. Preparing for months for this play meant I got to be Morgan for several hours a week.
    • Even though my daughter was with me at times, it wasn’t in the same home setting.
    • I got to be Morgan again and perform on stage- something I have craved to do for years! Lexie and I performed and shared our passion together. Summer of 2017 was seriously the best!
  6. Girl Trips
    • Take a moment to feel like an adult instead of a mother. To have the chance to miss your kids. This can be an expensive outing, or a cheap trip to Target. Okay, not Target- I spend money there. BUT shopping by myself- that’s a nice escape.   My sisters and I went on a one night get-away and it was waaay too short. However, it was wonderful to get out of the house.  And then I went on a weekend cruise with my sisters several months later. Can I just say how wonderful it was to eat without preparing the meal? To eat without being interrupted a thousand times and to actually eat my food hot! Holy Hana. Get away with good friends or sisters and re-charge those mama batteries!

Conclusion:

Motherhood does not mean you have to survive a tough mom-day alone. The beauty of being a mother means you are not alone- you have a darling (most of the time) pumpkin head that loves you. Deep-down that little person appreciates you and wants to be with you- always. That tough day I mentioned earlier- my daughter said something pretty profound to me later that night.  She said, “You are the best mommy ever!” with a chuckle I responded with, “Well thanks, I’m trying my best.” And with the stroke of her hand on mine she said, “You don’t need to try- it’s good enough- we love you the way you are.”  Tears sprang from my eyes as her words sunk in.

If there is only one thing you take from this post it is this- know that you are enough! Know that because you are trying- that is good enough! Know that every mother has their strengths and weaknesses and although our children seem to know all the right annoying buttons to push on us- they also help bring the better mother out of us too.

Motherhood is hard at times, but is rewarding too. If you find yourself struggling to survive another tough mom- day remember these three simple steps: take a time out, communicate to someone your needs and lastly- schedule in personal time. You will find those tough mom-days become shorter when you follow those three simple steps.

Cheers to a happy you!

 

Morgan

About Morgan

Morgan is a domestic goddess in the Dewey household. Wife to her fourteen year college sweetheart and mother to four: a performer, soccer player, Mario obsessed and baby designated daredevil. Morgan keeps busy on her toes with musical theater performances, soccer games and secretly snarfing chocolate down in her closet. Morgan's passion in life is family and faith, belting Broadway songs while cooking, closet quilter, reading fantastic books and writing her own. She loves her four pumpkin heads and most days truly loves being a mother.

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  1. Three Reasons to Take Your Fussy or Colicky Baby to a Pediatric Chiropractor - Mommy Convos says:
    June 13, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    […] got me through the season of colic- I talk a lot about how I survived those tough mom days in this post. One of the biggest changes I made in my life that made the season of colic endurable was visiting […]

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Christmas is less than a week away. And if you hav Christmas is less than a week away. And if you haven’t read any of these adorable books – I highly suggest all of them. “But it’s too late!” You might be thinking and slightly panicking.... nonsense! ⠀
•⠀
•⠀
In fact, this post is perfectly timed to prepare you for your final purchases this weekend or even, Christmas book clearance time. 🥳 When Christmas is over I’m certain many of these books will go on sale. (Insert happy deal shoppers dance here! 💃🏼 🛍) •⠀
•⠀
So, I suggest you look for these books today to add to your library for the next holiday season. 🎁🎅🏻 ⠀
•⠀
•⠀
Head to our stories to see Morgan talk about some of her favorites, click the link in our bio for the Christmas book article or to shop all of our fav books- click on the Amazon link. ⠀
•⠀
• What holiday book is your favorite to read with your kids?
Morgan here- I’m all about planning ahead, espec Morgan here- I’m all about planning ahead, especially for the biggest holiday of the year, but I forget one small detail... the stockings. 🙈😑 Please tell me i’m not the only one? 
•
•
Last night the hubby and I finished our Christmas shopping and I can finally put the wallet away. I’m certain we’re done- I hope. I should probably check my stash to be sure! 🙈
•
•
Sharing today our list of fun non-toy stocking stuffers you can snag before it’s too late! Head to our @mommyconvos bio for the details! 
•
•
So, here’s the next question: do you Christmas shop for the family by yourself? (❤️) Or do you team up with your spouse? (❤️💚) Leave the colored heart that best describes you- below!
Hi friends! We hope that you are having an amazing Hi friends! We hope that you are having an amazing week and are having a blast gearing up for the holidays ahead. With 2020 coming to an end, we can all relate to how tough this year has been. However, the initial tendency as a parent might be to overspend in an effort to compensate for whatever did or didn't happen in 2020. ⁣
⁣
LET ME GIVE YOU THIS REASSURANCE, MOMMAS- it is NOT necessary to buy more during the holidays in order to compensate for whatever you feel your children lacked this year. ❤ ⁣
⁣
Instead, we highly suggest minimizing your Christmas stress by implementing a minimalistic mindset each year, but this year in particular. This year has blessed us with the specific opportunity to tune in and be more mindful of those you love, just like our Savior does for us. So take this time to BE more present instead of spending extra cash on gifts. We promise it will be absolutely worth it. ⁣
⁣
If you are looking at enjoying a more minimalistic holiday, be sure to check out the latest from the blog for some great tips and tricks for finding balance and peace this year. Just click the link in our bio @mommyconvos ⁣
⁣
How are you prepping for the holidays that are a little different than in previous years? 🎁🎄
Recently, my social media feed is full of #givetha Recently, my social media feed is full of #givethanks gratitude posts Oh how I love the change of focus! My list of gratitude is oh so long, my faith and my family are the top of my list, but also is good literature. Goodness, life is so much better with good books!  I love discovering new holiday books, and this year I found several now books to add to our collection. 
•
•
“Thanksgiving is here”- playfully illustrates the joys and chaos of large families gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. And when company leaves- how exhausted the hosts feel. Something as a mom I totally sympathize with. 😂
•
•
Another delight Thanksgiving book addition to our library this year is, “T-is for Thankful”. @babylit has done it again! Creating the cutest illustrated book centered around all the alphabetical great and small things to be thankful for this year.
•
•
Last year I shared our review on “Bad kitty does not like Thanksgiving” and this book is hilarious! Check out our Insta-stories for the awesome video review on this and other of our favorite Thanksgiving books.
•
•
Do you have a favorite thanksgiving book? Please share below so we can continue to learn from each other! Happy holidays friends. 🦃 🥧 Morgan and Tiffaynee
Today I’ve felt anxious. I know i’m not the on Today I’ve felt anxious. I know i’m not the only one feeling this way with the impending presidential announcement... so how do we handle feeling off, anxious or depressed? One of the best things you can do -right this moment- give a hug. Cuddle close to a loved one and hold one another. Breathe deep. And hug for another breath. And hopefully you’ll slowly feel that anxiety release. And feel free to cuddle longer. 😘
•
•
Sending a warm hug your way friend. 
❤️Tiff.
“When my daughter passed away unexpectedly at 10 “When my daughter passed away unexpectedly at 10 months old, my heart shattered. I was beyond broken… I was shattered beyond repair.⁣
⁣
They say it takes a “village” to raise a child…⁣
⁣
At that moment my “village” is what kept me alive…”⁣
•⁣
•⁣
@momma.hutch is 1 of every 4 women in the United States alone, who are affected by infertility or infant loss, or both. Mallory shares her brave story of dear Mackenzie’s passing and the journey she and her family are still going through. In this article Mallory  offers 10 invaluable and thoughtful ways to help a grief-stricken friend and we couldn’t agree more with her list. ⁣
•⁣
•⁣
To read her article- click @mommyconvos link in our bio. If you are a mother currently going through the grieving process- our deepest condolences and a virtual hug sent your way. We encourage you to check out Mallory‘s amazing supportive Instagram group: ... ⁣
•⁣
•⁣
When you are sad what is the one thing that cheers you up? I’ll give you a hint what mine is in the comments. 😍
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Christmas is less than a week away. And if you hav Christmas is less than a week away. And if you haven’t read any of these adorable books – I highly suggest all of them. “But it’s too late!” You might be thinking and slightly panicking.... nonsense! ⠀
•⠀
•⠀
In fact, this post is perfectly timed to prepare you for your final purchases this weekend or even, Christmas book clearance time. 🥳 When Christmas is over I’m certain many of these books will go on sale. (Insert happy deal shoppers dance here! 💃🏼 🛍) •⠀
•⠀
So, I suggest you look for these books today to add to your library for the next holiday season. 🎁🎅🏻 ⠀
•⠀
•⠀
Head to our stories to see Morgan talk about some of her favorites, click the link in our bio for the Christmas book article or to shop all of our fav books- click on the Amazon link. ⠀
•⠀
• What holiday book is your favorite to read with your kids?
Morgan here- I’m all about planning ahead, espec Morgan here- I’m all about planning ahead, especially for the biggest holiday of the year, but I forget one small detail... the stockings. 🙈😑 Please tell me i’m not the only one? 
•
•
Last night the hubby and I finished our Christmas shopping and I can finally put the wallet away. I’m certain we’re done- I hope. I should probably check my stash to be sure! 🙈
•
•
Sharing today our list of fun non-toy stocking stuffers you can snag before it’s too late! Head to our @mommyconvos bio for the details! 
•
•
So, here’s the next question: do you Christmas shop for the family by yourself? (❤️) Or do you team up with your spouse? (❤️💚) Leave the colored heart that best describes you- below!
Hi friends! We hope that you are having an amazing Hi friends! We hope that you are having an amazing week and are having a blast gearing up for the holidays ahead. With 2020 coming to an end, we can all relate to how tough this year has been. However, the initial tendency as a parent might be to overspend in an effort to compensate for whatever did or didn't happen in 2020. ⁣
⁣
LET ME GIVE YOU THIS REASSURANCE, MOMMAS- it is NOT necessary to buy more during the holidays in order to compensate for whatever you feel your children lacked this year. ❤ ⁣
⁣
Instead, we highly suggest minimizing your Christmas stress by implementing a minimalistic mindset each year, but this year in particular. This year has blessed us with the specific opportunity to tune in and be more mindful of those you love, just like our Savior does for us. So take this time to BE more present instead of spending extra cash on gifts. We promise it will be absolutely worth it. ⁣
⁣
If you are looking at enjoying a more minimalistic holiday, be sure to check out the latest from the blog for some great tips and tricks for finding balance and peace this year. Just click the link in our bio @mommyconvos ⁣
⁣
How are you prepping for the holidays that are a little different than in previous years? 🎁🎄
Recently, my social media feed is full of #givetha Recently, my social media feed is full of #givethanks gratitude posts Oh how I love the change of focus! My list of gratitude is oh so long, my faith and my family are the top of my list, but also is good literature. Goodness, life is so much better with good books!  I love discovering new holiday books, and this year I found several now books to add to our collection. 
•
•
“Thanksgiving is here”- playfully illustrates the joys and chaos of large families gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. And when company leaves- how exhausted the hosts feel. Something as a mom I totally sympathize with. 😂
•
•
Another delight Thanksgiving book addition to our library this year is, “T-is for Thankful”. @babylit has done it again! Creating the cutest illustrated book centered around all the alphabetical great and small things to be thankful for this year.
•
•
Last year I shared our review on “Bad kitty does not like Thanksgiving” and this book is hilarious! Check out our Insta-stories for the awesome video review on this and other of our favorite Thanksgiving books.
•
•
Do you have a favorite thanksgiving book? Please share below so we can continue to learn from each other! Happy holidays friends. 🦃 🥧 Morgan and Tiffaynee
Today I’ve felt anxious. I know i’m not the on Today I’ve felt anxious. I know i’m not the only one feeling this way with the impending presidential announcement... so how do we handle feeling off, anxious or depressed? One of the best things you can do -right this moment- give a hug. Cuddle close to a loved one and hold one another. Breathe deep. And hug for another breath. And hopefully you’ll slowly feel that anxiety release. And feel free to cuddle longer. 😘
•
•
Sending a warm hug your way friend. 
❤️Tiff.
“When my daughter passed away unexpectedly at 10 “When my daughter passed away unexpectedly at 10 months old, my heart shattered. I was beyond broken… I was shattered beyond repair.⁣
⁣
They say it takes a “village” to raise a child…⁣
⁣
At that moment my “village” is what kept me alive…”⁣
•⁣
•⁣
@momma.hutch is 1 of every 4 women in the United States alone, who are affected by infertility or infant loss, or both. Mallory shares her brave story of dear Mackenzie’s passing and the journey she and her family are still going through. In this article Mallory  offers 10 invaluable and thoughtful ways to help a grief-stricken friend and we couldn’t agree more with her list. ⁣
•⁣
•⁣
To read her article- click @mommyconvos link in our bio. If you are a mother currently going through the grieving process- our deepest condolences and a virtual hug sent your way. We encourage you to check out Mallory‘s amazing supportive Instagram group: ... ⁣
•⁣
•⁣
When you are sad what is the one thing that cheers you up? I’ll give you a hint what mine is in the comments. 😍
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM
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Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

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