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Children require so much work and attention for a stay-at-home mom. Then there’s the homemaking activities to pile on top of that. Adding more to do makes being a Work-from-home mom sound impossible for most women, and I get it.
When I interact with other women considering being a work-from-home mom, they normally say they don’t have time. Yes, indeed, being a stay-at-home mom and homemaker is too time-consuming to pile on more.
Work-from-home mom life secret to productivity
Here’s my secret. My husband. He’s how I get it all done.
This astounding man cooks the meals, cleans the bathrooms, washes the linens, does the grocery shopping and so much more. I realize that all stay-at-home moms don’t necessarily have this resource so you can ask for help from family and friends.
Another mom asked me early on if I thought I was shirking my duties in the homemaker space because I didn’t do these activities. Personally, I don’t believe that stay-at-home moms should be expected to do these activities, even if they aren’t working. Juggling little ones as you trek up and down the stairs for laundry is not only stressful, it can be downright dangerous for you and your children.
Activities family members can help you with
To free up time in your life to work, here’s a list of activities that many people expect stay-at-home moms to complete that you can ask for help with.
- Cooking meals: the only time I cook meals is when I put it in the crockpot. If it takes more than 10 minutes to assemble, I don’t do it. I’m also pretty good at opening a frozen pizza or the infamous orange chicken from Trader Joe’s. We budget $20 per week to do takeout or go to happy hour on Fridays because let’s be real, no one wants to cook at the end of the week.
- Cleaning: I love a clean home and it helps me feel organized and prepared to work each day. This means that I’m not willing to ignore the cleaning entirely but I don’t have time to be a total homemaker. So I can be a work-from-home mom, my husband helps with the cleaning. I do the vacuuming, empty the dishwasher and wash the sheets. My husband cleans the bathrooms, washes the towels, dusts and keeps the fridge cleaned up from spoiled food.
- Clothes shopping: this one might sound funny, but it’s so real. Children constantly need new clothes when they’re little because they grow so rapidly. I would be at the store shopping for an entirely new wardrobe every couple of months and that’s time-consuming. I shop online or get help from my mom who is like my personal shopper for my son.
- Evening childcare: in the evenings, I do laundry, move around clothes at the change of season and straighten up my own belongings. Plus, I relax, play Candy Crush and worry less about my son’s care. No, my husband isn’t babysitting. He’s enjoying valuable time with our son after I’ve spent all day with him.
Asking family members for help
My parents watch our son every few months so that my husband and I can go out without him. A healthy marriage helps you feel less stress and therefore be more productive. I also have siblings who would play with my son whenever we need it. While my husband’s family lives a few hours away, they are more than happy to drive in to spend time with their grandson when we ask.
The key is not being afraid to ask. Even if you don’t go anywhere and you just go to a different room of the house to work, ask your family for help as a work-from-home mom.
I also have other mom friends who are happy to come and play so I can focus on other things and relax from 24/7 care of my son.
Strategic screen time
I know there are tons of studies out there that tell you to limit your child’s screen time. I’m not the type of person who just leaves the TV on all day, but it can be a great asset to help you get it all done.
When I need to do laundry during the day when I don’t have anyone else to watch my son, I do turn on the TV so I know my son stays in one place. Additionally, I use screen time during client calls to keep my son quiet and avoid interruptions.
While it’s not something you want to do constantly, strategic screen time can aid a work-from-home mom immensely. We love Super Simple Songs on YouTube because it’s free and the songs include learning topics that are appropriate for my son’s age. He’s learning animal sounds, opposites, greetings, counting and more while I get things done.
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