Ok moms! We have all felt it, or at least most of us . . . and it’s often easily recognizable, mom to mom. The glazed over look, ready to crash or cry or both! We love our children with all of our hearts. Yet, the moments arrive for us, usually at the least opportune time, “We’ve. Had. It!” “I’m. Just. Done.” “In. Need. Of. A. Drink.”. . . Right?!
Again, we absolutely love our little kiddos. There is no questioning this. But even the fiercest mama bear. . . She hits a breaking point. She just needs a break every now and then. Can you relate? You’re not alone!
But what on earth do you do when this breaking point hits you when you’re out at a store with your kids, out at the park, or at the Children’s Museum during Arts & Crafts time (wink, wink)? As much as we’d like to and probably need to, we can’t just check out.
Here are a few tried and true tips that have helped me along the way.
- Take a breath. Chances are, you’re holding your breath. And simply remembering to take that breath will bring you back to the moment. Taking that breath, in and out will allow for some of the tension to break and release.
- Take a brief moment and remove yourself from the situation (if possible). That sometimes means leaving your cart, kids in tow and walking outside for a moment, or walking to an empty row.
- If you’re in the car, you can’t simply walk out for a brief moment. In that case, make it a point to turn off the music. If your kiddo or kiddos are screaming, sometimes a sudden change in noise may catch them even for a moment. Ask them to give mommy a moment. Bribe them if you have to. But our minds need that moment to play catch up.
- Are you a precious stone fan? If you are, there are various stones that work well for different individuals for different reasons. One of my favorites is amethyst. Amongst other things, amethyst helps in releasing negativity and diffusing anxiety. Keep that in your pocket or purse for an extra squeeze when things get a bit heated.
- Pick up the phone and call someone who gets it. (Most likely a sympathetic mom who has been there herself.) Tell them you just need a friendly ear and a minute to vent.
- This next one may sound a bit nutty. Welcome to the club! Have a favorite song to sing in your head. It may seem a bit unorthodox, but it’s a slight escape without taking an actual hike.
- Have a few diversions up your sleeve. One of my favorites if I’m stuck in the car, “who can help me spot the next horsie!?” (My kiddo LOVES horses!! If I’m home, having an “Activity Box” available is incredibly helpful!! Putting on a favorite show or song to dance around to, an impromptu nature walk. . . Change the mood to a positive one.
- Moms are the Queens of Multi-tasking! And as much as it can seem like a good thing, it can be the one thing that takes us down that crazy rabbit hole of overwhelm. The more we can take those moments to focus on Single Tasking, we can eliminate some of the overwhelm and hopefully avoid the massive meltdown.
What are your go-to survival tips? I would love to hear from you! Before becoming a mom, I literally juggled 4 jobs at the same time. Now, as a Stay at Home Mom, I work harder than I’ve ever worked with very little to no recognition. Moms, we have a tough job! (I know, understatement.) Ladies, we’ve got this! We’ve got each other. And it is seriously ok to take those moments to breathe.
XO, Classy Mama Bear
