what was the best pice of advice u got?

[mamaflutter]

Some advice is little pearls of wisdom u hold onto forever others more like the hard turds in a diaper! What did people offer when they found out u planned to stay home with your babe? Just curious about what helped you decide as I am now faced with the strong possibility of having to go back to work to survive. I have a 3yo I've been home with and preg due in aug and life is getting too expencive
But when I was preg with dd I was working in insurance and was sitting with a client who's auto policy had lapsed and she asked if I was going to stay home. I said well yeah I plan to bf and will stay home as long as I can I just don't know how were gonna pull it off. Well she smiled and said there will be lots of mac and cheese days but in the long run it is worth every second and every bright orange noodle. She was totally right! Candi 26 mom 2 mj 9 juje 3 and #3 still cookin timer should pop 8\14\10!

[FLmommyathome]

Someone told me before I left teaching and had DS, to make it a priority to take a shower and get dressed (or atleast dressed) everyday as early in the day as possible. She told me that it would make me feel better about myself and less frumpy. And I have done it everyday and it totally helps! There have been less than a handful of days that I didn't shower and dress before DH left for work and I felt yucky for most of the day. I didn't wanna go out and play or do much at all. Most of the other advice I recieved was worthless. But this has made a diiference in my attitude and self esteem.

[BetsyS]

I got the advice to take a shower and get dressed every day, too. It really helps me, as well!

[Grace and Granola]

I wish someone would have imparted the shower wisdom on me! I have been a SAHM for 4.5 years and I STILL do not have that worked into my daily routine! But it sure does make a difference.

[sugarpop]

I didn't get that piece of wisdom either...I am only 5 months in, so I think I am taking it from you mama's and I will make it a point. I am currently sitting here in clean PJ's (been peed on three times today) waiting for DH to come home so I can shower. My day is dreary and I feel yucky and frumpy!

I don't know that I have recieved pearls...just people saying it is worth the sacrifices that we will make. I don't think I fully understand the sacrifices yet as it is all still so new, but I am sure they will be worth the smiles and the laughs

[SoCaliMommy]

shower everyday,either put the baby in a bouncy chair, swing or get up earlier or shower with your toddler.

wear nice shoes even with jeans you will feel better * i've just recently started doing this*


using a crockpot makes dinner so much easier sometimes, no sitting til the last minute wondering what are we going to have for dinner.

[ithappened]

shower everyday- even if that means putting the baby in a safe place and crying while you do it.

workout- leave DS/DD with your DH and go outside everyday even if its just for 10 minutes.

freeze meals- soups esp. so you always have the option of hot meals.

[Alisse]

Go out at least once a day, even if it's just for a walk with baby.

[Fay]

The best piece of advice was from a Dr. Sears book: the kitchen floor doesn't have feelings, and it doesn't care if it's clean. Pay attention to the people who have feelings.

[Alisse]

I wish someone had told me not to buy nursing tops or bras, especially given that i never wear them but i spent soooo much money on them.

[FelixMom]

Trying to tidy the house with young children at home is like trying to shovel snow during a snowstorm.

My priority is to make my kids' days interesting. The housework can always wait. Once you lower your standards for a clean house, the stress level becomes more manageable.

[ledzepplon]

Originally Posted by Fay

The best piece of advice was from a Dr. Sears book: the kitchen floor doesn't have feelings, and it doesn't care if it's clean. Pay attention to the people who have feelings.

That's a good one!

I also agree with the getting dressed and getting out of the house--even if only to the grocery store--every day. Everyone at my house gets super antsy if we don't get out for a change of scenery. It helps to join a parenting group or mommy and me class when your first baby is little, to "hold you accountable" for getting out.

[Carhootel]

my SIL (who is very AP) told me "attachment parenting doesn't mean never putting your baby down" and that really helped me to hear. I was a little too caught up with this idea of how I wanted to do everything and it helped to take some of the self imposed pressure off. Also to be told over and over again that no matter what you do - babies cry. It's their nature, some more than others but it's ok and normal and doesn't mean you are a bad mom. Do your best, don't overdo.

The other 'best piece of advice' I got (and to continue to get) from my mom is that 'The fatigue of the mother is the single most important factor in the emotional well-being of her family." she tells me that a lot

[NiteNicole]

Someone here mentioned that all house work should stop at a certain hour. At first I thought, how will we ever have clean clothes? Or dishes? It's just not possible, housekeeping is 24 hours. And then I tried it. Our house is no more or less dirty or messy than it was before AND now I have a few hours (or sometimes just AN hour) between the after-dinner clean up and bedtime - and they're much less stressful!!! Even when my daughter was still a baby, it took away some of the guilt of watching tv or reading while I played with her, or just letting her entertain herself (RARE) while my brain and body weren't freaking out about what I was supposed to be doing.

[wsgrl84]

-get into a good routine for the week or day
-take time for yourself, go work out! or read! or watch a movie!
-remember to spend some time alone with the Husband too!

[JL83]

My DD1 cried every time I wanted to take a shower and that made me cry and panic. So I bought a water sling (mesh ring sling). We had a great time having a shower together every single morning.

So I fully support that advice.

Also, go out every day. I made a "commitment" for every single morning and that kept me sane. There was somewhere I had to be by 10am every day. It made for a nice transition from being a working woman to a SAHM. I joined 2 mom's groups, so that took care of 2 mornings. I found mom's I enjoyed talking to and scheduled "playdates" for our 8 week old babies We did the story time at the library.

I did meal planning. That meant that when I had some time (while DD was napping) at 1pm to cut up veggies for supper, I already knew what I was making.

In many ways I approached it like a job at the beginning. I did loosen up as I got used to it. But even now, when I feel myself slipping into a bit of a funk, I go back to a written out schedule and setting goals.

[zebrachick83]

Originally Posted by JL83

Also, go out every day. I made a "commitment" for every single morning and that kept me sane. There was somewhere I had to be by 10am every day. It made for a nice transition from being a working woman to a SAHM. I joined 2 mom's groups, so that took care of 2 mornings. I found mom's I enjoyed talking to and scheduled "playdates" for our 8 week old babies We did the story time at the library.

In many ways I approached it like a job at the beginning. I did loosen up as I got used to it. But even now, when I feel myself slipping into a bit of a funk, I go back to a written out schedule and setting goals.

Awesome advice...

[*bejeweled*]

Originally Posted by NiteNicole

Someone here mentioned that all house work should stop at a certain hour. At first I thought, how will we ever have clean clothes? Or dishes? It's just not possible, housekeeping is 24 hours. And then I tried it. Our house is no more or less dirty or messy than it was before AND now I have a few hours (or sometimes just AN hour) between the after-dinner clean up and bedtime - and they're much less stressful!!! Even when my daughter was still a baby, it took away some of the guilt of watching tv or reading while I played with her, or just letting her entertain herself (RARE) while my brain and body weren't freaking out about what I was supposed to be doing.

This is the best advice I've heard in ages. Thank you.

[Amys1st]

A piece of wisdom?

I still go by this btw:

The days are long. The years are short.

After 8 years now at home, I speak from experience, this statement is true.

[Mamasjoy]

My mother said this once when I complained about how the kids are ruining everything around the house (scratching hardwood floors, making dents in walls, etc.) - in twenty years, you will be able to fix your house, but you will not be able to fix your kids. Her point was to spend time nurturing them now and helping them grow into decent human beings. Worrying about the house was just silly.