Before motherhood came along I worked in a variety of professions. I worked in sales, went to college full time, and then joined the Air Force at 21.  By the end of the week tiredness would set in so the weekend was the perfect time to relax and rest.  

But then I embraced motherhood and had a child. Any form of rest and relaxation became a distant memory. Those sacred lazy weekends were a thing of the past.

I soon realized that I needed to learn to juggle the cost of living, childcare costs, doing the housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping and trying to spend quality time with family and friends.

It all sounds like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be.

Here are a few tips to help you make motherhood more manageable.

10 Tips to Make Motherhood More Manageable

  1. Don’t feel guilty. Everyone may have an opinion about how you should and shouldn’t parent. Learn to take advice with a grain of salt. You know what is best for you and your children.
  2. Save your sanity with online shopping. Grocery stores are now offering on-line shopping. This means no more standing in lines, fighting the after-work crowds, and dealing with tired children. Order online and have your groceries either delivered to your home or pick up from the store.
  3. Double up. When you cook meals during the week, make double serving if possible. Casseroles, soups, spaghetti, etc. can be made ahead of time and then frozen to eat later. So, the next time that you’re too tired and don’t feel like cooking, pull out one of your meals and reheat. Some people like to meal prep on Sundays for the entire week!
  4. Convient meals. Buying marinated meats, roast kits, crockpot meals, and readymade stir fries can be a real time saver when you need to cook quickly. Just add rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables and you have a tasty, healthy dinner with minimal cooking.
  5. Save time. If your baby is eating on solids, save yourself cooking time by making their meals while you are cooking yours. Steam some vegetables and boil a chicken breast fillet then blend together for homemade baby food.
  6. Buy in bulk. When you go grocery shopping, buy in bulk. Buy sufficient amounts of fresh vegetables to last the week. Wash, cut them, and put them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator to use during the week. This saves time and dishes. Here are some more ways to save money at the grocery store.
  7. Enlist help. If you can afford it, hire a house cleaner or visit the local dry cleaners or both, to save time on weekly chores. If you work from home, subcontract some of your business responsibilities like accounting, sales, administration, and advertising to a virtual assistant. Check out these times to help you save time.
  8. Prepare ahead of time. Prepare breakfast dishes, clothes, bookbags, and lunches the night before to reduce the morning pandemonium. You can even prepare a breakfast in the crockpot that can cook overnight and be ready to eat by morning like this crockpot breakfast casserole
  9. Save time. Try to do as many tasks as you can online. Paying bills online can be quick and easy and done at any time of the day.
  10. Take care of you. The most important thing you can do is to take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, take a multivitamin, laugh often, get some physical activity, and cheer yourself on for getting through another day without going completely crazy. Your children and family will thank you.