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W R I T T E N B Y
TIFFANY M RUFFIN
How to stay sane as
a stay at home
mother
Table of
Contents
Introduction
Author
" T H I S E B O O K I S B A S E D
O N S O M E O F M Y
P E R S O N A L
E X P E R I E N C E S A N D
O P I N I O N S A N D D E S I R E S
A N D I D E A S . "
- A U T H O R -
T I F F A N Y M R U F F I N
M Y T I F F A N Y M
R U F F I N I ' M A S T A Y A
H O M E M O T H E R O F 2
W O N D E R F U L K I D S
A F T E R L E A V I N G A
C A R E E R O F 1 1 Y E A R S
O R M O R E . I W A S
I N S P I R E D T O W R I T E
T H I S B O O K B A S E D
O N W H A T I ' M
A C T U A L L Y G O I N G
T H R O U G H
C U R R E N T L Y O R
A L R E A D Y
E X P E R I E N C E D .
W E H O U S E W I V E S R E A L I Z E W E A R E
H O N O R E D T O B E H O M E W I T H O U R
L I T T L E S , H O W E V E R T H A T D O E S N ' T
M E A N W E A R E N ' T C O N F R O N T E D W I T H
T H E T E S T O F G E T T I N G B Y — A S W E L L
A S R E A L L Y F L O U R I S H I N G — W H I L E
E N C O M P A S S E D B Y S A L T I N E M O R S E L S
A N D M A T C H B O X V E H I C L E S A N D
C L O T H I N G T H A T I N C R E A S E S E A C H A N D
E V E R Y T I M E Y O U R B A C K I S T U R N E D .
E A C H F U N C T I O N I N G M O T H E R H A S
D I F F I C U L T I E S , H O W E V E R T O D A Y I
N E E D T O T A K E A G A N D E R A T T H E T E S T
O F R E M A I N I N G R A T I O N A L A S T H E
S T A Y - A T - H O M E A S S O R T M E N T O F
W O R K I N G M O T H E R .
F O L L O W I N G 1 7 Y E A R S I N T H E L A B O R
F O R C E I W A S S O E A G E R T O C H A N G E
G E A R S A N D R E M A I N A T H O M E W H E N I
B E G A N T O H A V E C H I L D R E N .
P R E S E N T L Y T H R E E - A N D - A - H A L F Y E A R S
O N I C A N U N D O U B T E D L Y S A Y T H A T
R E M A I N I N G A T H O M E W I T H M Y
C H I L D R E N I S A W E S O M E A N D H A R D E S T
W O R K I ' V E A T A N Y P O I N T H A D . I T ' S
A C T U A L L Y D E B I L I T A T I N G ,
I N T E L L E C T U A L L Y T E S T I N G , G E N U I N E L Y
B U R D E N I N G , A N D C A N B E F O R L O R N
N O W A N D A G A I N . T H I N G S H A V E
G O T T E N M O R E S T R A I G H T F O R W A R D
S I N C E T H A T F I R S T Y E A R O F S H O C K
A N D P R O G R E S S , H O W E V E R A H U G E
P I E C E O F T H A T H A S C O M E B E C A U S E O F
I N S T I T U T I N G T H E M A J O R I T Y O F T H E S E
P R A C T I C E S . I ' M A F A R S U P E R I O R
M O T H E R S I N C E I ' V E F I G U R E D O U T H O W
T O A L L T H E M O R E L I K E L Y D E A L W I T H
M Y S E L F A N D D E A L W I T H M Y D A Y S .
I T R U S T T H E S E T I P S W I L L M O T I V A T E A N D
S U P P O R T Y O U I N Y O U R O W N T I M E O F B E I N G
H O M E W I T H Y O U R K I D S . M A Y Y O U B E
E N G A G E D , D E A R M O M , A S Y O U I N C O R P O R A T E
P R A C T I C E S I N T O Y O U R D A Y S T O A S S I S T Y O U
W I T H K E E P I N G Y O U R M E N T A L S O U N D N E S S
D U R I N G T H E ' L I T T L E Y E A R S ' .
P E R U S E R S W A Y S T O R E M A I N N O R M A L A T
W O R K :
1 . D I S C O V E R A F E W O U T L E T S T H A T D O N ' T
H A V E T O D O W I T H B E I N G A M O T H E R .
Q U E E N I E F R O M T H E P L A N E T P I N K : F O R M Y
P U R P O S E S , M E N T A L S T A B I L I T Y D E P E N D S A
T O N O N H A V I N G O U T L E T S T H A T A S S I S T A N C E
T O C H A R A C T E R I Z E M E B E Y O N D B E I N G A
M O T H E R . W H E N E V E R I F I R S T W A S A S A H M I
W A S S T U N N E D T O F I N D T H A T I T D I D N ' T
A C T U A L L Y S A T I S F Y M E T H E M A N N E R I N
W H I C H I A N T I C I P A T E D T H A T I T S H O U L D . I
C H E R I S H E D I T O B V I O U S L Y , H O W E V E R I
B E F O R E L O N G U N D E R S T O O D T H A T I N S P I T E
O F T H E F A C T T H A T B E I N G A M O T H E R A N D
R E M A I N I N G A T H O M E W I T H M Y C H I L D R E N I S
O N E O F T H E M A I N P I E C E S O F M E ( A N D
U N Q U E S T I O N A B L Y C O N S U M E S T H E M O S T
T I M E ) , I T I S N ' T T H E M A I N P A R T . A S S U M I N G
T H A T W A S A L L I W A S , Y O U W O U L D S E E M Y
M E N T A L S O U N D N E S S S U F F O C A T I N G I N T H E
C L O T H I N G A N D D I S H E S . S O I ' V E
E F F E C T I V E L Y B E E N L O O K I N G F O R
I N N O V A T I V E O U T L E T S T H A T I A P P R E C I A T E .
S O M E O F T H E M R E A L L Y D O S P I N A R O U N D
B E I N G A M O T H E R ( L I K E W R I T I N G F O R A B L O G
F O R I N S T A N C E ) , H O W E V E R N O T E V E R Y O N E
O F T H E M D O , S I M I L A R T O C H A P E L A N D M Y
L A B O R T E A C H E R C E R T I F I C A T E . Y E T , S E T U P
T H E M A L L A N D Y O U G E T A B A L A N C E D M E
W H O I S C O N T E N T W I T H W H E R E I ' M
T H R O U G H O U T E V E R Y D A Y L I F E .
S A R A H F R O M F O U R L E A F P H O T O G R A P H Y : I W O R K E D A L L D A Y
U N T I L M Y M O S T S E A S O N E D W A S 1 A N D A F T E R W A R D W E N T T O
P A R T T I M E A N D A F T E R W A R D Q U I T W H E N # 2 W A S C O N C E I V E D . I T
W A S T R U L Y H A R D S O I G E N E R A L L Y T E L L I N D I V I D U A L S
C O N S I D E R I N G I T T O E N S U R E T H E Y G E T A L E I S U R E A C T I V I T Y . I N
A R E A L S E N S E . I F N O T F O R M Y P H O T O G R A P H Y I C O U L D N E V E R
H A V E G O T T E N P A S T T H E P R I N C I P A L Y E A R . P L A Y D A T E S A R E
G R E A T Y E T W H E N Y O U ' R E A C C U S T O M E D T O B E I N G T E S T E D
I N T E L L E C T U A L L Y O R D I N A R I L Y W O R K I N G , Y O U R E A L L Y W A N T
S O M E T H I N G T O P U S H T H A T A L O N G .
2 . M A K E S O M E C O N S T R U C T I O N F O R Y O U R D A Y .
C A M E R O N F R O M I N G E N U E M O T H E R : I F O U N D T H A T H A V I N G
S O M E K I N D O F C O N S T R U C T I O N T O M Y D A Y T R U L Y H E L P E D M E .
T H A T I S O N E R E A S O N W H Y W E D E C I D E D T O A C C O M P L I S H E V E N
M O R E A N E V E R Y D A Y P R A C T I C E W I T H I S I S . I T K E P T M E
R A T I O N A L A N D P E R M I T T E D M E T O B E A S U P E R I O R M O T H E R . O N
T H E O F F C H A N C E T H A T I K N E W " O K , S H E W I L L S L E E P
S T R A I G H T A W A Y A N D I W I L L D O D I S H E S A N D C L O T H I N G " T H E N ,
A T T H A T P O I N T , I T A S S I S T E D M E W I T H S E P A R A T I N G M Y D A Y .
3 . E S C A P E T H E H O U S E .
L I V Y F R O M M A K I N G O V E R M U M : G E T T I N G O U T S I D E E N D L E S S L Y
P A R T S ! I B E G I N T O G O A L I T T L E M I X P S Y C H O I N T H E E V E N T
T H A T I G O T O N U M E R O U S D A Y S W I T H O U T A N E X C U R S I O N !
S H O W I N G L I T T L E C H I L D R E N S A I D : I F O U N D T H A T T A K I N G A
T R I P P R E T T Y M U C H C O N S I S T E N T L Y T R U L Y H E L P E D
P A R T I C U L A R L Y S I N C E W E H A D Q U I T E R E C E N T L Y M O V E D T O
A N O T H E R C I T Y . I T W A S A L I T T L E S C A R Y I N A N E N O R M O U S C I T Y
W I T H I N F A N T T W I N S Y E T A D D I T I O N A L L Y E N J O Y A B L E T O
I N V E S T I G A T E T O O . W E G O T A L O T O F C O N S I D E R A T I O N A N D I T
W A S G O O D T O C O N V E R S E W I T H N E W I N D I V I D U A L S .
4 . R E S E R V E M A R G I N F O R Y O U R S E L F A N D A S S O C I A T E W I T H
L A D Y F R I E N D S .
M I C H E L E F R O M M I S F O R T U N E S O F A M I L I T A R Y M O M M A W I T H
T W O U N D E R 2 : B E C E R T A I N Y O U G E T U N I N T E R R U P T E D A L O N E
T I M E , W H E T H E R T H A T I S W I T H O U T A N Y O N E E L S E O R W I T H A
L O T O F L A D Y F R I E N D S . Y O U R E A L L Y W A N T T O C O N T I N U E T O
A C T N A T U R A L L Y A N D I N A D D I T I O N T O T H E M O T H E R W I T H T H E
C H I L D R E N !
5 . A S S U M I N G T H A T Y O U T E L E C O M M U T E , T A K E A S T A B A T
E X C H A N G I N G B L O C K S O F T I M E T O W O R K A N D P L A Y .
K E R R Y F R O M S E T T L I N G W I T H N I A L L : I A T F I R S T F E L T T H A T
T E L E C O M M U T I N G W A S A L I T T L E G L I M P S E O F H E A V E N - I C O U L D
S T A Y A W A Y F R O M T H E E X P E N S E S O F D A Y C A R E A N D I N V E S T
M O R E E N E R G Y W I T H M Y C H I L D . W H A T I D I D N ' T U N D E R S T A N D
W A S T H A T T E L E C O M M U T I N G I M P L I E S O V E R L O O K I N G T H E C H I L D
W H O I S S I T T I N G C L O S E T O Y O U W I T H T H E B I G A D O R A B L E E Y E S
A S K I N G T O P L A Y W I T H Y O U . I ' V E F O U N D T H A T I N E E D T O S H I F T
G E A R S C O N S I S T E N T L Y . I ' L L L A B O R F O R A N H O U R A N D
A F T E R W A R D P L A Y W I T H N I A L L F O R 6 0 M I N U T E S . I T ' S S I M P L Y
N O T R E A S O N A B L E T O L E A V E H I M S T A Y I N G T H E R E , E X H A U S T E D
A N D U N S T I M U L A T E D , F O R E X T E N S I V E S T R E T C H E S O F T I M E . I T ' S
L I K E W I S E A P L E A S A N T B R E A K F O R M E T O G E T O U T S I D E F O R A
D E C E N T W A L K / R E C E S S .
6 . G E T D Y N A M I C A N D D O S O M E A C T I V I T Y .
J H E N O F F R O M H E R E T O E N D L E S S N E S S : I L O V E T O
D O T H O S E H I T T I N G T H E D A N C E F L O O R W I T H T H E
S T A R S E X E R C I S E D V D S T O K E E P M Y B O D Y M O V I N G
A N D L E A R N A N D L I T T L E D A N C E M O V E S !
M A N D Y F R O M I T ' S A D E L I G H T F U L L I F E : I S T A Y
N O R M A L B Y K E E P I N G O C C U P I E D ! M Y C H I L D K I D A N D
I G E T O U R A N D A B O U T A L O T . W H A T ' S M O R E , W H E N
W E ' R E H O M E - W E ' R E P L A Y I N G T O G E T H E R . W H I L E
H E ' S R E S T I N G , I ' M C O N T R I B U T I N G T O A B L O G !
W H A T ' S M O R E , A P O R T I O N O F M Y O W N W A Y S T O
R E M A I N N O R M A L A T W O R K :
7 . I N V E S T E N E R G Y P L A Y I N G W I T H Y O U R K I D .
C L E A R L Y T H E C H I L D S H O U L D B E T A K E N C A R E O F .
T H E C L O T H I N G S H O U L D B E F I N I S H E D . T H E F L O O R
S H O U L D B E C L E A R E D . T H O S E E R R A N D S G O W I T H
T H E J O B O F B E I N G A S A H M ( O R A N Y M O T H E R
B E S I D E S ) . I N A N Y C A S E , I V I E W T H A T A S O N T H E
O F F C H A N C E T H A T I D O N ' T I N V E S T C O N S C I O U S
E N E R G Y C O N S I S T E N T L Y P L A Y I N G W I T H M Y
C H I L D R E N , I W I N D U P G E T T I N G S I N C E R E L Y P U S H E D
( A N D E X H A U S T E D ) W I T H E V E R Y O N E O F T H E T A S K S
A N D S U P P O R T O F E V E R Y D A Y H O U S E K E E P I N G A N D
B A B Y F I G H T I N G . I W A N T T O G E T D O W N O N T H E
F L O O R , S I N G A F E W T U N E S , S T A C K A F E W B L O C K S ,
P L A Y D I N O S A U R S , D O A F E W S P E C I A L T I E S O R
S H A D I N G , P L A Y A S T R A I G H T F O R W A R D P R E P A C K A G E D
G A M E , O R D O S O M E A C T U A L P L A Y L I K E F I N D T H E
S T O W A W A Y . F U R T H E R M O R E , I D O N ' T M E A N P L A Y I N G
W H E N T H E Y G E T C R O T C H E T Y A N D S T A R T
R E Q U E S T I N G C O N S I D E R A T I O N , Y E T G E T T I N G S O M E
M A R G I N T O P L A Y W I T H T H E M W H I L E T H E Y A R E N O W
B L I S S F U L S O W E C A N E S S E N T I A L L Y P A R T A K E I N O N E
A N O T H E R . O N P A R T I C U L A R L Y D I S T R E S S I N G D A Y S ,
P L A Y I N G W I T H M Y C H I L D R E N I S M Y R E D E E M I N G
Q U A L I T Y . I T A L L O W S M E A N O P P O R T U N I T Y T O
C H U C K L E A N D P A R T A K E I N T H E O C C A S I O N , A N D I T
G E N E R A L L Y B R I N G S T H I N G S B A C K I N T O P O I N T O F
V I E W , A S S I S T I N G M E W I T H R E C A L L I N G W H Y I C H O S E
T O R E M A I N A T H O M E I N A N Y C A S E .
8 . H A V E B L O C K S O F T I M E D I S T R I B U T E D
F O R W O R K T H A T N E E D S F U L L F O C U S .
I ' M A V E N T U R E S I T U A T E D I N D I V I D U A L .
A T T H E P O I N T W H E N I W A S S I N G L E
T H E R E W E R E O R D I N A R I L Y W H E R E I
W O U L D B E G I N A N U N D E R T A K I N G A T
W O R K A N D B E S O I N T O I T T H A T I
W O U L D W O R K R E A L L Y H A R D I N L I G H T
O F T H E F A C T T H A T I W A S D O I N G
G R E A T A N D D I D N ' T H A V E A N Y D E S I R E
T O S T O P . A S A S A H M W I T H L I T T L E S ,
I ' V E D I S C O V E R E D T H A T I N E E D T O
A T T E M P T T O D O E V E R Y T H I N G I N S H O R T
A D D I T I O N S A N D - L I K E I T O R N O T -
G E N E R A L L Y B E R E A D Y F O R A N
I N T E R F E R E N C E O R A S H I F T I N
D I R E C T I O N . I M I S S H A V I N G L O N G
B L O C K S O F T I M E T O S I M P L Y " F I N I S H
S T U F F " . A B O U T O N C E A M O N T H O N A
S A T U R D A Y I T A K E A " W O R K " D A Y T O
D O A W I D E R A N G E O F T H I N G S T H A T
R E Q U I R E T H E S O R T O F C E N T E R T H A T
H A L T I N G A N D B E G I N N I N G S I M P L Y W I L L
N O T P E R M I T . M Y S I G N I F I C A N T O T H E R
D E A L S W I T H T H E C H I L D R E N F R O M
M O R N I N G U N T I L N I G H T - E A C H
N A P T I M E , D I A P E R C H A N G E , C O O K I N G ,
H O U S E W O R K … E V E R Y L A S T B I T O F I T .
H E C H E R I S H E S T H E D I F F E R E N C E I N
P A C E H E G E T S A N D I S E C U R E M Y S E L F
I N T H E W O R K P L A C E A N D W O R K
W I T H O U T I N T E R F E R E N C E ! I L O V E
H A V I N G T H E O P T I O N T O A N T I C I P A T E
T H E S E L O N G D A Y S A N D C A N
G E N E R A L L Y A C H I E V E I N A D A Y W H A T
M I G H T S O M E H O W T A K E M E A W H O L E
S E V E N D A Y S T R E T C H O F H A L T I N G A N D
B E G I N N I N G A N D W O R K I N G I N T H E
E D G E S .
9 . I N V E S T E N E R G Y P O N D E R I N G T H E
" W H Y ' S " O F N U R T U R I N G A N D I N
A D D I T I O N T O T H E " H O W ' S " .
A T T H E P O I N T W H E N L E V I ( M Y M O S T
M E M O R A B L E C O N C E I V E D ) W A S A C H I L D
I U N D E R S T O O D T H A T I W A S
C O N T I N U A L L Y O N T H E W E B A N D
P E R U S I N G B O O K S A B O U T H O W T O D E A L
W I T H H I M - T H I N G S A B O U T
B R E A S T F E E D I N G , P L A N N I N G C H I L D
F O O D , A S S I S T I N G H I M W I T H R E S T I N G ,
F O R M A T I V E S T A G E S , A N D S O F O R T H . I N
T H E E V E N T T H A T I W A S N ' T D E A L I N G
W I T H H I M I W A S P E R U S I N G A N D
C O N T E M P L A T I N G H O W T O D E A L W I T H
H I M . B A D ! T R U L Y , I T R U L Y A P P R E C I A T E
L E A R N I N G A B O U T N U R T U R I N G A N D
A D V A N C E M E N T S O I T C O U L D B E S A I D I T
W A S A G O O D T I M E F O R M E … H O W E V E R I
U N D E R S T O O D I E X P E C T E D T O D I S C O V E R
S O M E E Q U I L I B R I U M . I S T A R T E D
C O N S O L I D A T I N G D I F F E R E N T B O O K S
T H A T A I D E D P R O D M E T O T H I N G A B O U T
T H E W H Y ' S O F N U R T U R I N G A N D
F U R T H E R M O R E P U R P O S E L Y S T A R T E D
P E R U S I N G B O O K S A B O U T M Y O W N
P R O F O U N D T U R N O F E V E N T S . I T
A S S I S T E D M E W I T H A C Q U I R I N G
V I E W P O I N T A N D C O M E O U T B E T T E R
P E R S O N A L L Y , N O T S I M P L Y B E T T E R
P A R E N T . ( F O R A F E W E X T R A O R D I N A R Y
B O O K S T O A S S I S T Y O U W I T H
P O N D E R I N G T H E " W H Y ' S " I S U G G E S T
C H E R I S H I N G Y O U R C H I L D R E N
D E L I B E R A T E L Y A N D S A C R O S A N C T
N U R T U R I N G . B O T H A R E A M A Z I N G . )
1 0 . I N T E R V I E W W I T H Y O U R B E T T E R
H A L F / A C C O M P L I C E / S U P P O R T I N D I V I D U A L .
W H E N E V E R R Y A N G E T S B A C K H O M E F R O M
W O R K I D O W H A T E V E R I T T A K E S N O T T O
B A R R A G E H I M W I T H T H E S U B T L E T I E S O F M Y
P R I O R D A Y H E G E T S A N O P P O R T U N I T Y T O
P U T H I S K E Y S D O W N … Y E T T H A T ' S W H A T H E
K N O W S W H E T H E R I D O N ' T I N T E R V I E W A N D
R E P O R T H O W M Y D A Y W E N T T O O N E M O R E
G R O W N - U P S O O N E R O R L A T E R D U R I N G T H E
N I G H T , I W I L L U N D O U B T E D L Y C O L L A P S E .
S H A R I N G S O M E O F W H A T O C C U R R E D
D U R I N G T H A T T I M E I S A P P R O V I N G F O R
M Y S E L F A N D A C C O M M O D A T I N G F O R M E I N
M A K I N G T H E C H A N G E F R O M " M O T H E R
M O D E " T O " S P O U S E A N D C O M P A N I O N "
M O D E .
1 1 . B E I N T E N T I O N A L T O N O T N E C E S S A R I L Y
B E P E R F O R M I N G M U L T I P L E T A S K S .
I N T H E E V E N T T H A T Y O U ' R E L I K E
P E R S O N A L , T I M E I S V A L U A B L E A N D T H E R E
W I L L N E V E R B E E N O U G H O F I T ! I ' M
C O N T I N U A L L Y P E R F O R M I N G M U L T I P L E
T A S K S , W H E T H E R I T ' S B R O W S I N G
M E S S A G E S O N M Y T E L E P H O N E W H I L E I
N U R T U R E M Y C H I L D , S E T T L I N G O N A
T E L E P H O N E D E C I S I O N W H I L E G O I N G F O R
T H E M O N A S T R O L L , O R D O I N G T H E D I S H E S
W H I L E H A V I N G L U N C H . O N O C C A S I O N I T ' S
A N U N Q U E S T I O N A B L E R E Q U I R E M E N T A N D
A S S I S T S M E W I T H K E E P I N G S T E A D Y O V E R
T H I N G S , Y E T A T D I F F E R E N T T I M E S I T
S I M P L Y I M P L I E S I ' M E X T E N D I N G M Y S E L F
E X C E S S I V E L Y F A R A N D M A K I N G A T Y P I C A L
S H O W I N G W I T H A L O T O F T H I N G S I N S T E A D
O F A S T E A D Y E M P L O Y M E N T A T A C O U P L E
O F T H I N G S . O N E T H I N G I ' V E P A R T I C U L A R L Y
N E E D E D T O P U T L I M I T S A R O U N D I S T H E
W A Y I ' M U T I L I Z I N G M Y T E L E P H O N E .
1 2 . P R E P A R E S H O W E R E D A N D
D R E S S E D A N D F O R T H E D A Y E V E R Y
M O R N I N G .
I T ' S S O E N T I C I N G T O G O T H E
E N T I R E D A Y S E E M I N G A S T H O U G H I
J U S T C A R R I E D U P , Y E T I ' V E V I E W E D
T H A T A S B Y S I M P L Y G E T T I N G U P
A N D S H O W E R E D A N D ( S O M E O F T H E
T I M E ) P U T T I N G O N A L I T T L E M A K E -
U P , I T R A V E L D U R I N G M Y T I M E
S I G N I F I C A N T L Y M O R E W I T H O U T
A N Y P R O B L E M . A T T H E P O I N T W H E N
I ' M S H O W E R E D A N D D R E S S E D A N D
L O O K I N G N E W , I F E E L F A R B E T T E R
T R U L Y A N D M Y P S Y C H E R E A L L Y
F E E L S M O R E K E E N .
1 3 . F I N D A M O T H E R S G A T H E R I N G
O R P L A Y B U N C H T H A T Y O U
A P P R E C I A T E .
P L A Y B U N C H E S A R E F O R M O T H E R S !
B E F O R E I H A D A K I D I U S E D T O
T H I N K P L A Y B U N C H E S S O U N D E D S O
E X H A U S T I N G … H O W E V E R
P R E S E N T L Y I G E T I T ! I L O V E
G E T T I N G A L O N G W I T H D I F F E R E N T
M O T H E R S W H O H A V E Y O U N G S T E R S
C O M P A R A T I V E I N A G E T O M I N E …
F O R G R O W N - U P D I S C U S S I O N ,
T R A D I N G T I P S A N D T A L E S A B O U T
T H E C H I L D R E N , A N D S I M P L Y
E S C A P I N G T H E H O U S E O V E R A L L .

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How to stay sane as a stay at home mother

  • 1. W R I T T E N B Y TIFFANY M RUFFIN How to stay sane as a stay at home mother
  • 3. " T H I S E B O O K I S B A S E D O N S O M E O F M Y P E R S O N A L E X P E R I E N C E S A N D O P I N I O N S A N D D E S I R E S A N D I D E A S . " - A U T H O R - T I F F A N Y M R U F F I N M Y T I F F A N Y M R U F F I N I ' M A S T A Y A H O M E M O T H E R O F 2 W O N D E R F U L K I D S A F T E R L E A V I N G A C A R E E R O F 1 1 Y E A R S O R M O R E . I W A S I N S P I R E D T O W R I T E T H I S B O O K B A S E D O N W H A T I ' M A C T U A L L Y G O I N G T H R O U G H C U R R E N T L Y O R A L R E A D Y E X P E R I E N C E D .
  • 4. W E H O U S E W I V E S R E A L I Z E W E A R E H O N O R E D T O B E H O M E W I T H O U R L I T T L E S , H O W E V E R T H A T D O E S N ' T M E A N W E A R E N ' T C O N F R O N T E D W I T H T H E T E S T O F G E T T I N G B Y — A S W E L L A S R E A L L Y F L O U R I S H I N G — W H I L E E N C O M P A S S E D B Y S A L T I N E M O R S E L S A N D M A T C H B O X V E H I C L E S A N D C L O T H I N G T H A T I N C R E A S E S E A C H A N D E V E R Y T I M E Y O U R B A C K I S T U R N E D . E A C H F U N C T I O N I N G M O T H E R H A S D I F F I C U L T I E S , H O W E V E R T O D A Y I N E E D T O T A K E A G A N D E R A T T H E T E S T O F R E M A I N I N G R A T I O N A L A S T H E S T A Y - A T - H O M E A S S O R T M E N T O F W O R K I N G M O T H E R . F O L L O W I N G 1 7 Y E A R S I N T H E L A B O R F O R C E I W A S S O E A G E R T O C H A N G E G E A R S A N D R E M A I N A T H O M E W H E N I B E G A N T O H A V E C H I L D R E N . P R E S E N T L Y T H R E E - A N D - A - H A L F Y E A R S O N I C A N U N D O U B T E D L Y S A Y T H A T R E M A I N I N G A T H O M E W I T H M Y C H I L D R E N I S A W E S O M E A N D H A R D E S T W O R K I ' V E A T A N Y P O I N T H A D . I T ' S A C T U A L L Y D E B I L I T A T I N G , I N T E L L E C T U A L L Y T E S T I N G , G E N U I N E L Y B U R D E N I N G , A N D C A N B E F O R L O R N N O W A N D A G A I N . T H I N G S H A V E G O T T E N M O R E S T R A I G H T F O R W A R D S I N C E T H A T F I R S T Y E A R O F S H O C K A N D P R O G R E S S , H O W E V E R A H U G E P I E C E O F T H A T H A S C O M E B E C A U S E O F I N S T I T U T I N G T H E M A J O R I T Y O F T H E S E P R A C T I C E S . I ' M A F A R S U P E R I O R M O T H E R S I N C E I ' V E F I G U R E D O U T H O W T O A L L T H E M O R E L I K E L Y D E A L W I T H M Y S E L F A N D D E A L W I T H M Y D A Y S .
  • 5. I T R U S T T H E S E T I P S W I L L M O T I V A T E A N D S U P P O R T Y O U I N Y O U R O W N T I M E O F B E I N G H O M E W I T H Y O U R K I D S . M A Y Y O U B E E N G A G E D , D E A R M O M , A S Y O U I N C O R P O R A T E P R A C T I C E S I N T O Y O U R D A Y S T O A S S I S T Y O U W I T H K E E P I N G Y O U R M E N T A L S O U N D N E S S D U R I N G T H E ' L I T T L E Y E A R S ' . P E R U S E R S W A Y S T O R E M A I N N O R M A L A T W O R K : 1 . D I S C O V E R A F E W O U T L E T S T H A T D O N ' T H A V E T O D O W I T H B E I N G A M O T H E R . Q U E E N I E F R O M T H E P L A N E T P I N K : F O R M Y P U R P O S E S , M E N T A L S T A B I L I T Y D E P E N D S A T O N O N H A V I N G O U T L E T S T H A T A S S I S T A N C E T O C H A R A C T E R I Z E M E B E Y O N D B E I N G A M O T H E R . W H E N E V E R I F I R S T W A S A S A H M I W A S S T U N N E D T O F I N D T H A T I T D I D N ' T A C T U A L L Y S A T I S F Y M E T H E M A N N E R I N W H I C H I A N T I C I P A T E D T H A T I T S H O U L D . I C H E R I S H E D I T O B V I O U S L Y , H O W E V E R I B E F O R E L O N G U N D E R S T O O D T H A T I N S P I T E O F T H E F A C T T H A T B E I N G A M O T H E R A N D R E M A I N I N G A T H O M E W I T H M Y C H I L D R E N I S O N E O F T H E M A I N P I E C E S O F M E ( A N D U N Q U E S T I O N A B L Y C O N S U M E S T H E M O S T T I M E ) , I T I S N ' T T H E M A I N P A R T . A S S U M I N G T H A T W A S A L L I W A S , Y O U W O U L D S E E M Y M E N T A L S O U N D N E S S S U F F O C A T I N G I N T H E C L O T H I N G A N D D I S H E S . S O I ' V E E F F E C T I V E L Y B E E N L O O K I N G F O R I N N O V A T I V E O U T L E T S T H A T I A P P R E C I A T E . S O M E O F T H E M R E A L L Y D O S P I N A R O U N D B E I N G A M O T H E R ( L I K E W R I T I N G F O R A B L O G F O R I N S T A N C E ) , H O W E V E R N O T E V E R Y O N E O F T H E M D O , S I M I L A R T O C H A P E L A N D M Y L A B O R T E A C H E R C E R T I F I C A T E . Y E T , S E T U P T H E M A L L A N D Y O U G E T A B A L A N C E D M E W H O I S C O N T E N T W I T H W H E R E I ' M T H R O U G H O U T E V E R Y D A Y L I F E .
  • 6. S A R A H F R O M F O U R L E A F P H O T O G R A P H Y : I W O R K E D A L L D A Y U N T I L M Y M O S T S E A S O N E D W A S 1 A N D A F T E R W A R D W E N T T O P A R T T I M E A N D A F T E R W A R D Q U I T W H E N # 2 W A S C O N C E I V E D . I T W A S T R U L Y H A R D S O I G E N E R A L L Y T E L L I N D I V I D U A L S C O N S I D E R I N G I T T O E N S U R E T H E Y G E T A L E I S U R E A C T I V I T Y . I N A R E A L S E N S E . I F N O T F O R M Y P H O T O G R A P H Y I C O U L D N E V E R H A V E G O T T E N P A S T T H E P R I N C I P A L Y E A R . P L A Y D A T E S A R E G R E A T Y E T W H E N Y O U ' R E A C C U S T O M E D T O B E I N G T E S T E D I N T E L L E C T U A L L Y O R D I N A R I L Y W O R K I N G , Y O U R E A L L Y W A N T S O M E T H I N G T O P U S H T H A T A L O N G . 2 . M A K E S O M E C O N S T R U C T I O N F O R Y O U R D A Y . C A M E R O N F R O M I N G E N U E M O T H E R : I F O U N D T H A T H A V I N G S O M E K I N D O F C O N S T R U C T I O N T O M Y D A Y T R U L Y H E L P E D M E . T H A T I S O N E R E A S O N W H Y W E D E C I D E D T O A C C O M P L I S H E V E N M O R E A N E V E R Y D A Y P R A C T I C E W I T H I S I S . I T K E P T M E R A T I O N A L A N D P E R M I T T E D M E T O B E A S U P E R I O R M O T H E R . O N T H E O F F C H A N C E T H A T I K N E W " O K , S H E W I L L S L E E P S T R A I G H T A W A Y A N D I W I L L D O D I S H E S A N D C L O T H I N G " T H E N , A T T H A T P O I N T , I T A S S I S T E D M E W I T H S E P A R A T I N G M Y D A Y . 3 . E S C A P E T H E H O U S E . L I V Y F R O M M A K I N G O V E R M U M : G E T T I N G O U T S I D E E N D L E S S L Y P A R T S ! I B E G I N T O G O A L I T T L E M I X P S Y C H O I N T H E E V E N T T H A T I G O T O N U M E R O U S D A Y S W I T H O U T A N E X C U R S I O N ! S H O W I N G L I T T L E C H I L D R E N S A I D : I F O U N D T H A T T A K I N G A T R I P P R E T T Y M U C H C O N S I S T E N T L Y T R U L Y H E L P E D P A R T I C U L A R L Y S I N C E W E H A D Q U I T E R E C E N T L Y M O V E D T O A N O T H E R C I T Y . I T W A S A L I T T L E S C A R Y I N A N E N O R M O U S C I T Y W I T H I N F A N T T W I N S Y E T A D D I T I O N A L L Y E N J O Y A B L E T O I N V E S T I G A T E T O O . W E G O T A L O T O F C O N S I D E R A T I O N A N D I T W A S G O O D T O C O N V E R S E W I T H N E W I N D I V I D U A L S . 4 . R E S E R V E M A R G I N F O R Y O U R S E L F A N D A S S O C I A T E W I T H L A D Y F R I E N D S . M I C H E L E F R O M M I S F O R T U N E S O F A M I L I T A R Y M O M M A W I T H T W O U N D E R 2 : B E C E R T A I N Y O U G E T U N I N T E R R U P T E D A L O N E T I M E , W H E T H E R T H A T I S W I T H O U T A N Y O N E E L S E O R W I T H A L O T O F L A D Y F R I E N D S . Y O U R E A L L Y W A N T T O C O N T I N U E T O A C T N A T U R A L L Y A N D I N A D D I T I O N T O T H E M O T H E R W I T H T H E C H I L D R E N ! 5 . A S S U M I N G T H A T Y O U T E L E C O M M U T E , T A K E A S T A B A T E X C H A N G I N G B L O C K S O F T I M E T O W O R K A N D P L A Y . K E R R Y F R O M S E T T L I N G W I T H N I A L L : I A T F I R S T F E L T T H A T T E L E C O M M U T I N G W A S A L I T T L E G L I M P S E O F H E A V E N - I C O U L D S T A Y A W A Y F R O M T H E E X P E N S E S O F D A Y C A R E A N D I N V E S T M O R E E N E R G Y W I T H M Y C H I L D . W H A T I D I D N ' T U N D E R S T A N D W A S T H A T T E L E C O M M U T I N G I M P L I E S O V E R L O O K I N G T H E C H I L D W H O I S S I T T I N G C L O S E T O Y O U W I T H T H E B I G A D O R A B L E E Y E S A S K I N G T O P L A Y W I T H Y O U . I ' V E F O U N D T H A T I N E E D T O S H I F T G E A R S C O N S I S T E N T L Y . I ' L L L A B O R F O R A N H O U R A N D A F T E R W A R D P L A Y W I T H N I A L L F O R 6 0 M I N U T E S . I T ' S S I M P L Y N O T R E A S O N A B L E T O L E A V E H I M S T A Y I N G T H E R E , E X H A U S T E D A N D U N S T I M U L A T E D , F O R E X T E N S I V E S T R E T C H E S O F T I M E . I T ' S L I K E W I S E A P L E A S A N T B R E A K F O R M E T O G E T O U T S I D E F O R A D E C E N T W A L K / R E C E S S .
  • 7. 6 . G E T D Y N A M I C A N D D O S O M E A C T I V I T Y . J H E N O F F R O M H E R E T O E N D L E S S N E S S : I L O V E T O D O T H O S E H I T T I N G T H E D A N C E F L O O R W I T H T H E S T A R S E X E R C I S E D V D S T O K E E P M Y B O D Y M O V I N G A N D L E A R N A N D L I T T L E D A N C E M O V E S ! M A N D Y F R O M I T ' S A D E L I G H T F U L L I F E : I S T A Y N O R M A L B Y K E E P I N G O C C U P I E D ! M Y C H I L D K I D A N D I G E T O U R A N D A B O U T A L O T . W H A T ' S M O R E , W H E N W E ' R E H O M E - W E ' R E P L A Y I N G T O G E T H E R . W H I L E H E ' S R E S T I N G , I ' M C O N T R I B U T I N G T O A B L O G ! W H A T ' S M O R E , A P O R T I O N O F M Y O W N W A Y S T O R E M A I N N O R M A L A T W O R K : 7 . I N V E S T E N E R G Y P L A Y I N G W I T H Y O U R K I D . C L E A R L Y T H E C H I L D S H O U L D B E T A K E N C A R E O F . T H E C L O T H I N G S H O U L D B E F I N I S H E D . T H E F L O O R S H O U L D B E C L E A R E D . T H O S E E R R A N D S G O W I T H T H E J O B O F B E I N G A S A H M ( O R A N Y M O T H E R B E S I D E S ) . I N A N Y C A S E , I V I E W T H A T A S O N T H E O F F C H A N C E T H A T I D O N ' T I N V E S T C O N S C I O U S E N E R G Y C O N S I S T E N T L Y P L A Y I N G W I T H M Y C H I L D R E N , I W I N D U P G E T T I N G S I N C E R E L Y P U S H E D ( A N D E X H A U S T E D ) W I T H E V E R Y O N E O F T H E T A S K S A N D S U P P O R T O F E V E R Y D A Y H O U S E K E E P I N G A N D B A B Y F I G H T I N G . I W A N T T O G E T D O W N O N T H E F L O O R , S I N G A F E W T U N E S , S T A C K A F E W B L O C K S , P L A Y D I N O S A U R S , D O A F E W S P E C I A L T I E S O R S H A D I N G , P L A Y A S T R A I G H T F O R W A R D P R E P A C K A G E D G A M E , O R D O S O M E A C T U A L P L A Y L I K E F I N D T H E S T O W A W A Y . F U R T H E R M O R E , I D O N ' T M E A N P L A Y I N G W H E N T H E Y G E T C R O T C H E T Y A N D S T A R T R E Q U E S T I N G C O N S I D E R A T I O N , Y E T G E T T I N G S O M E M A R G I N T O P L A Y W I T H T H E M W H I L E T H E Y A R E N O W B L I S S F U L S O W E C A N E S S E N T I A L L Y P A R T A K E I N O N E A N O T H E R . O N P A R T I C U L A R L Y D I S T R E S S I N G D A Y S , P L A Y I N G W I T H M Y C H I L D R E N I S M Y R E D E E M I N G Q U A L I T Y . I T A L L O W S M E A N O P P O R T U N I T Y T O C H U C K L E A N D P A R T A K E I N T H E O C C A S I O N , A N D I T G E N E R A L L Y B R I N G S T H I N G S B A C K I N T O P O I N T O F V I E W , A S S I S T I N G M E W I T H R E C A L L I N G W H Y I C H O S E T O R E M A I N A T H O M E I N A N Y C A S E .
  • 8. 8 . H A V E B L O C K S O F T I M E D I S T R I B U T E D F O R W O R K T H A T N E E D S F U L L F O C U S . I ' M A V E N T U R E S I T U A T E D I N D I V I D U A L . A T T H E P O I N T W H E N I W A S S I N G L E T H E R E W E R E O R D I N A R I L Y W H E R E I W O U L D B E G I N A N U N D E R T A K I N G A T W O R K A N D B E S O I N T O I T T H A T I W O U L D W O R K R E A L L Y H A R D I N L I G H T O F T H E F A C T T H A T I W A S D O I N G G R E A T A N D D I D N ' T H A V E A N Y D E S I R E T O S T O P . A S A S A H M W I T H L I T T L E S , I ' V E D I S C O V E R E D T H A T I N E E D T O A T T E M P T T O D O E V E R Y T H I N G I N S H O R T A D D I T I O N S A N D - L I K E I T O R N O T - G E N E R A L L Y B E R E A D Y F O R A N I N T E R F E R E N C E O R A S H I F T I N D I R E C T I O N . I M I S S H A V I N G L O N G B L O C K S O F T I M E T O S I M P L Y " F I N I S H S T U F F " . A B O U T O N C E A M O N T H O N A S A T U R D A Y I T A K E A " W O R K " D A Y T O D O A W I D E R A N G E O F T H I N G S T H A T R E Q U I R E T H E S O R T O F C E N T E R T H A T H A L T I N G A N D B E G I N N I N G S I M P L Y W I L L N O T P E R M I T . M Y S I G N I F I C A N T O T H E R D E A L S W I T H T H E C H I L D R E N F R O M M O R N I N G U N T I L N I G H T - E A C H N A P T I M E , D I A P E R C H A N G E , C O O K I N G , H O U S E W O R K … E V E R Y L A S T B I T O F I T . H E C H E R I S H E S T H E D I F F E R E N C E I N P A C E H E G E T S A N D I S E C U R E M Y S E L F I N T H E W O R K P L A C E A N D W O R K W I T H O U T I N T E R F E R E N C E ! I L O V E H A V I N G T H E O P T I O N T O A N T I C I P A T E T H E S E L O N G D A Y S A N D C A N G E N E R A L L Y A C H I E V E I N A D A Y W H A T M I G H T S O M E H O W T A K E M E A W H O L E S E V E N D A Y S T R E T C H O F H A L T I N G A N D B E G I N N I N G A N D W O R K I N G I N T H E E D G E S .
  • 9. 9 . I N V E S T E N E R G Y P O N D E R I N G T H E " W H Y ' S " O F N U R T U R I N G A N D I N A D D I T I O N T O T H E " H O W ' S " . A T T H E P O I N T W H E N L E V I ( M Y M O S T M E M O R A B L E C O N C E I V E D ) W A S A C H I L D I U N D E R S T O O D T H A T I W A S C O N T I N U A L L Y O N T H E W E B A N D P E R U S I N G B O O K S A B O U T H O W T O D E A L W I T H H I M - T H I N G S A B O U T B R E A S T F E E D I N G , P L A N N I N G C H I L D F O O D , A S S I S T I N G H I M W I T H R E S T I N G , F O R M A T I V E S T A G E S , A N D S O F O R T H . I N T H E E V E N T T H A T I W A S N ' T D E A L I N G W I T H H I M I W A S P E R U S I N G A N D C O N T E M P L A T I N G H O W T O D E A L W I T H H I M . B A D ! T R U L Y , I T R U L Y A P P R E C I A T E L E A R N I N G A B O U T N U R T U R I N G A N D A D V A N C E M E N T S O I T C O U L D B E S A I D I T W A S A G O O D T I M E F O R M E … H O W E V E R I U N D E R S T O O D I E X P E C T E D T O D I S C O V E R S O M E E Q U I L I B R I U M . I S T A R T E D C O N S O L I D A T I N G D I F F E R E N T B O O K S T H A T A I D E D P R O D M E T O T H I N G A B O U T T H E W H Y ' S O F N U R T U R I N G A N D F U R T H E R M O R E P U R P O S E L Y S T A R T E D P E R U S I N G B O O K S A B O U T M Y O W N P R O F O U N D T U R N O F E V E N T S . I T A S S I S T E D M E W I T H A C Q U I R I N G V I E W P O I N T A N D C O M E O U T B E T T E R P E R S O N A L L Y , N O T S I M P L Y B E T T E R P A R E N T . ( F O R A F E W E X T R A O R D I N A R Y B O O K S T O A S S I S T Y O U W I T H P O N D E R I N G T H E " W H Y ' S " I S U G G E S T C H E R I S H I N G Y O U R C H I L D R E N D E L I B E R A T E L Y A N D S A C R O S A N C T N U R T U R I N G . B O T H A R E A M A Z I N G . )
  • 10. 1 0 . I N T E R V I E W W I T H Y O U R B E T T E R H A L F / A C C O M P L I C E / S U P P O R T I N D I V I D U A L . W H E N E V E R R Y A N G E T S B A C K H O M E F R O M W O R K I D O W H A T E V E R I T T A K E S N O T T O B A R R A G E H I M W I T H T H E S U B T L E T I E S O F M Y P R I O R D A Y H E G E T S A N O P P O R T U N I T Y T O P U T H I S K E Y S D O W N … Y E T T H A T ' S W H A T H E K N O W S W H E T H E R I D O N ' T I N T E R V I E W A N D R E P O R T H O W M Y D A Y W E N T T O O N E M O R E G R O W N - U P S O O N E R O R L A T E R D U R I N G T H E N I G H T , I W I L L U N D O U B T E D L Y C O L L A P S E . S H A R I N G S O M E O F W H A T O C C U R R E D D U R I N G T H A T T I M E I S A P P R O V I N G F O R M Y S E L F A N D A C C O M M O D A T I N G F O R M E I N M A K I N G T H E C H A N G E F R O M " M O T H E R M O D E " T O " S P O U S E A N D C O M P A N I O N " M O D E . 1 1 . B E I N T E N T I O N A L T O N O T N E C E S S A R I L Y B E P E R F O R M I N G M U L T I P L E T A S K S . I N T H E E V E N T T H A T Y O U ' R E L I K E P E R S O N A L , T I M E I S V A L U A B L E A N D T H E R E W I L L N E V E R B E E N O U G H O F I T ! I ' M C O N T I N U A L L Y P E R F O R M I N G M U L T I P L E T A S K S , W H E T H E R I T ' S B R O W S I N G M E S S A G E S O N M Y T E L E P H O N E W H I L E I N U R T U R E M Y C H I L D , S E T T L I N G O N A T E L E P H O N E D E C I S I O N W H I L E G O I N G F O R T H E M O N A S T R O L L , O R D O I N G T H E D I S H E S W H I L E H A V I N G L U N C H . O N O C C A S I O N I T ' S A N U N Q U E S T I O N A B L E R E Q U I R E M E N T A N D A S S I S T S M E W I T H K E E P I N G S T E A D Y O V E R T H I N G S , Y E T A T D I F F E R E N T T I M E S I T S I M P L Y I M P L I E S I ' M E X T E N D I N G M Y S E L F E X C E S S I V E L Y F A R A N D M A K I N G A T Y P I C A L S H O W I N G W I T H A L O T O F T H I N G S I N S T E A D O F A S T E A D Y E M P L O Y M E N T A T A C O U P L E O F T H I N G S . O N E T H I N G I ' V E P A R T I C U L A R L Y N E E D E D T O P U T L I M I T S A R O U N D I S T H E W A Y I ' M U T I L I Z I N G M Y T E L E P H O N E .
  • 11. 1 2 . P R E P A R E S H O W E R E D A N D D R E S S E D A N D F O R T H E D A Y E V E R Y M O R N I N G . I T ' S S O E N T I C I N G T O G O T H E E N T I R E D A Y S E E M I N G A S T H O U G H I J U S T C A R R I E D U P , Y E T I ' V E V I E W E D T H A T A S B Y S I M P L Y G E T T I N G U P A N D S H O W E R E D A N D ( S O M E O F T H E T I M E ) P U T T I N G O N A L I T T L E M A K E - U P , I T R A V E L D U R I N G M Y T I M E S I G N I F I C A N T L Y M O R E W I T H O U T A N Y P R O B L E M . A T T H E P O I N T W H E N I ' M S H O W E R E D A N D D R E S S E D A N D L O O K I N G N E W , I F E E L F A R B E T T E R T R U L Y A N D M Y P S Y C H E R E A L L Y F E E L S M O R E K E E N . 1 3 . F I N D A M O T H E R S G A T H E R I N G O R P L A Y B U N C H T H A T Y O U A P P R E C I A T E . P L A Y B U N C H E S A R E F O R M O T H E R S ! B E F O R E I H A D A K I D I U S E D T O T H I N K P L A Y B U N C H E S S O U N D E D S O E X H A U S T I N G … H O W E V E R P R E S E N T L Y I G E T I T ! I L O V E G E T T I N G A L O N G W I T H D I F F E R E N T M O T H E R S W H O H A V E Y O U N G S T E R S C O M P A R A T I V E I N A G E T O M I N E … F O R G R O W N - U P D I S C U S S I O N , T R A D I N G T I P S A N D T A L E S A B O U T T H E C H I L D R E N , A N D S I M P L Y E S C A P I N G T H E H O U S E O V E R A L L .