As a Mom with young kids, there are times when you just need a bit of space or a breather. It’s not their fault they are so demanding. Until we have our own, we never realized how excessive some of our demands on poor moms really were. But our moms did what we are doing – taking a break. Five minutes out of the room to get our heads back on straight is exactly what we sometimes need.

What do you do in those five minutes? Of course, you need to keep one eye and one ear on the kids, so exactly what can be achieved? Some moms hide out in the bathroom. They take off their makeup then reapply, give their hair a good brush and smile their biggest smile. Others hide under their duvet and have a quick emotional outburst! There is no right or wrong way to deal with a tough day in parenting, but deal with it we must. Away from the kids, we can curse, cry, punch a pillow, and freshen ourselves up.

Sometimes it’s not just the face and emotions that are showing signs of a difficult time. More often than not, our brains just need to switch gears to overcome those moments of tension or despair. Try playing a game on the internet for five minutes. Of course, wondering what the red logo is in the logo quiz may take longer than five minutes! Just turning off mommy mode for five minutes can be incredibly refreshing and may just save your sanity!

A Moment to Yourself

When you have finally tucked the last kid into bed for the night, it can be all too easy just to sink into the sofa with a glass of wine and watch pointless TV programs all evening. The evenings, as short as they may be, are yours – all yours. Even if you are exhausted and it’s only two hours until you need to be tucked up, utilize that time. If you like music, practice your instrument. If you love Yoga, get the exercise mat unrolled. This is your time for doing your things. Take at least one hour every day for yourself. It will give you something to look forward to every morning and something to smile about every evening.

For those of you crying in protest about never having the time, ask yourself why you don’t have the time. Prioritizing time for you is not illegal just because you are a mommy. You are you as well as mommy. After 14 hours of being mommy, 1 hour of being you cannot possibly be frowned upon. If you can’t fit in all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry on top of your one hour a day, outsource. Get an ironing service to pick up your laundry, or hire a cleaner twice a week. You deserve it, and you’ve earned it. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is for moms to lose their own identities, especially when they are on their own. Use your hour for something different every day, and enrich your life. You’ll be rested and ready to spend time with your youngsters before you know it.

What are some activities that I can do with my children to help me cope?

Spending time with kids is incredibly enjoyable, educational, and fun. There are plenty of activities that you can do with your kids – from exploring nature to playing board games. You can take them on hikes at a nearby park, where they will have the opportunity to learn more about nature, plants, and animals. Crafting together is a nice way to be creative and spend an afternoon making something special. Or stay indoors and play some classic board games like Monopoly or Jenga – these are sure to leave kids laughing and having loads of fun!