Sometimes a Stiff Drink is in Order

Some coping mechanisms when motherhood tramples and you become defeated.

1. Take a walk-- Rain or shine, even though it's the last thing you want to do when you're feeling beaten down. If you make yourself do it, you are sure to feel better-- even if only for the time you're walking.

2. Get OUT of the house! Go ANYWHERE that your child can get out and play too-- likely she needs exercise too because when moms don't exercise, the kids don't exercise... and it's a recipe for disaster. Got to n indoor or outdoor park, to the play area at the mall, find a pool to go swimming in or go to the library and let her hang with other kids in the children's section.

3. Forget the nap that she won't lay down for and read Dora books together in a secret fort.

4. When she does finally lay down for bed or nap (because everyone eventually sleeps) DO NOT clean your house, do homework, or any other such work. Instead, kick back to an audiobook and a glass of wine in bed no matter the time of day or night. Or lay down and sleep hard no matter what time it is.

5. Surround yourself with other moms whose parenting you respect and who can be honest about their hard times too, then lean on them for mama-support!

6. Don't lose control. In other words, don't hit, push, squeeze, slap, or hurt your child in any way

7. Then, LOSE THE GUILT. All mamas and dads make mistakes-- but these mistakes help your kids to see you as a complete person and helps them to understand that people are complex and nothing is perfect. It spices up their perspective of you! So, consider your mistakes learning experiences and don't beat yourself up.

8. Breathe. Isn't this what we tell our children to do? Let's remember it ourselves.


Tomorrow is another day. This is the adventure of a lifetime.