Crunchy Parenting is Peaceful Parenting

It can be very hard to be a mother. So much of our energy is focused on our children and there can be little left for ourselves. Is it any wonder that when our children are testing us, exploring their worlds, and exerting their seemingly unending energy that we find ourselves with little patience? For some of us, we choose to not let spanking or time outs that banish children be options. This does not mean though that we are permissive parents. We try to give real consequences for actions and we try to help our children come up with solutions. Sometimes though, we just have had enough. Attachment Parenting gives us other options, one of them being a Mommy Time Out.

   A Mommy Time Out

Rather then putting our children in time out where they will most likely feel ashamed, unwanted, bad, and at best think about how not to get caught next time we can use time outs to our advantage. Occupy the kids with something they want to do and take a moment for Mom. Grab some tea, or a cup of coffee, a good book and site for a moment. Or maybe if you can’t get your children to settle down, sit with your children and read a book to them, a book that you loved as a child. Maybe if you have a child that enjoys reading, ask them to read to you.

     Call for back up!

If your having a specially hard time, call a family member, or friend, or baby sitter to come watch your children so you can go shopping peacefully alone, or to get a pedicure, or go visit another friend for some grown up talk. I know a mother who goes to movies alone to get some personal time. I personally love book stores!

How about locking yourself in the bathroom for just a few minutes each day to take care of yourself? Shave as well as you used to before having kids. Take care of your skin for a chance. If your like me it might really need it given 4 kids and age. Be sure to read up on facial oil cleansers too, they are not all created equal. Sit on the side of the tub and paint your toe nails. Actually put (Natural and cruelty free of course) make up on! Put your hair up! Take a bubble bath during nap time!

      Find time for yourself

Maybe when the kids are in bed unwind with your love. Watch movies and shows your children can’t watch. If you need time to yourself quickly how about bundling the kids up and taking them to the park. You can sit and knit on a bench while watching them or maybe push your toddler on the swing while talking to your mother on the phone. Remember that your children are not an issue even if their behavior is stretching your patience. Your children are not an inconvenience to be managed. Your not a bad mother just because your having a bad day. Find ways to turn it around, keep a list of things around to look at when your at wits end and finding it hard to think.

Remember the best mothers are often the ones that are sure they are screwing it up!