Moms And Kids 24/7
Wow, so this is what it is like for the moms who stay home all day with their children?
I lost my job recently and decided it was best to stay at home with my young children. I had plenty of friends and family who did this and I thought I had a good idea of what I was getting myself into.
Why Is It So Lonely?
The most unexpected thing I learned is that being home alone with your kids 24/7 is very lonely. Why?
Fragmented Conversations For The Win
The idea of having any REAL conversations throughout the day is just non-existent on most days. It’s difficult to focus away from all of the kid things going on, such as deciding who gets to pick the show to watch or playing games where you’re the one making the toys talk.
Craving ADULTS
Now I know what a lonely retiree must feel like because I actually crave adult interaction. The daily text interaction with other moms, close friends and family throughout the day is great, but no replacing actual adult interaction. There is still a rush of excitement for me when the UPS guy shows up and we can chit chat for 3 minutes. It can be the highlight of my day.
I’m struggling with this craving for adult interaction. It at times creates a void, makes me feel especially lonely and even doubt my self-worth.
Even with two lovely, wonderful little girls at home to take care of, it can still feel so lonely in a house with kids 24/7.
The fact that I am able to spend this time with our kids is unbelievable and makes me feel so grateful. That is point I hope is not lost from my words of loneliness. It’s just at times, the loneliness is overwhelmingly.
We are social beings. It’s human nature to want a real conversation with another adult human. Everyone needs that interaction – and sorry the talking toys just don’t count – so I feel it’s especially true that the stay-at-home mom need this too.
NEW NORMAL is just Regular for SAHMS
We hear the phrase “new normal” often these days, but it is true for stay-at-home moms. Even the daily adult conversations with your spouse end up a little different because his greeting of “How was your day?” can easily end up with you talking about the kids all night. I never thought hearing about my husband’s day would seem so refreshing.
Maybe I don’t just know what else to talk about?
By the time the kids are all asleep in bed, being alone to crash is about all I can handle. Yes, the yearning for a real conversation is still there, but OMG the tiredness overtakes you to the point you may not even being able to actually have one.
The rest and alone time is important to keep up with the mommy duties you signed up for. It’s the repeating cycle as a stay-at-home-mom.
Hopefully tomorrow there will be a play date or plans to get out of the house that will result in some adult interaction.
If it is another day of only kids for you as a stay-at-home mom, good luck and remember you are not alone. You’re not the only mom going dealing with being lonely, even though it may feel that way.
Just remember to enjoy all the time you have at home with your kids – even when you get a little lonely – because in the not-so-distant future, there will be a whole new meaning to your loneliness. For now, hang in there. Moms are the strongest people around and the ones who stay home with the kids even stronger. We got this!