Introduction

I drink heavily. ;)

(just kidding)

I handle stress by chosing my battles.... I can't imagine how people who are neat freaks are able to do it all!! It doesn't bother me if the laundry doesn't get folded right away as long as it's clean, for example. Also, I bought one of those family calendars that has a spot for each person daily so I can keep track of who needs to be where and doctors appts and everything else, and I only use this one calendar to write everything so I'm sure not to miss a thing. You also have to let go of the idea that you have to be always on time. That was a hard one for me. Also, I once sat down with my husband so he could see in black-n-white what all of my responsibilities are and that made him want to pitch in more to help. (I don't actually let him help much because I like the way I do things, but just the fact that he offered meant a lot--haha!!)

Focus on the present. When you are at work - do the best job you can and enjoy it. When you are with your children give them your attention and ENJOY them. Time spend worrying about what you aren't doing (what you have to do, should do, didn't get to) is wasted unproductive time. Hard to to - but the best advice a working mom gave me. And so true!!! Also good advice from the earlier poster - set priorities with your husband and enjoy life before it flies by!

Hi J.,
Welcome! That is a great question. There are a lot of straegies that you can employ from being proactive (seting up a realistic schedule for you so that you are not overwhelmed) to handling stress effectively when it does arise (doing something like progressive relaxation). I developed a web site to address the stressors that many working moms face at www.stompstressaway.com . Have a great weekend.
Regards,
C. B., Ph.D.
www.stompstressaway.com

I agree, you should check out www.stompstressaway.com. lots of info plus a 15 min progressive relaxation video. So worth it!

I work at home, which is great, but I sometimes very much envy mom's who work out of the home, because no one can knock them off schedule! In order to work a few hours a day and watch 3 kids under 4 while my husband travels non stop, I rely HEAVILY on a calendar in which I block out time EACH day for work AND home AND kid time-including all of it. Otherwise, something always gets knocked out of place day after day (always house of course-or work-which is a drag because I end up sleep deprived etc when I try to catch up at night.)

Also, I have become a huge purger. The kids and I are constantly making trips to the thrift store to donate and we hardly ever buy anything-the more stuff is around, the less focused the kids are and the messier things get. We just had a birthday here, so there are new piles of gifts....gotta gather up a donation load from old stuff!

Also, I do NOT sweat the sloppy house. I keep the house "comfortable" and somewhat sanitary, and do the mandatory chores only. And I don't sweat it when the dishes wait until morning etc. If there's a break in the weather, and the choice is between a chore on the calendar or an impromptu trip to the park-the park wins!

I don't slack on discipline-happy well behaved kids make it all possible.

And most of all, I remind myself constantly how lucky I am for everything. Even when I'm at my wits end with work, I remind myself I'm lucky to have it, and when the kids have me bonkers, I remind myself how much I'll miss this stage when it passes.

Keep grateful and always give yourself a break mentally! You're doing an amazing job!

Manage the stress? Wish I could say I do it, and do it well...I find it gets more overwhelming as the kids get older and their needs greater. I managed it well when they were little, really being able to separate out the work time and the family time. But as my job has become more flexible, so I can be around the kids more, it also has become more stressful and the time boundries are not as strict... I am going to checkout that website that other moms suggested! Good luck!