Everyone has bad days. Moms, especially, can have some pretty rough days. Running a household, taking care of a significant other, taking care of herself (sometimes), working (or not), and raising kids simultaneously can produce a LOT of stress. As much as you love being a mom, bad days are bound to happen, and there is no reason to feel guilty about that.
7 Ways to Handle Bad Mom Days
Here are seven ways you can get through a bad mom day.
1. Give Yourself Grace
First, you must remember that YOU ARE A GOOD MOM. Having a bad mom day does not define you. You are allowed to feel stressed and overwhelmed and just OVER IT. Don’t beat yourself up for having a bad day or two. You’re not the first and won’t be the last mom to have a craptastic mommy day.
2. Take a Time Out
The kids are driving you crazy and you just want to run away. So why don’t you? Make sure the kids are safe and sit in your bedroom with the door closed and locked for a few minutes. Grab a coffee or a cookie on your way in there, too. If you need to blast some music to drown out the calls of your needy, irritating children, go for it. As long as they’re safe, they will be okay for a few moments so you can refocus and get some much-needed peace.
3. Do Something Fun
If you’re having a bad day, chances are your kids are feeling it and probably feel a bit cranky, too. Maybe ALL of you need a bit of a break. Dishes and laundry can wait an hour while you take the kids to the park, library, or ice cream parlor. Surprise them with an impromptu fun outing, and I promise you’ll feel a bit better when you return home.
4. Let Yourself Cry
There is zero shame in allowing yourself a good, old-fashioned, cleansing cry. When I’m overwhelmed and stressed by the pressures of being a suddenly single mom, I will excuse myself to the bathroom or bedroom and just let it out. Sometimes, my cry will last a few minutes. Sometimes, it lasts longer. To release that pent-up frustration, give yourself the space to feel it and let it go.
5. Journal, Pray or Meditate
Often, at the end of a particularly bad day, I write about my fears and frustrations. Then, I’ll pray for more patience and grace the next day. Simply writing about my experience that day will help me pinpoint what is bothering me and allow me to process it so I can be a better mom tomorrow.
6. Get Out of the House
Sometimes, being stuck at home with kids all day can make me want to pull my eyelashes out. Just as they can get stir-crazy and wild, so can mom. If you’re feeling like you’re heading for a bad mom day, try to get yourself (either alone or with the kids) out of the house for an hour simply for a change of scenery.
7. Apologize
Your kids love you. And they understand what it’s like to have a hard day. They have hard days, too. Sitting down with your kiddos, explaining that mommy is having a hard day, and apologizing for being in a bad mood will go a long way. They will better understand why you might be impatient or short-tempered and appreciate your being real and honest with them. It will also give them a great example of apologizing for not-so-nice behavior and forgiving a loved one.
Bad mom days will happen, so it’s better to prepare how to handle them now. Above all else, don’t forget that you are the best mom for these kids and they will love you no matter what. Hang in there, mamas!
