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Last Updated on June 22, 2018

It was winter, a blizzard raged outside, but inside the cozy home despair was raging inside the heart of this young mom.  My son was a newborn and he was crying without ceasing.  My normally sweet spirited three year old was crying and clinging to me throughout the morning.  I reached the end of myself, plopped down on the stairwell and there the three of us huddled in a symphony of wilted wailing.

I recall feeling like I was being swallowed up by the storm, wanting to crawl into my bed and never come out. Then, the reality that I was the grown up, not the little girl, snapped me to attention.  I gathered woolen coats and mittens, the car keys and trudged out into the blizzard to my pediatrician’s office.

What I received from my dear doctor was a diagnosis of colic for the baby, ear infection for my daughter and a case of some serious cabin fever for me.

Once all the medicines were retrieved from the pharmacy and we were back in our warm newly familiar surroundings I had to take stock on where I was as a mom.  We had just moved to a new town in the middle of winter where I knew no one and I was spending all my time alone.  I was overwhelmed daily with all that I had to do making our house a home.  I was unpacking boxes, caring for a baby with colic and helping my daughter adjust to sharing mom.

All these factors had led to me being a bit of a walking zombie, a miserable mother and wife who was barricading herself in her home because that was what was easiest.  But the very act of secluding myself was making matters worse.

If you are feeling miserable, take stock of your circumstances.  Are you feeling alone?  Hear me on this sweet mom friend – You are not alone!  There are moms the world over who at times are overwhelmed by the magnitude of their daily responsibilities.

What I can assure you, from eighteen years of being a mom is that the worst thing you can do is to continue to feel alone.  Alone is where the misery really is.  Stare alone in the face and spit in its eye.

Find a way to get out and be with people.  Go to the park, go to the library, the movies, a MOPS group, a restaurant play ground, a church offered Bible study and child care program or start a play group in your own home.

Isolation is the enemy of a contented momlife.  There is a reason you are drawn to the Internet to read blog posts – you are craving relationship.  As much as we love you to come visit and read, we are mindful that you need skin on skin, eye to eye contact with other moms.

Make it a priority to protect yourself from the mom blues and place a new kind of “time out” in your schedule.  Make the time and go to the trouble of getting you and your children out into the world as part of your routine!

Make sure you come back and tell us what you are doing for your “time out” with your kids!

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6 Comments

  1. I loved this, Tracey! It’s so true. That’s something I definitely take into consideration when I’m feeling alone. God knows I have many of those moments. Connecting with other moms truly does make a huge difference. Im thankful that wonderful suppprt groups and friends exist.

    This was timely for me!

    Hugs,
    Kennisha

    1. Happy to hear this blessed you Kennisha! It is a true blessing to have support groups and friends – find that "new mom" that needs YOU! Blessings to you!

  2. marygrace benjamin says:

    thank you for the reminder that we need to get out of the house..there always seem to be so much house work to be done, and the kids undo what i am doing before i finish.i do find now i get more done if we leave the house for a bit. refreshed. instead of wandering the house aimlesly trying to get it clean. thank you..

    1. YAY Mary Grace…you got it! Happy to hear this resonated with you…two of our favorites were to just go visit a big o toy store and play…no buying, just looking, touching, playing! And visiting the book store and lounging and checking out the kids section. Try those two out! (The local library was always a favorite too, but sometimes the being quiet was a challenge as the ooohhing and aaahhhing was part of the big fun! Blessings to you!

  3. Thanks! Yesterday, I packed up the camera and kids and we headed to the zoo. We had a blast and yes the disaster and checklists were still here when I got home, but today is a new day and I can slowly work on them, relishing the memories we made yesterday and planning for another time to get out and have fun.

    1. This makes me so happy Suanna! It really does lift a moms spirit's huh? And experiencing the zoo probably led to more fun for the kids the next day. Drawing about the visit, having their own "zoo" with their stuffed animals – experiences increase pretend and creativity once back at home! Maybe you could even ask the kids to clean the bathroom really well, top to bottom … pretending it's the lion's cage and needs to be spic and span for the King of the Jungle! Let me know how that goes! Blessings to you!