Being a SAHM and still learning new skills - yes, it is possible!

Hello everyone,

I hope this post finds you all safe and healthy. Cases are rising and we all need to do our part in help stopping the spread of Covid-19.

Evolving is something that SAHM's (stay-at-home-mom's) do on a daily basis. We are no longer the typical SAHM who cleans the house, cooks, run errands, has kids all dressed and clean and makes sure she, herself, is all dolled up with a beer in her hand so her husband can drink it when he comes home from work. Her knowledge consists of how to run a house and she is never to have an opinion on matters of the world - because she is just the mom....

Yeah, we have evolved into women who do a lot more than just run a household. Some of us work from home, have outside part-time jobs or need to work full-time while still taking care of the home. We have opinions and we continually acquire more knowledge on all sorts of matters. 

This pandemic, although frightening, has enabled many to start-up new businesses from home. Many YouTube channels, blogs, websites, podcasts, books, articles - to name only a few - have been created or in the process, by moms who are home. They are inspired by those who do it and manage to bring an income - some are doing extremely well - and they are inspiring others to do it. At least, this pandemic has brought in some good.

When you start having children, you begin to feel like your world is sweatpants, no makeup, books are only kid related and your social life is limited to going to the playground, the zoo and any outdoor activity to tire your children out. You only have nursery rhymes in your head - The Wheels on the Bus will make you nauseous - and you have no idea what is actually going on in the world. Yeah, that will happen.

But it does not have to be. Nope! If you plan carefully, you can do all those things while still finding some YOU time. For example, I do not play kid music when I drive with the kids. I put on my regular music - usually Metallica - and the kids just go with it. I see them moving their arms and legs around and they seem fine. While I feed my little one, I listen to various podcasts or audiobooks or a YouTube video. As I am folding laundry or cooking or any other house chore, I listen to whatever I can. And now that I have help with the kids - I make sure that my time is not wasted. 

Moms, we need to keep our brains active. We need to step away from the idea that because we are moms all that we do is just kid related. No!! We need more and we deserve more. I learned of this platform called "Skill Share" (NO, this is NOT sponsored) through a SAHM with a YouTube channel. I looked briefly into it and there are so many classes that you can watch and the subject matter is very diverse. There are also so many free online classes - Coursea for example. You can tap into the wonderful world of the Internet and really learn so much, even if you have kids around. Many of the classes are short and can be done no matter where you are.

Now, can you do this right away when you come home from the hospital? Of course not!! Let's be real for a moment - newborns are extremely needy and if you are breastfeeding, you feel as though they are constantly attached to you. Include a few more kids in the mix, you will need to wait until you have a set routine mapped out. And yes, you will have a routine down - give yourself time to reach it.

Once that routine is set in, you will be able to enjoy some classes or music that you can enjoy with the kids. Find other moms online who can inspire you. Tap into the free webinars on blogging, creating, writing, photography - anything that you can develop as a hobby or even a business. Don't look into it thinking that you can never be them - that is the worst thing you can do. Instead, just create and see where it goes. Even if it flops the first time, don't let it stop you - find what does work. For example, I follow this flight attendant on YT - she started her channel doing subscription boxes. It was not her niche and her videos were not getting any attention - until she switched gears and started making videos and vlogs of her job. She is followed by many and even started her own company where she started selling face masks for when you travel. All she did was look into something else and she noticed that it was her niche! You just need to find your own.

Challenge: start a new class, channel, book, article, short story, workout, cooking class - anything that will remove you from only doing kid related things. Listen to audiobooks in the car or while feeding the kids - find ways to incorporate knowledge in your daily routines.

Until my next post, keep safe and healthy. Wear your face masks, wash your hands, don't touch your face and social distance anywhere you go. Do your part to stop the spread of Covid-19.

SM