Top tips for surviving motherhood

For those who don’t know, I’m expecting my fourth baby. Yep, that’s four children who all need my care and attention. But how is that even possible? Read on for my top tips to survive motherhood.

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Let me start with this, some humble bragging if I may. My kids are awesome, and I’m not saying this to rub anyone’s face in it, it’s just a fact. My daughter is 15 and is the Head Girl of her high school, attends Army Cadets, and is one of the top three students in her school. My eldest son is 7, is also in the top three of his class, and is involved in a variety of activities including his school choir, ju-jitsu, and pottery class. My third child just turned 2 and has a knack for escaping the garden despite it being enclosed to keep a husky in, can count to three, and knows the noises of animals. I have managed to raise these beautiful little peanuts into fine human beings and I want to share some of the things I have done over the years to help them reach these achievements while I have worked (including running my own business) and looked after myself.

Get up before the kids

This is something that I try and do every day but it doesn’t always happen. When I start my day before the kids, the day seems to go that little bit easier. Even just 15 minutes to get the coffee pot on the go before they appear before looking juice and breakfast can do wonders for your sanity. But if you can get into the habit of getting up and getting showered before they open their peepers, your day will go so much better. Getting showered, dressed, hair and makeup (if you are into makeup that is) can feel like a massive achievement. It maybe only takes getting up an hour or 30 minutes before them (depending on how fast you can go) but it is worth it to get yourself set up for the day.

Set a schedule

My kids know exactly what they are doing every day. I have a huge calendar and I make sure that I write everything up on it so they can have a look to see what the plan is for the day. I even try to meal plan so they don’t even have to ask what is for dinner. They still do so I am considering buying a blackboard to stick in the kitchen to write the days specials up. The brilliant thing about having a schedule is the security that it gives everyone. Flying by the seat of your pants can be fun, and I’m not against a spontaneous day out, but having a general schedule is handy for day-to-day life.

Quiet time and nap time

Do you know what I love about having a toddler? Nap time! There is a lot to be done in the day and sometimes us parents need a little nap before we make the dinner. I’m not ashamed to say that I sometimes have a kip with the kids in the afternoon if it has been a tough day. Even just an hour or 20 minutes with your eyes shut can help your mental health. I love having a nap because it helps me to unwind a bit before the chaos that is dinner and bedtime.

Quality Time

Although my kids do a lot of activities, it is important that we have some quality time together. This does not mean sitting in front of the TV, although this can be good fun too. We like to take day trips to local places, short trips to the park for some exercise, or even just sitting for 30 minutes having a conversation with each person to see how their day is. Taking time to sit and listen to your kids is one of the best things that you can do to build trust and confidence. You might find that most of the conversations are about weird and random things, but when something major comes up they will know that you will sit and listen to them.

Organise the housework

You have probably read my previous posts about getting organised and doing a daily to-do list. Those posts (which were designed as weekly challenges by me for me) were based on other things that I have done over the years. When it was just one child, the workload was a lot less when it came to the house. But now, there are three children and dogs in the mix, the workload is a lot bigger. So, I have trying some different ways to make my life easier, or look a bit tidier at least. On a Monday, I rip the house apart and do all of the cleaning, that is my only task. Tuesday onwards I do my daily to-do list. This frees up so much time so that I can work and be a parent.

Scheduled bedtime

You have probably seen adverts trying to shill you bubble bath that harp on about the importance of having a bedtime routine. But, you know what? They are right. When there are so many bodies to get to bed at night, you need a bedtime schedule. This includes (but is not limited to) getting little ones bathed, the big ones get a slot for the shower, snacks and warm milky drinks, teeth brushed, and stories. This then allows the grownups to get to bed at a reasonable time too. And because the kids know it is a bedtime routine, they are in such a good habit, they fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows and sleep all night.

A bit of me time

Motherhood is tough and we need to take some time out for ourselves. I make sure that I take some time to pamper myself during the week. I get my lashes done while my husband takes the kids to the park for some quality daddy time. I have a bath once a week to relax and unwind. I do my nails and carve some time out in the evening so that I can read. There is nothing to be ashamed about taking a bit of time for yourself. My husband likes to play his Xbox while I’m the bath and the kids are asleep. Or if I am reading, he will grab a book and join me on the sofa for some quiet time.

Do you have any parenting tips that are lifesavers? Or do you fancy a humble-brag about yourself and your kids? Let me know in the comments your thoughts on motherhood!