Someone once told me that being a SAHM was easy. Guess what, they were wrong. The juggling act gets harder the older your children get and with the more children you have but even in those first few weeks with your first born it’s the hardest job you will ever have to do.

Being a mom isn’t like a regular job, you’re not just a cook or just a receptionist, you’re the cook, the financial advisor, the housekeeper, the personal driver, the organizer, the scheduler and the list goes on. So how do you juggle all those tasks and still be at the Christmas program, or dance class, or the football game? Better yet how do you manage to be at both the dance recital and the football game all at the same time?

I think I’ve already said being a SAHM isn’t easy but here are some basic tips of the trade.

· Don’t over schedule. Its ok with one child for them to be involved in everything, but when you have two or more, keep their extras to a minimum. One activity a season on top of school really is plenty, and don’t hesitate to talk to coaches and group leaders and keep your kids together whenever possible for activities.

· Understand that if hubby works you really are playing single parent for the hours he’s away. Get help if you need it. If Billy and Susie both have an activity Tuesday after school let one go with grandma or a friend and then switch the next week. It really is better than trying to be in two places at once and not getting to enjoy any of it.

· Give yourself a break. Don’t schedule something for every night of the week and try to avoid multiple things all on the same night. This is especially true if you don’t have a lot of family to help out. Remember, taking care of yourself is just as important to your children’s well being as letting them be involved.

· Don’t volunteer for EVERYTHING. I’m so guilty of this myself, I like to be involved and hate to say no if people need help but really, you can’t be room mom for 4 kids in different grades, run the girl scout troop, coach softball, be the team mom for football and keep score at the games and still get all done everything you need to get done in a day. So instead of trying to do it all pick and choose from the larger temporary projects that come up. You can help out in the classrooms on special days, help out with the school program or the bake sale, organize the fund raisers, or help out on field trips. This way you are still involved but the entire activity isn’t on your shoulders.

· And lastly know that just because it might look like little Lucy’s mom does it all and is so much better than you, she really isn’t.

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