How to handle being overwhelmed as a new homemaker- slow living for new mothers 

Your husband’s on his way home. The toys are strewn about everywhere. Dog hair has become tumbleweeds across the floor or screaming children who don’t want to listen to today. Dinner isn’t made, and there’s no light at the end of this tunnel. That’s my home today. Here’s how I deal with being overwhelmed as a new homemaker with young children. 

First thing, I take some deep breaths at my window. I watch the horses across the street in their pasture, rolling around and munching grass without a care in the world. How I wish I were a horse some times. Carefree, wild, untamed. That was me in my youth for sure. Reckless hippie rambling along the east coast. Giving my own mother a heart attack no doubt. 

However, these days, I’m that mother, with cares and fears and responsibilities, not a horse. So take those deep, long, slow breaths. Stop thinking for just a minute mama. 

Wrap your baby up, or put on a show for your toddler if you have to. One show won’t hurt while you get things back in order. This is what I tell myself as I put on my current favorite album, fleet foxes’ “shore”. 

I fill my berkey with water because I’m about to drink the last quart. And now I rehydrate. 

I put on my thrifted Edie Bauer slippers. I am rejuvenated! Now the kitchen window gets opened to smell the grass my husband cut yesterday and the faint scent of spring onions. 

Making the home as you go

Some times we all forget to slow down. It’s easy to be busy. It’s hard to stop. Pause. Time out for just a second. 

I’m still a growing and learning, new homemaker. I’m a mother still discovering and understanding what it all means to hold those titles. 

Now, for the nitty gritty. Getting those dishes knocked out. 

Then the toys all go in a the basket. No organizing, just get them off the floor so there aren’t forty tripping hazards in sight. 

Agh. Dinner. My easy go to when nothing else is thawed, thought out, or prepped. Breakfast. Breakfast for dinner is always a winner! 

Eggs, sausage, sourdough. Simple. Delicious. Nourishing. 

When everything seems hectic and I can’t sort out it out. I’ve got to BREATHE. If I don’t, I get into what I call ‘breath debt’ and that’s when the huffy-ness comes in. I haven’t been breathing enough because I am LITERALLY holding my breath as I try to get everything done at once. 

So the music goes on. The slippers comfort me. The stale air of chaos has been released. Fresh air, clean water, a new atmosphere has been created as if from magic. 

Slow Living Matters

There are days when I make four lists throughout the day just to try to keep the overwhelm of a new homemaker life at bay. Other days I’m like ‘look at me go, i know what im doing, I got this!’ 

No days are the same. Maybe a similar rhythm but a completely different song, on a different album, from another artist. 

Occasionally, I lose all my marbles. I have those ‘flap out’ days as we call them in our house. But I’ve navigated different ways to help me keep my feathers from being too ruffled.

• Music
• Fresh air and sunlight
• Water
• Something cozy- I mentioned my slippers but it’s sometimes a sweater or dark bitter chocolate 
• Long, slow, deep breaths 

Those are my secret weapons. I don’t have a lot of disposable time in the season of life I’m currently in so my moments are precious. My children are precious too, so anything I can do to keep my tender heart for them is best. 

Yes that means dishes go undone some nights. Sleep may be more crucial that day since night nursing is still underway. 

And so my dear readers, breakfast for dinner is always a winner. 

Are you a new homemaker or a seasoned one?