Stay @ home mom needs sanity

[awesomeASH]

I have a 5 year old girl in pre-k & a 2 year girl @ home with me. I would love any suggestions on scheduling or time-management or something that works for you. I want time for me sometimes to pray, worship, sing, read... I love being a mom & feel very blessed to stay @ home with them, but I guess I sometimes struggle with just being a mom I find myself wanting to do so many things & feel so limited. We moved to a new city before my 2nd was born, no family here our church family is stretched out & I was a realtor. I love people & I guess that's what I'm missing. I know we can allow some of our indentity to be wrapped up in our career & I know I shouldn't feel less because I stay home with my kids, but truthfully I do sometimes. And I feel terrible about it.
Thanks in advance for any input!

[dreamer8]

I'd like to address self needs: Danny clearly states, you have to take care of yourself. I know I thought that I was a good mom when I gave all I had to my kids, not taking time for myself, teaching them that I am there when they needed me. That's a good mom, right? Now I know that I am teaching them lack of compassion for my needs, lack of servanthood for others, and other negative behavior...bottom line, you have needs too and it isn't wrong to identify those needs and work towards getting them met. Maybe an option is to set an alarm clock that goes off that they have quiet time until they hear the ringing while you do "mommy stuff". You could set them working on something while you are close by but doing your own thing, checking in with them every so many minutes (do you see that it is okay to set boundaries?). Maybe a babysitter that could come in for 1 or 1 1/2 hours one day a week to watch the kids while you go out by yourself. Perhaps your husband and you could find times for you to "get away" (could mean a bubblebath at home too!). A mom's group, Skyping with a friend from another area that could help you stay in touch with the "realtor" side of your life, phone calls...I've seen tremendous answers to prayers as I held my needs up to the Lord and asked for His answers to these things.  It was worth the wait when I saw God orchestrate it all...He is for you, let Him work on your behalf and recognize He cares about you, His daughter. I'll be praying for wisdom in all this! 

[erinlynn421]

AwesomeASH, I COMPLETELY understand!!! I have a 2.5 yo (and one due in 5 weeks), and my transition to motherhood, and SAH motherhood, was tough for exactly the same reasons you have described.  I want to encourage you to take it to the Lord.  Nothing is to small for Him to speak to you about.  I used to just ask every day, "Lord, what is it that I need today?" and he's give me something small.  Sometimes it was just an idea for how to plan my day.  Sometimes it was an idea for something fun to do with my son.  But He was always faithful.  Take it one day at a time.

Here are a couple lessons that I learned that save my sanity.  You may be different, but these might help you.  The bottom line is really to ask the Lord, though.  He'll show you how to set boundaries and how to structure your life so you can fulfill all your roles.  Expect things to change and don't be afraid to ask for help!  Anyway, here are a few ideas that worked for me...
1. For months, my prayer time was in the shower.  Seriously, it was the only time of day I wasn't continually being interrupted, or falling asleep. This was during naptime so I knew my little one was safe in his crib, and if he cried, I couldn't hear him and I was blissfully unaware for sometimes even 10 whole minutes!!!  That was a real luxury at that point and that was when I'd be asking the Lord to show me what to do TODAY.
2.  I need to get out of the house every day.  I just have to do SOMETHING.  In the winter, the YMCA is my sanity-saver.  Sometimes, we go visit friends who work in town who don't mind a quick pop-in visit to say hi for 5 mins. Sometimes we just take a drive!
3.  I also had to develop hobbies and passions that fit my new life.  In some ways, i was able to adapt my old hobbies/favorite things, but I've learned new things and made new friends, and it literally saves my sanity!