All Posts tagged Buffalo OB-GYN

There’s no getting around it: if you’re a mom, you’re going to have stress. Yes, you love your children, but the pressure of taking care of another person’s needs all day long—and sometimes part of the night—can drain you of energy and make you feel lousy. Here are four things you can do to reduce your stress and feel more in control:

Stop trying to be a “perfect” mother.  

Between TV, magazines and websites like Pinterest, mothers see images of immaculate, perfectly organized houses and clean, smiling kids. Instead of trying to replicate that false perfection, try a few shortcuts:

• Cut down on laundry by letting your kids stay in the same clothes all day, even if they get a little dirty. Obviously, there are some stains you don’t want your child to wear all day, but a little juice, food or dirt never hurt anybody.
• Use paper plates and cups to save time and water usage. This means fewer dishes to wash and more time you can spend on the fun aspects of motherhood.
• Allow your house to be a little messy. Every bed doesn’t need to be made, every toy doesn’t have to be put away, and not every floor needs to be swept 20 times a day. Kids make messes, and that’s okay.

Realize that you’re not alone.

Go to any search engine and put in the search term “online motherhood support groups.” Pages and pages of results will pop up. The Internet can be a great source of support, advice and commiseration, which you can get on your own time, on your own terms. There are also real-life support groups in most towns, like MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Mothers of Twins, Parenting without Partners and more. Look for groups in your area and try to attend some meetings, so you can connect with others who are in the same boat.

Know where to go for help.

Nobody has all the answers about motherhood, but again, the Internet can be a great resource. If you do join an online support group, you can ask questions of your fellow members. Or there are plenty of websites out there that can answer any question you might have—no matter how weird it seems to you, chances are somebody has asked it already. If your question deals with a health concern, call your pediatrician’s office, of course. And if she’s available, you can always ask your own mom or your mother-in-law.

Take some time for yourself.

This is probably the hardest one for most moms, but one of the most important. If you’re feeling exhausted, upset, resentful or anxious, you’re not going to be the best parent you can be. Whether it’s something as simple as a 20-minute soak in the tub while listening to music, a walk around the neighborhood, coffee with a friend or something more ambitious like taking an exercise or yoga class, you need a break from the pressures and responsibilities of being Mom, 24/7.

From all of us at Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello, have a happy, healthy Mother’s Day. If you or someone you know is looking for a top OB-GYN practice in Buffalo, please give our friendly staff a call today.