Stay At Home Mom Schedule & Daily Routine | SAHM

Stay At Home Mom Schedule & Daily Routine | SAHM

Your Daily Routine as a Stay-at-Home Mom 

Are you a stay-at-home-mom? That’s wonderful. Our world truly needs moms who can engage in their children’s glorious play day in, day out. Indeed, the research tells us that children who spend lots of time with a sahm (stay-at-home-mom) are more likely to gain a deep and significant parental attachment which will benefit them throughout their lives [1]. Despite living in a world which largely does not value the importance and uniqueness of motherhood and the mother-child relationship; sahms get to enjoy glorious time with their children and, in turn, their children’s physical, mental and emotional health are likely to bloom and flourish [2]. 

Does knowing the significance to our children of having a sahm mean that it is all smooth, plain sailing. No way! Being a sahm requires us to dig deep into the depths of our motherhood and respond with patience, resilience, humour, endurance and (most of all) love. So, tell me more about the sahm daily schedule, I hear you ask. What does a typical sahm daily schedule look like? Indeed, is it even important to have a sahm daily schedule? In this blog, I will delve into what a sahm daily schedule could look like. I hope that this will help you to consider what sort of rhythm could work best for you and your family. 

Finding the rhythm which works for you 

All of us are different; made uniquely in God’s image. So, our families reflect different aspects of His creativity. Some of us function better on a more organized schedule; others of us like the freedom to follow the ebbs and flows which each new day brings. When you are considering if a sahm daily schedule is right for you; you should first look to the character and requirements of your own family. Indeed, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that motherhood will be much kinder to all of us if we can leave comparisons and judgements outside. You are enough. Your family is enough. God delights in you for who you are. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us “He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing”. If you find that a well-planned sahm daily schedule works for you; great. If your idea of a sahm daily schedule is making sure everyone is fed, dressed and happy; then that’s great too. 

You are also likely to find that your sahm daily schedule changes with the changing seasons and as your precious family grows. If you are, or become, a homeschooling mom; then your sahm daily schedule will again grow and change to meet your family’s changing needs. This is normal and to be expected, indeed, it is good that our rhythm and routine evolves as the needs of our family change. 

Example Of A SAHM Daily Schedule

Here is one family’s sahm daily schedule for a family with children aged 3 and 5 years old. This is a family who like some loose structure yet who don’t want the constraints of a tight schedule. Remember that you need to find the rhythm which works best for your family set up and make sure that this is reflected throughout your sahm daily schedule.

 

early morning 

  • read together in bed 
  • mom showers whilst husband supports the children to enjoy free play 
  • everyone gets dressed 
  • making breakfast together: eggs, meat and fruit 
  • storytelling, tabletop games or books over breakfast 
  • Clearing up from breakfast whilst children help with role play cleaning and café toys. Starting laundry and any dinner prep which can be done now. 

late morning

Depending on the season and the flow of the day an activity such as: meeting friends to play, visiting the park or library, playing in the garden, taking the scooters/bikes out. 

lunchtime 

A simple yet nutritious energy-giving lunch with time together around the table to chat about how our day is going and our plans and hopes for the afternoon, possibly time for a short boardgame or some small world play. 

lunchtime ideas:Curt some chicken breast into strips, whip up an eggyolk with salt and pepper, throw it either on the pan or in the oven and voila, you have some chicken fingers. Cut up some avocado and fruits. 

afternoon 

  • lots of time for free play, ideally more outdoor play or a short walk 
  • time to build dens and cozy up with more books 
  • time for cars and towers, trains and play doh 
  • tidying up together to music and singing, finishing laundry 

dinner time 

A one-pot wonder has been bubbling away in the oven all afternoon; lately I have been loving to slow cook a thick cut of pot roast. All I do is season the pot roast, put some olive oil in either our dutch oven or cast iron skillet, a bit of water, chicken stock, carrots, onion, and potatoes. Lid on and forget it for 4 hours. 

This is a slow mealtime with time to talk, enjoy our food and to simply be together. We love to light up our beeswax candles at this point for an extra touch of hygge (coziness) 

after dinner 

Our bedtime routine with baths, stories, prayers and snuggles. 

then….. 

time for mom and dad to be together; some light tidying then marriage connection time or time with friends or in fellowship 

Key Elements Of Your SAHM Daily Schedule 

Your sahm daily schedule should help you to know more peace and connection within your 

household. If it starts feeling like a source of stress; then it is probably too prescriptive or needs to be adapted to the changing needs of your family. Your sahm daily schedule needs to reflect the sweet 

spot between the right amount of planning and organization (so you feel prepared and ready for whatever the day may bring) and the freedom to follow the unique rhythm of the day (so that the creative play and needs of your children on that day can be met). 

What are the key elements of any sahm daily schedule? Well, time outdoors is key not only for the wellbeing of our children but also for ourselves. Indeed, the research tells us time spent in nature is beneficial for every part of our mental and physical health [3]. When our children play outdoors; they are able to play freely, deeply and creatively. If you allow lots of outdoor time in your sahm daily schedule; you will see the benefits in your children’s: emotional regulation, sleep, social skills, language development, math skills...and the list goes on. 

Likewise, allowing lots of time for free play is essential when you have young children. If this does not feature in your sahm daily schedule then you will soon be living with unhappy, demanding and unfulfilled little people. Our children need to play freely in order to grow and develop and to simply be. Indeed, free play is the essence of childhood; and it is an intrinsic aspect of a happy childhood. You can think of your sahm daily schedule as the plan for the practicalities of life which enables your children to play, play, play. It should not limit their play; rather it should allow us to manage our households so that our children can play to their heart’s content. This is how our children will live their lives to the full today and in the future. It is also how we will know joy and contentment in motherhood. When our children play freely; we will know peace within our families. 

What else are essential ingredients of any sahm daily schedule. Planning time to prepare healthy, wholesome, homemade meals is key. Every aspect of our children’s physical and mental health will benefit when they eat nutritious food; this is also true for ourselves. We need to fuel ourselves with natural, healthy food in order to live our lives to the full. The same can be said of planning for good quality sleep. Indeed, both sleeping and eating well underpin our wellbeing. Our sahm daily schedule needs to allow time for a gentle, connecting bedtime routine so that our children can sleep well (and so can we!). 

Last and absolutely by no means least, you need to consider your own needs in motherhood. A sahm daily schedule which leaves you no time for headspace, your own exercise schedule or nutrition for yourself will be lacking indeed. We cannot give out from an empty cup; we need to fill ourselves with the things which bring us rest, energy and joy so that we can respond to our children with patience, love and humour. What do you need in your sahm daily schedule to bring you some self-care? It could be time for cups of tea, time spent reading, a chat with a friend, or a quiet walk on your own. I would really encourage you to consider your own needs as you plan your sahm daily schedule. It is then that your own wellbeing will be supported and you will best meet the needs of your growing family. 

May you find the daily schedule and rhythm which work best for you and yours, and brings you life and fulfilment. 

References 

[1] Ali E, Letourneau N, Benzies K. Parent-Child Attachment: A Principle-Based Concept Analysis. SAGE Open Nursing. 2021;7. doi:10.1177/23779608211009000 

[2] Hulen, E. (2022). What Is Natural Is Best: A Qualitative Exploration of Women’s Engagement in Attachment Parenting. Journal of Family Issues, 43(2), 405-417. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X21993885 

[3] Shao Y, Elsadek M, Liu B. Horticultural Activity: Its Contribution to Stress Recovery and Wellbeing for Children. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(4):1229. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041229 

 

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