How to stay sane at home with kids during the Holidays?
Shouting, crying, and household chaos.
Did you imagine the holidays a bit differently?
Suddenly, you have 2, 3, or even 4 healthy, lively children at home who are jumping on your head, and you’re completely on edge?
On top of that, you’re working from home, on maternity leave with the youngest, or you can't afford expensive trips or entertainment every day?
You’re completely exhausted, stressed, and angry… literally on the edge?
Let me reassure you that you're not alone. For many mothers, the holidays are truly a nightmare.
Preschools are closed in many places, younger children are not yet allowed in summer camps, or the camps are too expensive, and grandmothers are still working or live far away.
So, what now?
Any routine you had has been thrown out the window with the end of the schol year, and the kids are out of control. Happy to spend time with at least one parent, but soon they get bored, fight, argue... and you’re losing your mind.
You easily explode, yell, nerves are on edge, and at the end of the day, you feel guilty…
How to survive the Holidays with kids
Start your day right
If the kids upset you in the morning, it will drag on throughout the day.
- That’s why it’s so appreciated when everything goes smoothly in the morning
- each child ideally dresses themselves
- brushes their teeth, combs their hair, eats breakfast
- and - ideally - when the older kids can wash the dishes and clean up without you having to repeat yourself 10 times like a broken record.
Write a list for older kids, and use pictures for younger ones.
With this setup, you shouldn’t be completely exhausted right from the morning, and you should have enough energy for a short walk to the playground or the store.
Fresh air, movement, and a little change of scenery will do everyone good.
After returning home, the kids usually automatically go to their toys, giving you some space to work in relative peace.
A great advantage is if you prepare lunch the night before so you only have to heat it up.
This will help you avoid another stressful point—preparing lunch for hungry mouths, the stress, yelling, and... explosion.
After lunch, a quiet moment with a fairy tale,
ideally audio, where there’s a higher chance the kids will fall asleep compared to screen time!
Be careful with too much time spent in front of the TV or tablet.
While it may seem like an acceptable alternative when you need uninterrupted time for work, after a while, the kids can get even more grumpy, bored, and tend to make a mess or demand your attention.
And what about the long afternoon?
Shared babysitting with friends’ kids
Try arranging with friends or moms from the kindergarten who also have kids (they don’t have to be the same age) and take turns babysitting. One afternoon, you’ll have all the kids, the next day it’s the other mom’s turn, and so on. This way, you get one whole afternoon free, and the kids won’t get bored because they’ll be with other kids.
Hiring a babysitter
Many girls are looking for part-time job and love kids.
There are many websites or Facebook groups where you can find the right sitter based on profiles, detailed information, and reviews.
One afternoon a week may cost you up to 1,000 CZK, but I’m sure your productivity and use of free time to the fullest will pay off, not just in the work done, but in your good mood.
Get dads involved
If it’s at all possible, let the kids spend time with their dads.
Men often have what we call “domestic blind spots”: they don’t see a full laundry basket or sink, don’t notice a tired wife or wild kids.
Don’t hesitate to ask them to take the kids for a trip or, even better, a weekend at the cottage.
Watch out for too many sweets
Many mothers have found that food can keep a child occupied, at least for a while.
However, not only sweets but also snacks, bread rolls, and sugary drinks can cause greater hyperactivity in kids, making them restless and causing them to come up with mischief.
When their blood sugar drops again, they get cranky and unpleasant, demanding another dose of sugary treats.
Watch out for late bedtime
Most kids feel calmer and function better with a settled and regular routine.
This routine also helps them fall asleep more easily at night.
It’s important to stick to bedtime and the evening routine, even in the summer.
Because how the next day will be is influenced by what happens the night before.
Despite a good plan and your determination, a lot can still go wrong!
M.E.G therapy dr. Bach - Acute crisis - SOS drops will help
calm acute emotions—anger, sadness, aggression, crying - that can overwhelm both parents and kids.
That’s why our clients (and the entire M.E.G team) can’t imagine the holidays without our SOS remedies.
Always have them on hand, and your days will be calmer!
So you have enough energy to deal with the challenging everyday situations, make sure to take our Liquid Vitamin C every day.
It boosts immunity, heals wounds, bruises, and eczema faster, supports the nervous system, and helps with depression.
It will also help prevent colds caused by air conditioning or long baths when the kids are already shivering but you can’t get them out of the water.
During these challenging times, it’s unfortunately very common—and completely normal—that our nervous system can’t take it and we explode. This happens because, in the past weeks or months, we’ve been pushing down our problems and strong emotions, ignoring them, and focusing on something more important or urgent. The real issues got overlooked, but unfortunately, they haven’t disappeared and now they’re surfacing at the least opportune time.
As the saying goes:
“Sometimes you carry the jug to the well so many times that the handle breaks.”
Emotions also have an expiration date. Suppressed sadness, anger, resentment, rage, or fear will eventually surface. If you feel this is the case for you and you want to start addressing your struggles, I recommend starting with M.E.G therapy dr. Bach - Customized drops. Based on a questionnaire, we will create a unique formula that will directly address your issues.