5 ways to beat the stay-at-home slump

Are you a stay-at-home mom? Are you tired? Overworked? Underpaid? Bored? Join the club. I'm the first to admit that staying home with the kids can be a daunting, thankless job. There is no Department of Labor poster hanging in your kitchen that informs you of your right to make at least minimum wage, or that you are entitled to a 30 minute break for every shift that you work. There's no paycheck. There's no water cooler humor with your co-workers. Its just you and your spawn. Day in. Day out. It can be monotonous and socially isolating, and it is inevitable that sometimes we get a little down, especially in the winter months, and we may even fall into the "stay-at-home slump".

The stay-at-home slump occurs most often during these winter months when playground gossiping is unavailable. We fail to dress ourselves, and our children. We have lost our zest for laundry. We no longer live for preparing meals. There is just no joy left in cleaning a toilet till it sparkles. Unfortunately, it strikes us equally among age, race, and socioeconomic status, and we must fight back.

Here are my tips to combat the dreaded stay-at-home slump and get your mojo back!

Get involved in your community! Start by spying on your neighbors. Neighbor spying (or being nosy) is a beloved pastime and time-honored tradition of desperate housewives, stay-at-home moms and old ladies alike. Not only is this a fun activity, but it can help boost your self-esteem at the same time! You will feel so much better about YOUR life after seeing what REALLY goes on across the street. For example, one of my neighbors, in her 40's, carries a baby doll with her to work every day; she even straps it in the back seat like she is securing it into a car seat. I've seen her get into and get out of her car clinging to her treasured baby doll for life. True story! I would never know this if I didn't stare out the window a lot. No matter how crappy I feel about myself, or how pathetic my life feels at that moment, at least I can say that I don't carry a baby doll around with me. Winning!

Get creative! One of the best ways to rejuvenate your spirit is to express yourself through art. My favorite art project is creating Play-Doh porn. When the kids aren't looking, take a few containers of Play-Doh and create erotic love scenes, or you can even mold your favorite body parts. It's up to you! Have fun with it, and be sure to send your hubby a picture or two of your creations! It just may spice things up in the bedroom as well (I mean if you want to spice things up, because really, who wants to have "relations" after a long day with the kids? Certainly not me. Pffft)!

Find a new interest! Shake things up a bit and look for a new hobby! May I suggest becoming a wine aficionado? You can learn how to pair your favorite dishes with the proper wine, make your own, or just get wasted! I like to hold daily wine tastings. When the kids won't nap, and my house is a mess, I like to go into the bathroom, lock the door and "taste" my wine of the day. It's my favorite hobby!

Get fit! Nothing helps to improve your mood more than good old fashioned exercise! Get your heart pumpin' and those endorphins flowin' to kick your blues square in the butt. No time you say? The kids are always around? Never fear, because I have a solution. Take your toddler to the mall, and head to the food court. Now, release the little heathen, and close your eyes for ten seconds. Don't cheat! After the ten seconds has passed, you will open your eyes and see your toddler half way across the food court stealing food off of people's tables, knocking over chairs, stealing bags and playing with the janitor's mop. You are now forced to chase after said toddler while picking up the chairs, stopping to apologize to random strangers (circiut training), and redistributing the shoppers' bags. What a great cardiovascular workout!

See your doctor! If the above tips aren't helping to bring you out of your funk, I suggest getting a little help from Big Pharma. Doctors get paid nowadays to write you prescriptions, so don't be shy! They want to help. Hey, everyone is on an anti-depressant anyway. I like to call mine my "happy pill", or "mommy's little helper". I know when I swallow that little white pill down with my double espresso every morning, it is going to be a fabulous day!

BONUS TIP

Start a blog! All the cool moms are doing it. ;-)