In decades past, women were expected to stay at home and take care of the kids and house.  They had few other options, and those who dared to work outside the home were often considered bad wives or mothers.  Their self-expression was basically limited to crafting and other things they could do at home.

Today, women have the freedom to choose what they do with their lives.  More women are seeking education and building careers, yet there are also many women who choose to be housewives.  These women want to be there while their kids are growing up, rather than pursuing careers and having their children raised by babysitters, nannies, or daycare workers.

Those who leave their careers to become full-time housewives or stay at home moms often suffer from a lower sense of self-worth.  In a society where a person’s value is tied to the amount of his paycheck, going from careerwoman to unpaid homemaker can be something of a blow to the ego if you let it.  Add to this the tendency for wives and mothers to lose themselves in their domestic duties, and it can become a serious self-esteem problem.

Taking care of the kids and the house is a time-consuming job.  Sometimes it seems like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.  Moms often feel that they just don’t have time to pursue their interests or do anything for themselves.

It can be difficult to schedule time for yourself when you’re tending to your family.  It often requires multitasking, and you may need to ask for help sometimes.  But being a good wife and mother doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your sense of self.  Here are some ways you can make time to do the things that are important to you:

• Join online communities that interest you. This way you can pursue your interests without leaving home, and you can work around your family’s schedule. We'd love to have you at the Feminist Housewives community!

• Start a blog - share your thoughts, feelings, and ideas with the rest of world. For more information, check out this article.
  
  
• Take the kids along on outings and to events.  This is a simple solution that works in more situations than you might imagine.  You’ll just need to plan ahead and bring along a stroller, toys, snacks, and any other items you might need.

• Get a babysitter.  Stay at home moms are not prohibited from ever getting a sitter.  If you’re caring for your kids on a regular basis, leaving them with someone else for a short while is not going to do permanent and irreversible damage.  In fact, it’s good for them to stay with a family member or trusted sitter on occasion.  In the event that something comes up that they have to, they will not be as likely to suffer from separation anxiety.

• Leave the kids with Dad.  It will be good for them to spend some special time with him. Go to a coffee shop, take a walk in the park, read a book, anything that will help you reconnect with yourself!

Maintaining your sense of self-worth while being a good wife and mother is not as difficult as it sounds.  If you make a commitment to do something for yourself each day, you will feel much more fulfilled.