The rewards of parenting can be great!  But, we must learn the secrets of mothering and being a "happy mom" to reap these rewards.  Like they say, you NEED to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. 

This time, it's about YOU!  So, take some "you time" and discover the secrets that will fill your heart with peace, love, and fulfillment.

Being a parent of a child with special needs can be exhausting at the very least.  The nature of most disorders can leave our energy depleted, our resources exhausted, our lives turned upside down, our support systems limited, and our own self-confidence and parenting skills questioned. 

By raising a child with special needs, you are already a "hero" in my book.  The question is..."how will you find the secrets of being a HAPPY mom?"...despite all the excessive demands on you, your time, your family. 

You didn't think I would leave you hanging there did you?  Of course not...Carrie Lauth has the answers.  Whether your child has special needs or not, the rewards of parenting can easily be discovered when you implement these 9 "simple" steps below.

Secrets Of Happy Moms
By Carrie Lauth

Have you ever noticed how some Moms seem to be very contented and confident
in their role as Mothers, and others seem chronically stressed and approaching burnout? Why are some Moms unflappable and able to keep their sense of humor, while others overreact to the slightest stressors in their
day?

I'm currently observing and interviewing these happy Moms as I conduct
research for an upcoming book. While all Moms are different, these women
usually have several of the following traits in common.

1) They keep it simple.
I know one Mom who grocery shops every two weeks and buys the exact same
thing every time to prepare the same menu of 14 dinners. Why does she do
this? She's picked the family's favorite meals for her menu to save herself
time and arguments at the dinner table. Anyone with kids knows they like
to eat the same things over and over! This Mom has decided not to reinvent
the wheel twice a month. This is just one example of keeping it simple.

2) They teach their kids to be independent.
This doesn't mean they leave them to their own devices all day. But a smart
Mom knows that a 2 year old can put a dish in the dishwasher, a 4 year old
can prepare his own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a 7 year old can
sweep a floor (albeit imperfectly!). Call it "outsourcing" for Moms.

3) They drop the SuperMom complex.
Not sweating the small stuff seems to be a common trait of happy Moms. They
learn to pick their battles. Getting buckled into a car seat? Not negotiable.          Pink paisley pants with the orange plaid shirt? Fashion creativity.

Happy Moms also realize that being an awesome Mom doesn't mean being a
perfect Mom. 'Nuff said.

4) They can often be overheard repeating the phrase "This too shall pass".
It doesn't mean that bothersome behavior in kids should be overlooked, for
discipline is a huge time saver in the end. It means that Moms realize
that children are...well, uncivilized creatures, and that much uncivilized
behavior will simply go away on its own as the child matures. Smart Moms
are also keenly aware of their child's development and don't expect more of
them than they are able to give.

5) Smart Moms take care of themselves.
They don't blame the baby for their extra weight when the baby in question
is potty trained! They put emphasis on good nutrition, avoiding too much by
way of stimulants (caffeine, sugar), they get adequate rest, and daily
exercise. They realize that you can't pour from an empty bucket.

6) They live in the moment.
Happy Moms realize that the days are long but the years short. It's not
that they are impervious to stress, it's that they have learned to lower
their expectations and be in the moment when things get difficult. When
your toddler is puking all over the house, this is not the time to
reorganize the hall closet. A sick day then turns into a time to create
sweet memories of hours spent reading and cuddling on the couch.

7) They don't worry about what others think.
Whether it's the disapproving glare from the old lady in the checkout line,
the Mother in law who is convinced you're starving the baby by
breastfeeding, or the Pediatrician whose medical advice strays into
parenting advice, happy Moms learn not to give too much weight to the
opinions of those who don't live in their home.

8) In other words, they trust their instincts.
Whether it's taking the baby to bed with them so they can get more sleep or
taking a bullied child out of public school, smart Moms know that they are
the expert of their own babies.

9) Happy Moms have "something else"
It may be a part time home based business or a hobby like belly dancing.
These Moms know that some day their babies will fly the coop, and they make
sure they have a passion that will give them purpose when that happens.
 

About the author:
Carrie Lauth (http://www.carrielauth.com) is the author of the upcoming
book: "Awesome Moms: 187 Years of Mothering Wisdom". Take a sneak peak at
http://www.momswisdom.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/