Remedy for a Desperate Housewife

by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter

Mix the children being off for summer break with a mom working from home and you get a blend of emotions. Since October I have been building a business from home which is challenging within itself. Just when my day would really get started, it was time to pick up kids from school, help with homework and start dinner. Whew! A whole week of the exact same routine can not only add stress, but will make you look for excitement somewhere. At the end of each day you might find yourself wishing there were more time, like you didn’t get enough accomplished. You feel like the family you’re holding down, just takes you for granted and don’t notice the hard work that goes into this day of yours. You start to crave attention, action, anything that adds something different to your life. So whenever there is a little gossip, you want to know. Whenever there is some drama, you’re all eyes and ears. Whenever someone pays you a little attention, you’re flattered and a little curious.

We can lose ourselves, along with all the things we are, the plans we have and the promises we’ve made to ourselves if we allow stress, doubt and confusion to creep in. If the above is ringing true for you, you are not alone. Here’s how to handle the desperate housewife syndrome:

• Start the day with scripture, prayer and meditation
• Stay on track with the goals you have for yourself and your family (finding someone to hold you accountable is very helpful)
• Fight temptations of all kind. Be strong, practice restraint and remember there are consequences for every action
• Make a list of the things you want to get accomplished each day

Your job as a homemaker is just as important as any other job out there. As a mom you are responsible for shaping someone’s future, as a wife you are responsible for adding to the life of another and as a business owner, you are responsible for your own success. So, while it is easy to become overwhelmed, it can also be so rewarding when you know you’ve done your best. And that is really all you can do.

By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter, a certified Life & Relationship Coach, founder of Life Editing Personal Coaching Service, creator of the Black Wives’ Club and an Administrator of Still Dating My Spouse. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters.