“Do You Have Mommy Brain?”

By Amy Maschue

Mom of 4 (soon to be 5)

MS, CCC-SLP

Owner/Designer Modest Middles

 

“Mommy Brain” began with the birth of my four children (Tommy 7, Annie 5, Philip 4 and Jillian 1---baby #5 due in 2 weeks). I was used to multitasking at work, but the bundles of joy that I brought home definitely challenged my brain in new ways. When my oldest was born, my husband Phil and I decided that I would leave my active speech/language pathology practice which served children with Autism and their families to raise our children.

 

As I experience it, “Mommy Brain” is a condition characterized by exhaustion, a feeling of being overwhelmed, overscheduled, and underappreciated…the last on the list. It results from the multiple roles/personalities daily life requires of women who are mothers: wife, mother, school-helper, employee/business owner and individual woman. Every woman I know struggles with the balance of family, work (volunteer or paid), and self. Due to the economic slow down we are currently experiencing, many of us are also taking on new, unexpected roles that make the effects of “Mommy Brain” more pronounced.

 

This scenario became reality for me as Phil and I watched the economy slow and decided that a home-based business would help our family’s bottom line. I jumped into designing, producing and marketing a unique nursing undershirt I called Modest Middles (

www.modestmiddles.com). Modest Middles solved my problem of “overexposure” while breastfeeding. It allows mothers to nurse modestly, save money and stay fashionable by wearing it as an undershirt with any shirt in their closet and any nursing bra. Since last summer, I have taken that idea from concept to the hands of moms in across the country. While I have enjoyed the creative outlet, new learning and opportunity to share my idea with other women, my “Mommy Brain” was reached a critical level. I needed some ideas to rejuvenate my brain.

 

I began talking with other mothers to get some new ideas to counterbalance the effects of “Mommy Brain.” The list below is the result. Because I often need to fight “Mommy Brain” in the middle of the day at home with the kids, many of the suggestions focus on activities you can do with the kids. Of course, the suggestions may be even more rejuvenating if you are able to do them on your own.

 

20 Ways to Fight “Mommy Brain”: Here's 1-5 (I'll post the others throughout the week =)

1. Go on a short, slow, purposeful walk. Make it a game to be conscious of putting one foot in front of the other. See who can get to the stop sign, down the block, etc. slowly.

2. Look forward to at least one thing each day. At night, before you go to sleep think of at least one activity you will look forward to the next day. If you can’t think of anything, plan something! (Examples: playdate, bubble bath, special treat at lunch, listening to favorite CD, etc.)

3. Heighten your senses. Take a moment to stretch. Have the kids stretch too (it’s a great way to reinforce learning about body parts). Take a few slow deep breaths. Light a scented candle that relaxes you or reminds you of a special event (e.g., lavender, mom’s pumpkin pie, ocean breezes from your honeymoon, etc.). Give yourself a hand massage. Of course, treating yourself to a full body, professional massage is always rejuvenating!

4. Get a brain workout. Spend five minutes (while kids are eating lunch, napping, coloring, etc.) doing activities that stimulate your brain. Try soduku, crossword puzzles, online scrabble, word of the day definitions, etc.

5. Find inspiration on your night stand. Buy a calendar with inspirational phrases, quotes, daily bible versus, etc. and read the daily passage before you get out of bed. Such passages can help give you positive images/thoughts to start your day as well as some “intellectual gum” to chew on throughout your daily activities. Joining a book club or religious study group can also give you great inspiration.

 

Visit my website (www.modestmiddles.com) and email me with your favorite cure for “Mommy Brain”! A special thanks to all my friends for their support and ideas!