How Gardening Can Help Stay-At-Home-Moms Manage Stress-By Dia Bachard
Frustrated mom of five, Megan Powell, described the day-to-day reality for many SAHM’s in a collective essay titled “THIS”. Finally, someone understands the unmatched task of raising a child and running a household, while also trying to ignore comments about how nice it must be to stay home, relax, and not have to go to work.
As a first time mom, I know better than to make that assumption about other moms in general. Especially since I’m still learning to manage my own postpartum depression with productive hobbies like gardening. After seeing a licensed mental health professional, I learned about my form of depression and how a diligent routine that works for both my toddler and I can provide the structure needed to weaken triggers and make time for fun hobbies!
Research has shown that spending time outside is good for the body and our minds. Gardening has been a long time stress reliever for many. My grandmother had a garden in Haiti. I remember being in awe when I first saw it at 8 years old. I told myself I’ll have my own one day. Little did I know how much I would need it after becoming a stay-at-home mom.
Isolated most of the day and low on funds, I found myself gardening to escape the dullness and anxiety accompanied with tending to an energetic toddler everyday. It’s a life saver (for everyone in the family)!
How Should You Start?
It’s always great not to overwhelm yourself and start small. Small to medium sized pots are ideal. Once you get comfortable with actually growing the plants, try building an actual garden to transfer everything later. All you need to do that is 3 long pieces of wood from Home Depot, 3-5 large packs of Miracle Grow Soil, and your plants (or seeds). Some help might not hurt.
My first real plant that produced a fruit was a cantaloupe. Herbs are always easy to start with though. They also come in handy when cooking delicious flavorful meals for the family!
After killing my cantaloupe plant with too much fertilizer, I moved on to green bell peppers. My first plant produced two of them! Now, I’m working on growing some new onions, cherry tomatoes, a hybrid tomato and a cabbage plant. Watching plants grow might be boring but the rewarding feeling is actually using something you created from scratch.
This is a feeling that out weighs the woes of any form of depression.
Postpartum Depression Resource Information
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