Let’s be real, motherhood is already a lot mentally. I don’t need to be stressing over every little thing, especially not for trying to appear as “the perfect mom”. 

There are some things I’ve decided not to care about as a stay-at-home mom. Not because I’m a lazy mom, but because I truly believe there is no reason to sweat the small stuff. My cortisol levels are veryy important to me lol!

Here are ten things I don’t care about as a SAHM who’s not trying to live in a state of constant stress.

1. If my husband doesn’t do “50/50” when he gets home

Lots of moms say to go “50/50” after 5 PM, and that parents are both on the clock. But MOST of the time, I’m not bothered if my husband doesn’t split chores after work. He works a blue-collar job, on his feet all day, often pulling 70-hour weeks. If I’m feeling good and energized, I don’t mind picking up the slack with bedtime, dishes, cleaning, all the things.

On days when I feel exhausted and burnt out, of course, I will let him know I need more help in the evenings. He usually will either cook or do bathtime!

2. My toddler making a mess while I’m getting ready

When I’m trying to get ready, my daughter loves to pull things out of cabinets, drawers, you name it. And honestly? IT’S OK. 

Don’t sweat the small stuff. If she can keep herself occupied and I can get myself together for the day, that’s a win-win. My self-care gets to come first sometimes!

3. Washing hands 24/7

Of course, we wash our hands! But am I constantly stressed about it if I forget to do it occasionally?
Kids get sick. That’s a part of life.
I wash her hands when I remember, when it’s obviously needed, but I’m not going to freak out over every little germ. 

4. Wearing shoes

Grounding is all the rage in the crunchy community, but tbh, that’s not why my daughter’s often barefoot.
I’m just not obsessing over putting shoes on her or making sure we have shoes every time we leave the house. 

This is all about the stage – my daughter is 14 months now and has barely started walking. When she is a few years old, obviously this will become more of a must-have!
Of course, I’m not letting her run barefoot in a downtown parking lot — that’s just dumb! But around the house, in the yard? Go right ahead. 

5. Micromanaging her temperature

Getting shade from the grandma sock-police is a rite of passage as a stay-at-home mom. But I’m not stressing if my daughter’s a little cold or a little warm in a restaurant or outside.

She’ll be okay!

We’re not raising pansies over here, lol. Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for.

If you’re a fellow SAHM feeling overwhelmed or stressed, maybe it’s time to start your own “don’t care” list. Give yourself permission to let some things go. Focus on the important stuff, and ignore the rest. 

5 Things I Do Care About as a Stay-at-Home Mom

So now that we’ve gone through all the things I don’t care about as a stay-at-home mom (because let’s be real, cortisol face is not the vibe), here are five things I do care about — and actually put effort into in my day-to-day life.

1. Looking Good Every Single Day

Specifically: makeup.

It just does something. It shows you that today, you’re in your life — you’re the main character. You’re working, you’re mothering, and you’re doing it with a little winged eyeliner on.

You just have to romanticize your life a little bit.

Like, “I’m beautiful, I’m in the kitchen with my makeup on” — it’s a whole thing.

2. Exercising Every Day

Okay, so this doesn’t happen every day, but in my ideal week I’m hitting 10,000 steps a day plus doing strength training a few times a week.

It’s not about being obsessive, it’s about feeling strong in my body. Energy is everything.

3. No Kids’ Shows

This might be controversial, but I do not do kids’ shows.

The few times I’ve put something on for her, the glazed look in her eyes as she just stares at the screen totally freaks me out.

So I avoid that at all costs. Not worth it.

4. Having a Clean Space

Yes, I live in a one-bedroom apartment, so keeping things clean is definitely more manageable.

But I cannot go to sleep if I know the apartment is a mess. It stresses me out.

A clean space = a calm mind. Especially when you’re in it all day.

5. Ingredients

Honestly, 80 to 90% of the time, we’re buying whole foods and organic.

What I put into my daughter’s body is such a huge responsibility, and I take it seriously.

Food and nutrition are one of the most important things you can teach your child — how to fuel themselves, how to feel good from the inside out.

So those are just a few of the things I do care about as a stay-at-home mom — the things I put time, thought, and energy into because they actually matter to me. Hope you enjoyed this little peek into my day-to-day mindset!

Remember, you don’t need to care about everything, just the things that move the needle in your life.