Are you a working mother? Your stress is understandable- being a work-at-home mom has never been easy. All the family pressure, childcare dilemmas, and management issues are bound to take their toll sooner or later. But you needn't feel tempted to quit your home-based work and sign up for psychotherapy, when it all seems too much. If you're a work-at-home mom, frustration is not an option, it will show in you, therefore your husband and children will bear the brunt of it. Instead, you need to manage your time better, and make good use of parenting resources. We give you some suggestions.

Delegation of responsibility in the family is a must. Work-at-home jobs are time-consuming and stressful; you will need extra efforts to help you with house work. Before bedtime every night, have a family cleanup, where every family member can help to put things back in their right place. Remember: "A place for everything, and everything in its place." Supervise your children to see that girls' clothing goes in the right cupboard, and boys' clothing in its separate cupboard. Older children can assist with the folding of their laundry, and even make their beds - not only are they helping save precious time, they are getting a sense of independence. Involve your toddlers by asking them to pick up their toys.

Praise your children when everything's done. Ask for your husband's help with setting the dining table and clearing it. Explain to him which plates and glasses and cutlery to use, he will get the hang of it after a while. Don't criticize and don't be negative. Avoid comments like "Oh no! Not like that!" or "You did it wrong again!" like the plague. You must admire him for his efforts and support.

We understand that for all you work-at-home moms, mornings are a difficult and rushed time, once the children are packed off to school, and the husband to work - they must get down to their own work. Make mornings less hectic and hurried, by following some kind of routine or plan- iron your kids' clothes and pack their school-bags the night before. Since precious time is wasted deciding what to cook, plan the breakfast menu from beforehand. Have a mental plan: "Waffles on Monday, Sandwiches on Tuesday, Ham omelet's on Wednesday, etc" Keep the ingredients ready for the next day's breakfast. Make food preparation simpler by keeping the elaborate menus for the holidays, when you have time to spare. When you're exhausted from work on the weekdays, and need to cook dinner, make use of uncomplicated recipes that need little time, and basic ingredients. Don't compromise on nutrition, however, by buying too many convenience foods, as these are unhealthy in the long run.

Use timesaving devices (microwaves, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners). They're here to make things easier for you. Ask the children to assist you with loading the dishwasher, or putting the laundry out to dry. In time, you'll see that with a little creativity and a sensible routine, you can make things much easier!