Times of transition can bring anxiety, especially for children. During times of change, their lives can feel chaotic and out of control.

More stay-at-home moms are working from home. Sometimes the transition is smooth, like adding chocolate to milk. It's good, wonderful and everyone thinks the change is great. Other times, the transition can be an anxiety-producing nightmare for the whole family.

Benefits of working from home

Many families welcome the extra income a mom can make from home, whether it's by providing music lessons, transcribing, selling crafts online, or something else.

A work-from-home situation can be ideal for moms because they can still attend school functions, make unexpected doctor's visits and emergency runs to the school with forgotten lunches. It also means mom is usually home when kids get home from school.

But when it comes to actually making a work-from-home job work, it can be hard.

Tough transitions

I recently found myself in such a situation. Becoming a work-at-home mom has been a more difficult transition than I anticipated. It can be especially tough if your kids, like mine, are not used to mom being unavailable for a while.

It's been eight months and we've finally found a routine that works well. There are still hard days, but let's face it, there are always going to be hard days whether you are a stay-at-home mom, working mom or work-at-home mom.

There are some steps you can take to help the transition. Look for ways to adapt them to fit your individual needs and circumstances.

1. Establish a routine/schedule

Become a creature of habit. I find it difficult to get anything done if it isn't part of my daily routine. Now that I work from home, a routine/schedule has become invaluable to my productivity.

Set aside a regular time for working. Make sure to have regular breaks scheduled as well. This allows you to get work done around the house and spend time with any at-home kids throughout the day.

Having a routine helps children adjust to your new occupation. When they know what to expect, it can help alleviate any anxiety or fear they may be feeling about the new changes.

2. Be Flexible (if you can)

As any mom knows, schedules are made to be broken. Establishing a schedule is a valuable tool for managing your work from home life. However, sticking too rigidly to the schedule can leave you and your family frustrated. Flexibility allows you to manage your workload and unpredictable events like sickness or a quick trip to the school for an awards assembly.

Not all work-from-home opportunities are flexible but, if you can, keep your schedule flexible enough to allow for the unexpected. Let your clientele know if you only work during nap times or evenings. Your family should always come first. Most clients won't care as long as you get the work done on time and communicate with them regularly.

3. Help around the house

If your children are old enough, it's time for them to take on more responsibilities around the house. Whether that's extra help with laundry, cleaning, or cooking will depend on how old they are and what they are already doing. My kids already have chores they do around the house but, now, I've had to enlist their help even more.

They have more cleaning responsibilities because it's harder for me to get to everything during the day while I'm working. They don't always like it, and sometimes they complain. That's okay with me. They need to learn that parents do what they have to do to make things work. It's been good for them to work together as a family.

4. Meal planning

Our meals got a little scary or nonexistent as I was trying to figure out how to manage working from home. Late afternoon and evenings are the hardest because there is so much to do. Children and spouse are getting home from work and school, homework needs to be done and sometimes kids need to be picked up from after school activities.

To prevent your family from eating eggs and toast or macaroni and cheese for dinner every night, try planning out a week's worth of meals. It takes a little extra effort on the night you do all the planning, but it pays off in the long run.

When you already know what you are going to make, it reduces the stress surrounding dinner time. You'll also spend less time and money at the grocery store because you can use your meal plan to create your shopping list.

5. Get help from friends and family

If you have young children who absolutely will not allow you to get work done, look to enlist the help of friends or family with whom you can exchange childcare. Even two or three uninterrupted hours of work a day can help your productivity. You may even be able to work out a deal with another parent that works from home, making it beneficial for you both.

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Bedtime is a source of frustration and anxiety for some parents and children. Somehow, just when parents are ready to sit down and relax for the evening, children find their second wind and turn the house into a Nascar race track.

It can turn into an all-out war as children pull out their full arsenal complete with whining, complaining and time-wasting. Before anyone realizes what's happened, everyone's exhausted and grumpy from the bedtime war zone.

But there is an easier way. With a plan in place, parents can get the upper hand. Bedtime battles take time to fix, but it's possible with consistent effort. Here are three magic steps to help put a stop to the battles:

1. Move during the day

When your child says they're not sleepy, they really might not be sleepy. Your children may not be getting enough physical activity throughout the day, so don't be afraid to wear them out.

Take a walk as a family

It's funny - as soon as you try to take a family walk, your children suddenly don't have the energy to move. If your child resists, give him a paper bag to collect treasures in along the way. Turn the walk into a game by playing I spy, or create a scavenger hunt of objects or signs for them to spot along the way.

Go to the park

Take advantage of good weather and try out all your local parks. Before you know it, you and your child will have your favorites. Make it a play date and invite friends along.

Turn on music

If bad weather keeps you inside, look for ways to shake things up. Turn on lively music and have a dance party or invest in some children's exercise videos. Many gaming consoles have dance or fitness games that are fun for the family to play together, and they will get everyone off the couch.

Make sure to quiet things down about an hour before bedtime. Their minds and bodies need time to come back to a calm place.

2. Establish a consistent bedtime routine

Most children thrive on a routine. The brain and body know how to respond at bedtime when there's a consistent routine. The key is finding a routine that works for your family.

Reading books, changing into pajamas and brushing teeth are common elements of a good bedtime routine. Many children find a bath comforting at bedtime, but some children treat bath time like a day at the water park. In that case, a bath might not fit into a relaxing bedtime schedule.

Whatever activities you choose to include in the routine, make sure they help create a calm atmosphere. Avoid wrestling, tickling and other exciting activities during the hour before bedtime.

Start the routine around the same time each day. The longer you stick to a bedtime routine, the more readily your child's body will respond on its own. It may take a while for you to see results, but once you do, it's well worth it.

3. Turn off the technology

While your child may look calm and quiet when they're watching TV right before bed, that screen time can send their brain the wrong signal. Bright lights and movement from TV, cell phones and tablets can keep your children awake longer.

The body produces melatonin in order to sleep, and the glow from electronics can reduce it. Keep electronics out of their rooms so they can associate their room with sleeping, not playing. Ending their screen time an hour before bed will give them a chance to respond to their natural body rhythms.

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Thumb sucking is yet another controversial topic among parents. It's either seen as a natural part of childhood or a nasty habit. Finger sucking can leave lots of parents scratching their heads, wondering what to do.

On one hand, a baby who sucks his finger can more readily soothe himself and may fall asleep more easily - letting you get more sleep. On the other hand, a child who continues to suck on his finger when he is seven-, eight- or nine-years-old may not only have related speach and dental problems but could also suffer socially because of the stigma surrounding finger sucking.

What's a parent to do?

While it can cause problems, thumb sucking is a normal part of childhood. In fact, many ultrasounds show babies sucking their fingers well before they are born. The urge to suck is a natural survival instinct and most children stop the habit on their own between the ages of two and four. Usually, there are no serious side effects but there is a small percentage of children who suck their finger well past the age of five - that's when the risk of dental problems increases.

At that point, the habit can start to have a negative impact on the child's physical and emotional health:

When thumb-sucking gets in the way

Some children have such a vigorous sucking motion it can damage the fingernail, resulting in malformation and sometimes, chronic infection. Children who suck their fingers past the age of five (when permanent teeth begin appear) can cause problems to their teeth and palate. Orthodontia might be needed later on to correct the damage.

Speech development and social stigma

It's hard for a child to learn to pronounce words correctly with a finger in their mouth. Children who spend a lot of time sucking their fingers may also delay speaking altogether, or develop a speech impediment. Speech problems can be corrected but it can be difficult.

On a social note, elementary-aged children may become the target of teasing or bullying because of their habit. While social stigma may create enough motivation for the child to stop sucking their finger, damage has already been done to their confidence and self-esteem.

Before you panic that your little finger sucker is on the road for future problems, it's important to remember that most of these issues develop when children continue to suck their finger past the age of five. If your older child continues to suck their finger, usually only vigorous sucking (or sucking so hard a callous develops on the finger) suffer from serious physical side effects.

But here's where parents can find some solace - thumb sucking isn't all bad.

Learning to self-soothe

Imagine if there was a magic button (or thumb) you could push whenever your baby needed comforting. Self-soothing is an important step in children becoming independent and developing good sleeping habits. Sucking on a finger can be an easy way for many children to calm themselves during the day or when they wake up at night. This habit can help your baby become more independent, while giving you some extra sleep.

Thumb sucking and allergies

A recent study found that children who suck their fingers or bite their nails are less likely to have positive results on an allergy test. The theory is that finger sucking exposes children to more microbes, helping to promote the healthy development of the immune system, which helps to prevent the development of allergies. The results are not conclusive but do support the general idea that less exposure to microbes has led to an increase in childhood allergies.

Don't panic

If your baby starts sucking his finger within days of birth, there is no need to panic. It's normal, it's healthy and it may help you get some more sleep. Most children gradually leave the habit behind on their own. But with time and effort, those who continue to suck their thumb past the recommended age can find other self-soothing methods and leave the habit behind.

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Most women know how they want their child's birth to take place. Whether it's a natural birth at home or a planned epidural once you get to the hospital, parents have expectations of how they will feel during and after the birth. But, childbirth can quickly get complicated and before you know it, you're preparing for a C-section instead of breathing deeply while you listen to the soothing sounds of the ocean. Some birth experiences can be so traumatic that mothers can suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder or Postpartum depression afterwards.

Recovering from a difficult birth experience takes time and patience from everyone involved. Take the time to help your body and mind on the way to recovery.

1. Rest

Physical exhaustion and lack of sleep can affect your ability to think and make decisions that require higher cognitive functions. Every new mom is exhausted, but none more so than one that's just survived a harrowing experience with childbirth. Mentally and physically, you need to give your body time to heal. Dishes, laundry and cleaning can wait. Your focus should be taking care of yourself and your baby.

Accept offers of help with gratitude. It's okay to let others bring meals, help with dishes or vacuum your home while you recuperate. People want to be helpful and you can offer the same kind of support for other mothers someday. Your body needs time to recover and as your body heals, your mind will be better able to cope with the effects of childbirth.

2. Talk about it

Many mothers struggle with the losing the ideal birth they had imagined. Talking about it with someone you trust gives you a chance to work through those feelings. Your spouse, another family member or trusted friend who offers a listening ear can be what you need to work through your trauma. Look for someone who isn't going to dismiss your feelings and truly listens to your concerns.

Many hospitals have support groups, counselors and other resources available to new mothers and their families. This can offer a safe place to discuss issues of sadness, guilt or other emotions surrounding the birth experience.

If you're not comfortable talking with someone, many people find writing a cathartic experience. Writing it down on paper can help focus your thoughts and identify the emotions you are experiencing.

As you talk or write about your experience, you may discover you need professional counseling. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor or other medical professional who can give you to the help you need.

3. Meditate

Any activity that releases stress and helps calm your mind can help in the healing process after a traumatic birth. Postpartum yoga and meditation are two that many women enjoy because it can be easily modified for the postnatal body. Yoga pairs poses and breathing to help strengthen the body and calm the mind. It has also been shown to reduce the anxiety and stress that come from dealing with a traumatic event.

Using meditation along with yoga can center a tired mind and body for greater mental clarity. Make allowances for your postnatal body which may need modifications for some exercises. Be sure to get your doctor's approval before you start any kind of physical activity.

4. Proper nutrition

The body and mind function better when they are getting proper nutrition. While your baby does need you for everything, you can take care of his needs better if your body is properly maintained.

Start by drinking plenty of fluids, more than is necessary to quench thirst especially if you are nursing. A recommended 8 -10 glasses a day is a good place to start. Protein, whole grains, vegetables and fruits are going to leave you feeling more nourished than fast food or packaged snacks. Stock your home with foods that are going tonourish your mind and body so that you can better deal with your emotional needs. Follow your doctor's guidelines for postnatal nutrition, including continuing to take prenatal vitamins if directed.

Lastly, give yourself time. It will take time for your body and your mind to heal so it's important to remember to be patient as you rest, talk through your concerns and grief, meditate and focus on eating properly.

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