SAHM Schedules

Are you bored because you miss adult interaction or are you bored because there is absolutely nothing you need or want to do around the house?

I had a full time career before I had kids so staying at home was NOT appealing to me. I had to have an agenda and followed my schedule to avoid going insane.

I went somewhere every day pretty much. We were out the door before the sun came up, at a different park each day or the mall which was open for walkers in the morning. Then after that we would go to someplace different - library, museums, zoo, visit friends, even big department stores. I would let my little man run and walk and I would just follow him around. Lunch was always packed and we'd have whereever we were - on a park bench or at a little cafe table or tailgate it in the parking lot. I would try to get home by 1 so he could go down for a nap (he slept for 2-3 hours) and that gave me alot of free time.

When he woke up, we would have a snack, read, do some learning activity, and then play inside or out. At that age, other than the standard toys like cars and blocks, outside he loved to play with the garden hose (he would hold it and squirt the trees or I'd give him an umbrella and spray him under it), play with the rake or move rocks back and forth in our yard. I taught him how to find sticks to pile them up too. He never really like his riding or push toys.

On rainy days we built forts, play with playdoh, color, paint...alot of arts and crafts. My little man liked to glue things and tape things so I'd pull out a bag of beans and he glued them to a piece of paper or cardboard. You would be surprised how far a stack of cups will go with a toddler, or even a stack of paper plates, or bag of straws for entertainment. I kept alot of stuff like empty food boxes, toilet paper and paper towel rolls around for rainy days. Or if it wasn't thunder and lightning we'd play in the rain as well!

Around 4 clean up started. We always cleaned up together after playtime. I would sit him down with some books or puzzles for 20-30 mins in the kitchen and then I let him watch 1 or 2 videos while I made dinner. My husband got home between 5-5:30 then so we would have dinner and my husband would play with our son until it was time for bed.

There's so much you can do with your child when you stay home. You can be resourceful if you really want to be. Have fun!

No schedule. I get errands done, grocery shopping, etc. Visit friends for lunch occasionally. Playdates or parks maybe once a week.
I use his naptime as my time to do whatever i need to do, whether its catching up on email, working from home, taking a nap, dishes, mopping floors, etc. Most of my days are just full of everyday housework, meal prep, etc. But I have 4 kids, and by 3p, the other 2 are home from school and needing help with homework, so no time for boredom!

Being a SAHM was the best and worse 3 years of my life. I LOVED being able to spend every waking moment with my kids. But I HATED being stuck in the house all of the time. We only had 1 car in which my hubby had to drive to work. So I couldnt do the usual things that SAHM's did such as run errands, shopping, take the kids places, join mom groups's etc etc. I was stuck between 4 walls EVERYDAY. I was in a new state with no family of friends to pick me up. So I did some online school, got my degree and a partime job to keep my sanity. During those 3 years of being a SAHM, I made myself a schedule so that I wouldnt get too bored. I had something to do every minute of the day. Rather it be playtime, cooking, cleaning, etc. But if you have a car, making a schedule is limitless. Go to the library for story time, join groups, go to the gym that have child care, etc.etc.etc. At 20 months Im sure he/she have alot of energy. Enjoy this time while you can because they dont stay little for long.

Hi J.:

Have you looked into a local moms club group? They sure keep me and my two-year-old busy!

As a "Stay Away From Home Mom," I get out everyday or would go bonkers.

Usually we spend the mornings at a park, indoor playground or playgroup/moms group activity. We come home to try and nap--a challenge lately, and head right back out to run errands or whatever comes our way.

Housework is divided between hubby and me. and we alternate tasks. He cooks while I do the dishes/laundry. Vacuuming, and other cleaning takes place on the weekend.

Good luck.

I've been a stay at home mom since I was pregnant with my first child (my daughters are now 7 and 2.) I knew I would homeschool, so that changed things a bit as far as what we did when my first was young.

At that age, when it was just my first child and me...she was also very independent, so I had a lot of "free" time. Besides playing with her, reading to her, and teaching her (letters, shapes, numbers, colors, etc.) I would fill my time in the following ways.

Clean. Clean. Clean. Very clean house.
Laundry...always done. Dishes...always done.
Crafts. I crochet, sew, etc.
Draw...I illustrate children's books.
Walk. Walk. Walk!! Bike, bike, bike!!! I got lots of healthy exercise and she got lots of fresh air.

As she got older, we really started focusing more on "schoolwork" and focused learning...I'd pick a subject for a week (trees, for example) and all week we'd read books about, do projects about, etc.

After my second was born, free time went out the window, basically. Between school with my oldest (who is in an intensive online program that does take around 4 hours a day) and taking care of my handful of a toddler, my days are packed. We do go out for walks, to the park, shopping, library, etc.

I honestly do not understand boredom. I've been a SAHM for 12 years and I have never felt bored. It's a concept that is completely foreign to me. I LOVE being home with my children. I love it immensely. I have 4 children: 3 are in school full time and the baby is 12 months. I do only what I have to do around the house. I have become very laid back with this baby because she was not only a surprise, but she is the last one. I hold her every chance I get, wearing her in a carrier, nursing her whenever, wherever, crawling on the floor with her, talking to her, laying down with her, playing with her. There is nothing boring about spending my days with her. Don't misunderstand, I've loved being with each of my children but with the first born, I was quite high strung with trying to balance the house and taking care of her. I have to admit that I put a lot of effort into making sure the house was spotless. That was 12 years ago and then 2 1/2 yrs later the next baby came along and I worked very hard to balance taking care of my first born along with a new baby and still trying to maintain that spotless house I so desperately wanted. And then baby #3 came along and he was supposed to be the last one and by then my first two were in school and I was back to trying to balance everything and doing a fairly descent job and now I have another baby and the house is not spotless and I could care less. If you are feeling isolated then you need to get out more, try to get involved in a mommy group. Look at your library for reading groups for moms or ask other moms at a local park what they do to interact with other moms. Sounds like you just need a friend.

You're probably "bored" because all day everyday is spent with your 20 month old.

Join some Mommy groups. Join some Toddler groups.
Google search it for your area.
Then you will meet adults/Moms, to socialize with, while your child is also getting interaction.

As a child gets older, they will need more socialization and interaction with other kids. It is good for their development.

My schedules have changed depending on my children's needs and the family. You need to just do a schedule that works best for you. What you need is something that is just for YOU. You need to get out alone once in a while with friends. Get out with your husband more often. Get into some hobbies to break up your day like scrapbooking or something, gardening, etc.

The thing you have to remember is that, although there are women out there that think their kids and/or family is EVERYONE, it's not the truth. You MUST have time for yourself. After all, if you give everything to your family what's left for you? And after the kids are grown and gone, then what? Do for yourself now and get out, make more friends, and do more hobbies!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets