[Stormster]

I feel like I should have maybe thought this through a little better!

I'm going to have a lot of free time when he starts preschool ...

BLESS HIS HEART I asked DH what I was going to do expecting him to say "get a job woman" but all he said was "learn to cook!"

I feel like I'm living in the 1950's here! if you knew me you'd know how bizarre it is!

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by Stormster

I feel like I should have maybe thought this through a little better!

I'm going to have a lot of free time when he starts preschool ...

BLESS HIS HEART I asked DH what I was going to do expecting him to say "get a job woman" but all he said was "learn to cook!"

I feel like I'm living in the 1950's here! if you knew me you'd know how bizarre it is!

I know I have two kids and not one, but they are only 2 years apart, so the feel like one - lol. I actually have less time now that my kids are in school than I did when they were home! I volunteer so much in JD's preschool/AJ's Kindergarden that I am at the school more than I am home! Then in the evenings, I run them to basketball (same team so it's like running around 1 child - lol)

I was also concerned that I'd have too much free time, so I went back to school because I figured that I'd be able to study, etc. during the preschool hours.. I was totally wrong - lol - now I am waiting until they are both in school full time (which is 3 years from now) before I can go back.

If your child's preschool hours are anything like mine, there is barely enough time to drop him off and run an errand before you have to turn around and pick him up.

[Stormster]

Ok now I get it!

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by Stormster

Ok now I get it!

...and if all else fails, put on your poodle skirt and heels, pick up a glass of sherry, and open up your Betty Crocker cookbook!!!

[Celesyee]

SAHM to one baby here! I've actually been a "home maker" since last June and Devin wasn't placed with us until mid-last month...talk about being bored! What will I do when Devin goes to preschool? I guess it'll all depend on MIL's situation since she lives with us and her health continues to deteriorate. Also, we may want to start adoption #2! I'm sure my parents are glad they spent their hard earned money to send me to college so that I can be a SAHM.

[Stormster]

I don't know how those women did it! And I'm NOT fetching any slippers or pipes....

Do you actually drink the sherry while you are cooking because that COULD be fun.

Ugh I've only had two glasses of wine since E was born. I have to say I miss it once in a while.

[NJNative]

that I went to college and graduate school so I could clean toilets better!

I stayed home for almost 9 years with my son (and he's my only). But my hubby travels almost all the time. So I was the only one home all week.

Wasn't ever bored and picked up my career where I left off -- been back to working for 3 1/2 years.

Robin

[tanmansmom]

I love being a SAHM. I was a school teacher in public schools for 11 years and I was sooo ready to be done. I keep thinking that when TJ goes to school I will start teaching again, but I'm not sure 5 years out of the classroom will be enough. I never get bored. We split our time among three different places within the state (due to my husband's job), so we are always off and doing something. We go with him now since when TJ is in school we won't be traveling. Hmmm, I guess I could home school thereby not allowing me to go back to work and allowing us to continue to travel

[lovemy2boys]

I worked until my oldest, AJ was 11 months - I worked for family and brought him with me - I thought it would be ideal, but it was awful - I felt like neither my job nor my child were getting the attention they needed.

When I quit to stay home, it was right at the beginning of winter, I was stuck in the house, and had stopped working for the first time since I was 16 - I would stare out my front window and think "What the heck did I just do???"

Here I am 5 years later, and was given the opportunity two months ago to go back to work full time. I backed out at the last minute - I just couldnt do it!!!

My plan is to go back to school when the kiddies are in school full time, then hopefully go back to work - but then again, who knows? I'll have to play it by ear!

[fiona-c]

My youngest starts kindergarten in August. My daughter will be in 3rd grade. I have no desire to go back to work. I run the house. Weekends are fun family time. No errands. I do those during the week when the kids are in school.

I don't have to worry about finding someplace for the kids to be when there is school vacation let alone summer vacation. I volunteer once a week in my daughters school. I will up it to twice a week when my son is in school. I am thinking of volunteering with the handicapped riding program here in town.

Yes sometimes I am bored, but I know I would be very grouchy juggling work home and the kids. My husband is spoiled and likes to come home to a happy house.

And yes, I went to grad school to clean and dust (ugg!!)

[Stormster]

You know kind of OT but I feel like we aren't doing enough stuff! I don't have any friends in the area with kids so that is a huge part of it. Basically, if it's cold out our day looks like this:
AM wake up 6:45ish (well he wakes at 6 but is happy playing on his own bless his little heart!), say hello to every room in the house (LOL he loves that) and to the dog, bottle, breakfast, hang out in highchair and I read to him, 15 minutes of Sesame street and about 45 minutes of crawling and playtime and then nap. So we don't even get OUT until noon at the earliest. Usually 1 because I have to give him lunch in his high chair still.

This afternoon is special because we are going to the Bronx Botanical Garden. I spent the money to become members because there are so many hills where I live and not enough FLAT stroll able parks so it will be our special place. Today is the first day we are going.

Once in a while we have company, but more often we go to the mall or whole foods or to the park. But all I can really do is push him around at this point. His favorite part of these outings are the drives which I try to keep longish. Also that's the only way to get him a nap in the pm.

So then home for dinner and bath and DH usually walks in around 7 for a bit of a cuddle (I'm trying to stop the bedtime bottles now).

We have a garden and a yard (sort of) so when the weather is good we can be outside in the mornings too. Oh and he has music on Sundays so spends an hour doing something really special with 8 other babies (slightly older but I think that is good).

Other than that, and once a month visits with my 1.8 year old god daughter that's it really. Truth be told, weekends I love because DH is home but the weekdays seem off somehow.

He's on the move so I think soon I can do some kind of gymboree type class but I really just need friends with babies. I try I really do, in music class it always seems the women I meet work OR have other kids and they are just too busy running around.

This is temporary I guess, right? Any ideas how i can make things a little more fun around here? I'm so off schedule, my friends have teenagers and are back at work now.

[Stormster]

No way no how am I ever going back to my old job. Just looking for ways to make our days a little "richer"

I'd rather eat tunafish and cheerios for the rest of my life than go back to that stress-fest.

[lovemy2boys]

We signed up for gymboree when AJ was 14 months...

I met who is now my best friend there! We have kids the same age who are great friends, the same interests, and now our kids both attend the same school/church.

It is a great place to meet moms and have the kids play - after talking to some of the moms for a couple weeks, we all just kind of decided to do lunch with the kiddies, then without...then we would get together with the kids at each others homes/park/etc.

We also spend tons of time at the park, weather permitting, and meet tons of moms there as well....On cold days, we do the library - they have tons of book readings scheduled for young ones (even the REALLY young ones).

The city parks and rec is usually a great place to find different age appropriate things going on in your area...

Good luck!

[fiona-c]

Hi Stormster

I remember those days. I had moved to a small town to marry my husband and knew a couple of women from the neighborhood, but no friends. It takes time and you have to make a big effort. I made "calling cards" with all my contact info and my child/children's picture on it. When I met someone I would give them the card and tell them to call me if they wanted to get together.

Good that your library has programs for preschoolers. Don't miss a program. Get to know the librarians. Ask the librarians if they know of any free children's programs that you can take your child to, especially if it is 9-5 during the weekdays. You will have a better chance of meeting Moms that stay home.

See if the local bookstore has storytelling. I would go when my daughter was little and get my "treat", chai tea. I was a regular and everyone knew me and I soon got to know them.

One of my closest friends I first talked to at a Gymboree store. She is a red head also and has a girl 6 months younger then my daughter. I don't remember that, but I do talk to everyone. Later we ran into each other at Border's storytelling and continued talking and became very good friends.

By the time we moved away 5 years later we had a great group of friends all with Moms who stay home and kids close to my children's age.

Be willing to set up play dates with people you just met. Invite two Mom's with kids your age to your house or to someplace with an appropriate play area. (borders children's area when there is no storytelling, the mall with an indoor play area - during the day the school age kids are not there and you can let the babies sit on the floor or on a blanket). Keep trying. It is hard in the beginning to put yourself out there.

It will get better.

[DPline]

You might take a look for a local MOMS Club chapter or Mothers & More chapter. I know that MOMS Club has a website. Not sure about Mothers & More.

For me it was a great way to meet other SAHM's.

Good luck!