I usually work. (Not a post about SAHM vs. Working moms)
I have the week off for Spring Break (I teach)
I am struggling to find things to do to keep my kiddos entertained.
We don't have lots of $$ so going to play places is out of the question. We do the park, color, play-doh, paint, cook, puzzles, read, movies, etc. But I feel like I could be doing more.
So, what do you do all day with the kids to keep them & you from going stir crazy?
SubliminalDarkness
03-18-2008, 07:53 AM
They play with their toys. And read. We only do one maybe two "activities" per day. And if it's nice, we go to the playground. If not, we don't go. That's it. It's mostly just self-directed play while I clean, cook, etc.
Javamama
03-18-2008, 07:56 AM
They play with their toys. And read. We only do one maybe two "activities" per day. And if it's nice, we go to the playground. If not, we don't go. That's it. It's mostly just self-directed play while I clean, cook, etc.
Thank God!!
I mean, I guess I just start to feel guilty or something, like I am suppose to be doing **** with them 24/7
It is nice to know I am not alone...
(i hope this does not sound bad towards you...i am glad you let me know what you guys do since i sometimes feel like i am being a loser and neglecting my kids...though i know i am not)
i am babbling now. :giggle2:
MatildasMum
03-18-2008, 08:10 AM
I used to feel guilty if I didn't have activities planned for every second. Then - I realized that kids need down time, too. She "reads", plays quietly with her toys, sits on my lap while I read or pay bills, etc. I'm not here to entertain her. I'm here to guide her into becoming an independant, self-sufficent person.
Indianamom*2
03-18-2008, 08:11 AM
Mostly self directed play here too. We do sit down and do some finger paints once in a while and DD likes to sit and do her shape sorter a few times a day and on nice days we go to the park but other than that... we dont do anything.
Like right now I should SOOOOOO be cleaning while she is playing, but I feel like crap today.
elioraimmanuel
03-18-2008, 08:13 AM
Relax! Let your children learn to keep themselves occupied. Just give them some creative stuff and let 'em have at it. My kids love imaginary play, painting, coloring etc. They find stuff to do.
bfoster2000
03-18-2008, 08:38 AM
I think that's a difference between SAHMs and WOHMs. When you work outside the home, you only get to spend a few hours a day with your kids and the weekends so it's easy to gobble that time up by doing things with them the whole time. The kids come to expect that too. SAHMs are with their kids 24 hours a day and understand that life has to go on and they don't have to entertain their kids constantly. Some SAHMs that I know spend about the same amount of time (or even less in many cases) as a WOHM "doing things" with the kids. Mom's there, kids are there, everybody's doing their own thing. It's really hard when a WOHM suddenly finds herself at home with the kids all the time because everyone's expectations are off. Mom is used to being kept busy at work and suddenly has all this free time (there is of course the mile-long to-do list around the house). The kids are used to being kept busy at school or daycare or whatever and suddenly are bored with home. And mom is used to trying to make the most of the time she has with her kids and feels obligated to be doing something with them all the time. And the kids are used to having 100% of Mommy's attention when she's around so they expect that. It's a hard adjustment for everyone.
Try to relax and just do what you need to do. If you need to do laundry, do it. If the kids want to help, let them. It will take twice as long and be half as neat (if you're lucky! :giggle:) but it's a great learning opportunity for them and it will make them feel important and it gives you an opportunity to talk with them about whatever is on their mind in a low-pressure setting. If they're being more needy than you can handle at the moment, try setting a kitchen timer. Let them know that you have some grown-up things to take care of so they need to play until the bell rings and then you'll come and do whatever with them for a while. Set the timer again and let them know when the bell rings again, it's grownup time again.
Good luck...I've done the WOHM, SAHM (not for long), and WAHM things and I know that each has their ups and downs and the transition from one to another can be tricky.
Javamama
03-18-2008, 09:09 AM
I think that's a difference between SAHMs and WOHMs. When you work outside the home, you only get to spend a few hours a day with your kids and the weekends so it's easy to gobble that time up by doing things with them the whole time. The kids come to expect that too. SAHMs are with their kids 24 hours a day and understand that life has to go on and they don't have to entertain their kids constantly. Some SAHMs that I know spend about the same amount of time (or even less in many cases) as a WOHM "doing things" with the kids. Mom's there, kids are there, everybody's doing their own thing. It's really hard when a WOHM suddenly finds herself at home with the kids all the time because everyone's expectations are off. Mom is used to being kept busy at work and suddenly has all this free time (there is of course the mile-long to-do list around the house). The kids are used to being kept busy at school or daycare or whatever and suddenly are bored with home. And mom is used to trying to make the most of the time she has with her kids and feels obligated to be doing something with them all the time. And the kids are used to having 100% of Mommy's attention when she's around so they expect that. It's a hard adjustment for everyone.
Try to relax and just do what you need to do. If you need to do laundry, do it. If the kids want to help, let them. It will take twice as long and be half as neat (if you're lucky! :giggle:) but it's a great learning opportunity for them and it will make them feel important and it gives you an opportunity to talk with them about whatever is on their mind in a low-pressure setting. If they're being more needy than you can handle at the moment, try setting a kitchen timer. Let them know that you have some grown-up things to take care of so they need to play until the bell rings and then you'll come and do whatever with them for a while. Set the timer again and let them know when the bell rings again, it's grownup time again.
Good luck...I've done the WOHM, SAHM (not for long), and WAHM things and I know that each has their ups and downs and the transition from one to another can be tricky.
Thanks for this! :hugs:
You summed it up so nicely!
Leslieann
03-31-2008, 06:09 PM
i am a work at home mom . And I think the egg timer is great idea. In fact i will go get one for my faily too! My son watches alot of movies and does alot of imaginative play. I have to say though with only one child I am often his only playmate and I take that role very seriously too!
Leslieann
03-31-2008, 06:24 PM
I am a work at home mom . And I think the egg timer is great idea. In fact I will go get one for my family too! My son watches alot of movies and does alot of imaginative play. I have to say though with only one child I am often his only playmate and I take that role very seriously too! I really enjoy playing with my child!
