Any SAHM's?

christinab0722

Any of you first time stay at home moms out there? I went back to work after DS1 but with LO I quit a couple months before delivery. LO is almost 8 weeks and I'm starting to get a little antsy with life. I'm trying not to be so hard on myself, but I don't really have any hobbies and I don't have any really really close friends that stay at home. How do you ladies stay busy/sane with feeling fulfilled outside of your family and household?

LGW2015

I'm in the same boat as you. I haven't figured out any answers yet, but I hope to soon!

mothernorth

**raises hand**

My situation is similar to yours. I was a working mom with DD, my first LO. Being a SAHM wasn't an option, and honestly I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. 
With DS1 however, things changed and I ended up a SAHM, and to be honest, it wasn't all wonderful and rainbows. Due mainly to me being (however awkward) a social creature. It took quite a bit of adjustment. I had no hobbies, no friends, not even a vehicle of my own, and I lived away from the rest of my family in the next town over. It was rough on me at first, but between soul searching and going back to school I have found a compromise and peace with the SAHM life. You just have to find your halfway mark too. And I'm not going to lie, of you're used to working and having a career, and are used to frequent adult interaction, you will have your moments of lonesome defeat and despair. But they're fleeting. Ultimately, you have to do whatever you're *able* to do to make yourself happy.

Except for drugs. Don't do drugs...

rosdoss

I am also a FTM and SAHM... I was also at home during the last trimester of the pregnancy. I think I'm pretty well suited for it, I'm definitely introverted and a homebody so most of the time I'd rather be at home with my dogs anyhow. I would have been working to pay for someone else to take care of her, so even though money is tight we're making it work. H and I both come from broken families being raised by nannies and extended family members so I think it was important to both of us that I stay home and do the whole mom thing.

That being said, we're only 2 months in... though I'm adjusting quite well, I know the time will come where I'm itching for something else to keep my mind active. I will be trying to help my mom with some accounting work from home and I have my hairdressers license and could see trying to make extra money doing hair at home and eventually part time as she gets older. I've also thought I'd really like to become certified as a yoga instructor to deepen my own practice and perhaps teach a few classes in the future. I live far from family and only have one good friend nearby so I may look into local moms groups to have more of a community of support. I don't really have any mom friends so it's hard to have someone to relate to. Hence my bumping!

I have moments where it frustrates me that H can kind of continue as usual in some aspects and I can't really do the same. But in the end, I remind myself that she'll only be this little for so long and to try and enjoy it as much as possible.. and ask for help or breaks when I need them. I try to take moments for myself when she naps or if H has her to do whatever it is I feel like I need to... sometimes that's doing nothing! I'm  going to try to start exercising more and I have 50 million books I've been wanting to read.

I hope you find some things for yourself... no time like the present to start up a new hobby or interest! I have a friend who started painting for the heck of it in the past couple years and she had no idea how great she would be at it! and I think as the babies get more interactive things will feel differently as well.

vanessa11411

I stayed home with DS for a year and somehow survived it. I can't even think of what I did to keep sane. I do remember when he got a bit older that we signed up for gymboree classes.

This time around I have a job to return to. I cried my eyes out on my last day at work. I'm feeling both nervous and excited to go back. I still have 5 weeks left until I go back. So I'm soaking every moment in.

I know I'm not SAHM material. So hats off to you ladies! 

mommym234

I have a part time work from home job, but get stir crazy very easily. I read a lot, we have at least half an hour outside every day no matter the weather, get in some exercise if possible, and art time every day. I am terrible at all types of art but taking time to draw, paint, or write keeps me sane, even if it just gets tossed when I'm done. The other thing that helps is playing a few different types of music throughout the day. I am also going to look into mom groups in my area. I have zero friends who are less than 2 hours away and none who are moms. 

navarronine

I have also been a stay at home mom for years 
When my kids were little I would take them to the library, and it helps that my home is on 1 acre so lots of room for kids to run around and play ,ride bikes and what not . With the though it's lots of stroller walks and teaching a baby to speak Spanish is a also good way for me to use my time with my baby, 

The rest of my children speak English I didn't take the time with them that I should have to teach them. So with my lo he only gets spoken to in both language's. 
 
Being a  stay at home mom is a job in it self  

mothernorth

Anyone who believes being a SAHM is a vacation is off their rocker. You're literally a full time servant, on call 100% of the time. 

christinab0722

@AllyTheKid amen to that!!!! We have friends where both parents work and the mom is a very successful nurse practitioner... Anyways, her husband always criticizes the SAHM's in our circle and calls them lazy. Honestly, I never understood how my other mom friends that stayed home could complain ... I mean you're home all day with your babies what could be bad?!? Now I am at home and I totally freaking get it. I've always worked outside the home so this has been a huge change. I'm not convinced I enjoy it yet, but I don't have anyone else to take care of my babies and I'm grateful to be home with them. 

mothernorth

I am grateful to be home with my kids. But I honestly only do it because it's more practical for us. Until last year, I had always worked outside of the home since I was of legal working age. Being home all day everyday really puts a damper on how family time SHOULD feel. There is no clocking out and being relieved to go home and be with your loved ones. You're already there, and it IS your job (a thankless one at that), and the only breaktime is bedtime. At least, until your boss decides to wake up and have you feed them and change their diaper. I used to think SAHMs had it easy too. Until I became one.