SAH and WAHM Check In

jLeigh0709

For those of you who SAH or WAH:

What does your daily schedule look like?

What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home?

If you have any questions, ask away. Or share tips you may find helpful or vent if you need to!

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so?

jLeigh0709

We don't have too much of a daily schedule. M is usually up by 7. I know he eats every 3 to 4 hours an I try to have him nap in between feedings. Lately he's been fighting naps so I'm trying to figure out if he's getting lever tired or if I need to try to stretch out the naps more... Any advice would be helpful here.

For activities I try to do tummy time, play mats, books and play on the floor together. Sometimes he will play in his swing but he's not liking it so much anymore. Outside the home we go to the store or out on a walk. There doesn't seem to be a lot to do. If anyone has other cool activities please share! I feel like M is getting bored sometimes...

DH and I decided that I would SAH if we ever had any children. My job was not high paying and any income I made would have gone to DC anyways. Right now I have committed to a year off. We will see how it goes and whether I need to try to go back to work after that.

Q's: What do you feel is expected of you as a SAHM? Does DH expect you to get all the cooking and cleaning done or do you share that responsibility? What do you usually do with your "free time?"

karkissy09

What does your daily schedule look like? I just started trying to get Hallie on a schedule this week. We get up at 7 or 7:30. I get both of us dressed and ready for the day. DH's niece and nephew get babysat here. They show up around 7:45. Around 9 nephew lays down. Around 10 Hallie lays down. 11 I start making lunch and get both napping kids up. 12 lunch. 1 afternoon nap for all 3. 3 up from nap and snack. 4:45 kids get picked up.

What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home? When the other kids aren't here we go for walks when weather allows. Usually we read, play on the floor, sing, etc.

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so? I just don't necessarily trust someone else with my child 40 hours a week. I don't think they would raise Hallie the same way I want her to be raised.

lanea8712

My LO gets up between 7-9, he eats, plays and takes a nap... The day usually plays out however he picks. I fed on demand, and read off his cues. He's very vocal. Lol

Right now I'm begging for spring! I want to get out and walk and enjoy the sun shine! Instead it's  in the fourtys rainy and windy... No real snow here this year, just annoying weather. Indoors we do all the "normal" stuff and sometimes sing and dance crazy. (my son has been fighting half or more of his naps lately as well..)

I worked full time when we lived in PA but when we moved back to my home state KY I didn't need to work and my husband liked me being a house wife. I did most the house stuff but he always helped. I had supper ready when he got home and all that jazz so it was real nice.  Now he does a lil more around the house and fixes supper sometimes. He also does the one feeding a night, I take care of LO if he needs anything else or doesn't go to sleep while eating.  

vettymama

I get up around 5:30-6:30 and get lunch ready for DH, let the dogs out, and sometimes get in my workout. LO wakes up around 7 most days. I feed him, pump while he plays in his bouncer, get him ready for the day, and bring him downstairs where he plays/falls asleep in his swing until 10:00 or so. From there the day is basically lead by him.

We do floor time, tummy time, read, walk around to each room and look out windows, talk to the dogs, sing/dance, etc.

I am a clean freak and having a baby to take care of makes it hard to keep the house up to my standards. I have been trying really hard for the last month to just forget about the sparkling clean house and just keep it organized and dusted/vacuumed weekly. I love cuddling with LO and am so relaxed when I can just let everything else go. DH says he cant even tell the difference in the house anyways!

Right up until I delivered I was going back to work. However, something definitely changed. Like PP, I couldn't leave my child for 40+ hours a week and have him raised like I want him to be. We lived in a higher cost of living area in the Twin Cities so there was no way I would be able to stay home. About a week after H was born my husband received a job offer from a different engineering firm about 40 miles from his home town. So when H was 2 months old we moved to a hobby farm in DH's hometown and I have been home ever since. We want 4 kids pretty close together so I think I will be a SAHM for a while. I love that I can volunteer and be active in my community again with 4-H, FFA, church, etc. I love everything about it, but it is the hardest job I have ever had, and I've done a lot of manual labor!

kbl13

What does your daily schedule look like? B is up by 7:30. He eats, gets changed, then talks to me from his bouncy seat while I eat breakfast and check work emails. By 10 he is ready to get out, so we do a little tummy time and then he eats again. The rest of our day isn't so structured. He wants to eat every 2 hours, but I try to distract him by playing and make him wait 3. Naps are hard. He wants to nurse and be rocked to sleep, but wakes up within 15 minutes of when I lay him down (When this happens, i put in him the ktan and bounce while standing and working)The only exception is if we go somewhere in the car... Then he'll nap for 2 hours!

What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home? I love taking him for walks when the weather cooperates. Otherwise it's tummy time, play mat (kick&play piano gym), books, looking in the mirror, singing songs, etc.

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so? My mom stayed home with me and my siblings, so I've always wanted the same for my kids. BUT, I worked too hard to give up my career so easily. when this WAH opportunity came up 2 years ago (even before we were TTC) I accepted it immediately. I thought i would go back to the office once the kid(s?) were in school, but now im not sure. i love the flexibility of my job and will probably continue to WAH as long as the opportunity exists. 

SurpriseAt39

jLeigh0709:

For those of you who SAH or WAH: What does your daily schedule look like? - a bit of fluctuation lately, but usually start the day around 9. I get to eat while N watches, then he eats, we play or shower (if he's not fussy).  He eats approximately every 2 hours and naps vary on a 4 day cycle.  Lately he naps best in my arms, or not at all.  

 What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home? - N plays in the Exersaucer/Baby Einstein bouncer or play mat on his back at home. We sing, dance, snuggle at home. Hubby and I shower with N once a week. He will also bath with me once a week where he gets to swim.  While out, we visit grandparents, get groceries and shop. He loves the vibration of the shopping cart wheels and hates to be kept still. 

(and he HATES tummy time except on me, or a couple minutes a day on the change table) 

If you have any questions, ask away. Or share tips you may find helpful or vent if you need to! - vent...MIL knows I'm allergic to perfume and scented stuff, but loads it on anyway (to hide the cigarette smoky smell), I'm not sure, but I think it may be affecting N as well since he is frequently cranky after a visit with her. 

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so?

- SAH currently. I live in Ontario, Canada and maternity leave is 1 year. I finished work in September last year, N was born Nov 29. I plan to EBF for 1 year, so I will likely extend that 1 year. But I may actually end up being off for 1.5 years since my job is not conducive to pumping...I mean, I could do it, but it would be very, very inconvenient.   I wouldn't want someone else regularly caring for N at this age.   I enjoy the cuddles, babbling and counting the days.  

credcat7

What does your daily schedule look like? shes up at 6 most mornings, we either get up and eat or she will  come cuddle in bed for an hour or so from 9ish to 10:30 we try to play, keep her entertained and do some floor time then she will nap and we just keep doing this cycle for the day till 8ish she gets sleepy and we put her in her RnP

What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home? Outside we have only started storytime at the library or walks in stroller, in home is floor time on mat, lap time, a book... she loves to stand so lots of face to face chatter

If you have any questions, ask away. Or share tips you may find helpful or vent if you need to! do SAHM have spending budgets... have you joined any memberships (zoo or such) ?

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so?It was unplanned, my job ended while I was on leave and now we found our my UI is going to pay more than we thought so until I can get a job that pays more than 2x UI we decided it makes more sense to stay home with LO

BabyMakes 3

katiemay8979:

What does your daily schedule look like?

Benjamin does a MOTN feeding at 4 or 5. Then goes back down until 6:30 or 7:30. I change him, feed him, and play for awhile in bed. Then he naps in his swing for anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. Yes, he LOVES his swing. But this is definitely his longest nap of the day. So usually around 11 or 12 we eat and play on the floor, tummy time, sit outside, etc. And if I am going to go somewhere, which I try to do at least every other day, this is the time we leave. Sometimes we go to the mall, grocery store, friends house, or to have lunch with DH. Then DH is home at 4:30. Usually he takes him immediately. We eat again in the afternoon and then evening feeding followed by his last feeding at 8:30. DH changes him about 8 and puts lotion on and talks to him for awhile. Then he eats and DH takes him and rocks him and reads. DS is down by 9 or 9:30. Then mamma has her glass of wine, or two

What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home?

Singing a lot, dancing a lot, tummy time and floor time. We go to the mall once a week. I have a friend that I visit once a week for an afternoon. We have lunch with DH once a week usually also. Other than that, there is the occasional trip to the grocery store, target, etc. I would like to go to the park one day this week and hang out on a blanket for a little bit since the weather is so nice.

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so?

Every woman in my family was a SAHM and it was what I always wanted. It may sound old-school, but I always said that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. I did go to college and have a Bachelors in Human Development. But I didn't do much with it and ended up in an Ortho office working in Registration. BORING! DH and I put off having our LO until we could do it without me working and finally we had an amazing change in our lives that allowed us to do it. We would like to have 3 or 4 children and I plan to be home from here on out. 

persephonerose

When we saw the Pedi today he recommended I try to do the EASY method again. D has doubled his birth weight, he was 8lbs at birth and is now 16lbs 8oz. And the pedi says he is showing more signs of being ready now than when we attempted it at 2 months. Anyone using the EASY Method? Any advice?

Our activities include: Singing and dancing,Itsy bitsy spider and the hokey pokey. Reading books, tummy time, sitting up, quiet time either in the swing or under the mobile in the crib.  When the weather is nice we go for walks in the stroller with the dog and DH. We also do Sunday trips to GiGi's.

Vent: I am having a hard time finding a good balance between being Mom, wife, housekeeper, and cook. I loved to do craft projects and there is so much I want to do and make for D but I just can't seem to find any time. 

I originally stayed at home because of my health, we were told I should not/could not get pregnant because of my medications.  But we really wanted a child, or three. I have no plans to return to work outside the home. I have a few more classes to finish for my degree and then will take a position moderating online classes. Which is a work from home job, so I can pay off my student loans.

 

 

doggiemom4

What does your daily schedule look like? 

We get up about 7-830, eat, tummy time/sit up against mommy time/grasping game with toys, nap (20-45min), eat, talk time and/or grasping game, nap (45min-2hr), eat, play time (includes: laying on the floor and kicking legs, stretching him, grasping game, visit with the dog), bath, eat, bed for the night 

What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home? 

Home activities are mentioned above and outside activities include going to the mailbox with the dog or walking around the yard while we watch the dog go potty or run around like a nut job.

If you have any questions, ask away. Or share tips you may find helpful or vent if you need to! 

I've sleep-trained him already. He has been STTN for about 2 months now. I don't believe in the 4 month wakeful phase. 

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so?

My DH and I decided we don't want someone else to raise our kid in a daycare and luckily DH has a great job that allows me to be able to be a SAHM. I will be a SAHM forever.  

doggiemom4

 What do you feel is expected of you as a SAHM?

Raising my own kiddo.

Does DH expect you to get all the cooking and cleaning done or do you share that responsibility?

I try to keep the house picked up (i.e.:dog toys, kitchen cleaned, blankets folded, trash put away, baby stuff in order, laundry (washed and folded), happy baby). DH does his responsibilities on his days off which includes: pulling weeds, trash pick up outside, paying the bills. I try to have the house duties done, so DH doesn't have to worry about them.

What do you usually do with your "free time"?

In my free time, I clean/pick up, laundry, vacuum (where baby isn't napping) bump, catch up on my shows, restock baby items (diapers, wipes, whatnot), get stuff ready for dinner 

 

billybumbler

jLeigh0709:

For those of you who SAH or WAH:

What does your daily schedule look like?

A gets up around 8 to 8:30, DH entertains her while he gets ready for work and I sleep a couple of extra minutes. He leaves around 9:30, I get up and from then we play tummy time, toys, singing, she eats every 3 hours and naps whenever she wants. DH is usually home around 7, gives her a bath and then she eats and goes to sleep.

What types of games and activities do you do with LO at home or outside of the home?

I try to go out with her on the stroller every day, sometimes to the park or sometimes to do errands. At home she plays on her activity mat or bouncy chair, we talk a lot and she plays at grabbing toys.

If you have any questions, ask away. Or share tips you may find helpful or vent if you need to!

Bonus: Why did you decide to SAH or WAH? How long will you do so?
I'm on maternity leave for a little over 6 months. I've been working everyday since I was 17 so it's been quite an adaptation for me.