Hey SAHMs

bellevuebride07 · May 2011

I'm officially a SAHM while I try to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Can you hit me with your best tips? I'm super nervous that I am going to be terrible at it. I have tried to make a daily schedule of sorts it just seems like a lot of time to fill.

Traycee1242 · May 2011

My biggest thing is we get out of the house at least once a day. Even if it's just to go to Target to look around or a quick trip to the library, we get out. I get really antsy (and so does he!) being at home all day and makes the days drag.

I try to get up at the same time every day... this way our schedules will be similar.. breakfast, lunch, naps, etc at the same time. Easier to plan our days!

We do Gymboree classes... zoo, aquarium, Otterville, Recreation outlet.. Joseph Beth has a really cute toddler storytime on M,W, & F at 10:30. Parks too...

I meet friends with their tots too so I can get some adult conversation it.. Sometimes we do it at someones house... sometimes meet for coffee, etc. It really helps.

Good Luck!

Ttimes3 · May 2011

I know I'm not a SAHM (except for Fridays); but I do have two little boys about the same age as your DC. That said, I've found it helps that my boys are, currently, on a nap schedule that cycles around each other.

W - naps from 12-2PM, then again from 4-5:30/6PM

J- naps from 2-4:30/5PM

That way, I (we - as DH will be home with them, all summer) get to spend a good amount of 1:1 time with them, throughout the day. Plus, it helps that W is napping as J is eating lunch. Also, W still falls asleep relatively easily in the stroller, so we are still able to get out and do things (like the zoo, aquarium, park, etc.) that interest J, before his nap. I do agree with Tracy, getting out of the house on a regular basis is important (as much for your sanity as for the boys' sake, if not more).

Moesten · May 2011

I didn't read anyone's responses so I apologize if this is redundant.

Schedule, schedule, schedule.

Get out of the house. Even if it's just errands or whatever. Get out.

Balance. You don't need to play with your kids 24/7. They can learn to self-entertain for a little while. Even young, young ones.

Learn to do things in small bits. You will only have little chunks of time to get things accomplished. Like 15 minute increments. So if you intended to dust the whole downstairs but only got the family room done, consider it a success.

Get out on your own periodically. Either at night for drinks or book club or whatever. Don't feel guilty for spending time by yourself.

Cut yourself some slack. Your house won't be as clean as you think it will. You won't be doing all the nifty crafts you think you will. You won't be cooking the gourmet meals you imagine you will. But that's okay.

KYmama9286 · May 2011

Moesten:
I didn't read anyone's responses so I apologize if this is redundant.
Schedule, schedule, schedule.
Get out of the house. Even if it's just errands or whatever. Get out.
Balance. You don't need to play with your kids 24/7. They can learn to self-entertain for a little while. Even young, young ones.
Learn to do things in small bits. You will only have little chunks of time to get things accomplished. Like 15 minute increments. So if you intended to dust the whole downstairs but only got the family room done, consider it a success.
Get out on your own periodically. Either at night for drinks or book club or whatever. Don't feel guilty for spending time by yourself.
Cut yourself some slack. Your house won't be as clean as you think it will. You won't be doing all the nifty crafts you think you will. You won't be cooking the gourmet meals you imagine you will. But that's okay.

All of this! Especially the last part-- I had a hard time in the beginning feeling like I was such a bad SAHM/wife b/c I thought that if I wasnt working I would have an immaculate house, dinner cooked from scratch each night and tons of fun outings for Nicholas.

I try and get about 1 chore done a day which I usually work on during nap time. We get out of the house everyday even if its only for 30 minutes it makes a HUGE difference.

The only thing that I am slightly different on than other SAHM's is that we dont really schedule. Between Nicholas' doctors appointments and other things like that we've found that it works best for us to be pretty flexible. Granted, most days we follow a basic routine but if something comes up that doesnt allow that (even if it is something like me planning a play date or outing that doesnt align with our daily routine) Nicholas tends to be fine. It's nice that we arent super scheduled because it allows us to be more flexible in doing things with other moms-- granted this might change once baby #2 gets here but so far its what works for us.

megan1019 · May 2011

skyllingstadl:
Moesten:
Cut yourself some slack. Your house won't be as clean as you think it will. You won't be doing all the nifty crafts you think you will. You won't be cooking the gourmet meals you imagine you will. But that's okay.
All of this! Especially the last part-- I had a hard time in the beginning feeling like I was such a bad SAHM/wife b/c I thought that if I wasnt working I would have an immaculate house, dinner cooked from scratch each night and tons of fun outings for Nicholas.
I try and get about 1 chore done a day which I usually work on during nap time. We get out of the house everyday even if its only for 30 minutes it makes a HUGE difference.
The only thing that I am slightly different on than other SAHM's is that we dont really schedule. Between Nicholas' doctors appointments and other things like that we've found that it works best for us to be pretty flexible. Granted, most days we follow a basic routine but if something comes up that doesnt allow that (even if it is something like me planning a play date or outing that doesnt align with our daily routine) Nicholas tends to be fine. It's nice that we arent super scheduled because it allows us to be more flexible in doing things with other moms-- granted this might change once baby #2 gets here but so far its what works for us.

TOTALLY AGREE!! I really thought I would have time to clean, have laundry always caught up, take dogs to the dog park, cook, grocery shop, lunch with other SAHM, etc.etc.

hahahahahahaha!!!

It's an adjustment...give yourself some time!! I'm still not on a regular schedule because Nolan is not on one. I agree with skyllingstadl we have a regular routine but not a full on schedule.

ping1080 · May 2011

I absolutely agree with all the previous posts. For us, it's really important to get out for a few hours, which usually happens to be between morning and late afternoon naps. We've also joined LIttle Gym once a week, go to story time at the library, play group on occasion. Just get out of the house.

I will admit that I'm still having trouble with the making some time for myself. I feel guilty for leaving DD. Still working on that one...GL!

linzpinz14 · May 2011

Well, I am stuck inside the house all day, as I do in-home childcare. But I have found that getting everyone on a routine is the best way to stay organized. Here is my schedule:

7:00 ? 7:45 Children arrive, free play

7:45 ? 8:15 ? Breakfast

8:15 ? 9:30 ? Free Play

9:30 ? 10:00 ? Art Activity

10:00 ? 10:30 ? Outside Play/Gross Motor Activity

10:30 ? 11:00 ? Educational TV Program (while lunch is prepared)

11:00 ? 11:15 ? Clean up / Wash up for lunch

11:15 ? 11:45 - Lunch

11:45 ? 12:00 ? Diaper changes

12:00 ? 12:30 ? Read Aloud

12:30 ? 3:00 ? Naptime/Quiet Play

3:00 ? 3:30 ? Wake-up from nap / Wash up for snack

3:30 ? 4:00 - Afternoon Snack

4:00 ? 5:00 ? Free Play

Obviously, it takes longer to do everything with 4 or 5 children than with 2, so prepping for lunch or clean up or diaper changes won't take as long. But I could see doing household tasks in 15 min increments during play time if I were a SAHM. I would also try to overlap naps. Right now my child who is 9 months old naps from 9:15 - 10:30 and then again from 1:30 - 3:30 so I do get some downtime (I get someone off the school bus at 2:30, but an hour is better than nothing!). But if I were SAH, I could see lots of benefits from the 1:1 with one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

And I try to leave the house with C at least 4 afternoons per week (after everyone is picked up at 5 and before we eat at 6:30). I would go nuts if I spent more than 2 days in a row without leaving the house! Good luck!

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