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XP from SAHM Serving up a side of Mommy guilt...help!

jeffnstefjeffnstef member
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months

Any advice or encouragement to help me stop feeling this way would be helpful...

 My LO is 9 1/2 months old and seems to be developing beautifully. Her doc has never had any concerns or anything about that. She also seems smart (her new "tricks" include looking at the microwave when I put a bottle in and getting excited when it dings and looking at the TV when she sees someone pick up a remote). 

My DH is a big reader and has been forever. He has read all these books that stated a baby needs tons and tons of playtime with you. Somewhere he came up with the figure of 3 hours. Also, he makes a huge deal if he finds out I left her on the floor with toys and PBS on while I do a few quick chores  Since I stay home, the pressure is on me to give as much one on one playtime as I can. I do the best I can, but staying home also means laundry, cleaning, cooking, paying bills..you know how it is. The list goes on and on. I end up feeling extremely guilty that I am doing her a huge disservice if I'm not spending every spare minute playing with her. I hardly ever read anymore, or watch movies, or go out with friends. How can I quit feeling so guilty and like a bad mom?
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Re: XP from SAHM Serving up a side of Mommy guilt...help!

  • unaveragejaneunaveragejane member
    Interaction with your baby is great, but so is letting them learn to play independently! I think both things are equally important in a baby's development. You want them to be stimulated, but you also don't want to overstimulate them or get them in a habi
                 

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  • aldavis78aldavis78 member

    I agree with PP. when I'm home all day with LO, I have to get all our house chores done too. I let him crawl around, explore an play independently a lot. I think that it's great for him. You are a great mom! It takes a lot bing a stay a home mommy.&nbs

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  • jeffnstefjeffnstef member
    Thanks! I appreciate the perspectives of other moms going through this age at the same time. When he is home, he spends too much time IMO entertaining here, so I'm concerned she won't want to play by herself. I do my best during the week to find a good ba
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  • MrsKM82MrsKM82 member
    imagewife07mom09:

    my thoughts:

     you have a baby, you don't get "me" time anymore, especially when they are so young.<

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  • thechickencoopthechickencoop member
    imageMrsKM82:
    imagewife07mom09:<
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  • Amanda2011Amanda2011 member

    Like pp have said you just have to balance things. A few mins of tv is not the end of the world. I'm sure you spend plenty of time playing w your lo. You are not a bad mom! If I could leave a room with out lo flipping out my house would be so much clea

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  • Meery82Meery82 member
    imageMrsKM82:
    imagewife07mom09:<
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  • freezorburnfreezorburn member
    imagewife07mom09:

    my thoughts:

     you have a baby, you don't get "me" time anymore, especially when they are so young.

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  • tjkdlhbtjkdlhb member

    balance!

    Try to do as much cleaning as you can when LO is sleeping, but it's also totally fine for LO to play on the floor when content to do so.  I believe it is good for them to have *some* time to themselves (supervised of course!). 




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  • nah82nah82 member
    Don't feel guilty for allowing your LO supervised free play time.  Babies need time to be able to explore their environments independently (without being directed what to do within reason) and free play helps develop creativity and independence.&nbsp
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  • jeffnstefjeffnstef member

    imagenamcgee:
    Don't feel guilty for allowing your LO supervised free play time.  Babies need time to be able to explore their
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  • shannmshannm member

    And I assume that your DH takes over for you on the weekends, LOL?

    Yes, it is great to play with your baby but she needs to learn to play independently too!  And you absolutely can combine chores and interaction.  For example, let her p

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  • jeffnstefjeffnstef member
    Yeah...we warm the water first in a cup and check it to make sure it's not too hot! :-) 
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  • nah82nah82 member
    imagejeffnstef:

    imagenamcgee:
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