Favorite sanity-saving activities?

jhjocelyn · November 2014

I'm pretty new to this board, I intro'd and then vanished a few weeks ago...I should be back for a while now.

I've been SAH since DD was born, almost a year! I'm really not looking forward to the upcoming cold months though, I've been struggling with feeling isolated and that will only get worse once our walks and outside play are cut short.

I don't do playgroups at this time, DD is still under a year and with her CF we really want to protect her from those extra germs for as long as possible. Plus, it's cold and flu season... Yet, I need to protect my sanity, ssoo I'm kinda at a loss as to how to do both. Any ideas are welcome!

What are things you like to do to break up the week?

bhuffman · November 2014

My boys are 4 and 6, but when they were little, I used to put them in the car and drive till they fell asleep and then treat myself to Starbucks. Also, Girls Night Out really helped my sanity when my kiddos were super young and I felt like I needed a break.

alyshamarie007 · November 2014

Sometimes when the weather is bad, I go to the mall before the stores open and just push the stroller around. There are hardly any people there, except a few elderly power walkers. :P I also echo the coffee & drive routine...that has been a lifesaver when DS has had teething episodes and trouble sleeping. Most of the time I use nap time to get things done around the house, but sometimes it's nice just to take a bubble bath and/or read a good book w/coffee just to recharge my mind and give me some sanity.

jhjocelyn · November 2014

@curlingrocks, Thank you so much! Those are all great things I hadn't even considered. Last winter was a breeze with just enjoying being home and her mostly sleeping as a newborn... Now, it's a whole new ballgame! I plan to bump more, I tend to go through phases of lurking and then posting. I realized though that it really does help. I'm in northern maine, and spent freshman year of college in WI, our weather is actually very similar!

I really need to find a good friend or two with day time availability. In the last few months, my go-to people have taken on full time work.

There is my SIL and niece + nephew, but honestly, they are a handful and I kinda think they'd do more damage...

jhjocelyn · November 2014

OOPS!

Thanks to @bhuffman and@alyshamarie007 too! I wish we had stores and Starbucks nearby! I live fairly rural though and I get the gas guzzler so Dh can drive the commuter. I do go for drives and wander through walmart for no reason (w dd in her car seat and out of reach of sweet old ladies) when I'm really needing an escape. It's amazing what a change of scenery can do!

Spin313 · November 2014

One thing that will keep my DD entertained for a long time is "ducks in the pond." I fill the sink half way, give her rubber ducks, and throw a towel on the floor for the eventual splashes. She could play that every single day!

Guennie · November 2014

OP it's too bad we don't live in the same place, my daughter is turning one next week and we moved to a new state this year so I don't have friends or family here. Winter isn't terrible down here but with a busy bee getting into EVERYTHING I'm going to be looking for ways to stay sane too!

Edited because TB is having issues...

bridetobe9132013 · November 2014

I had my DD in May and struggled a lot with this. I have 2 close friends with kids and I try to see at least one of them once a week. Ill either go to their house or they come to mine. This helps me a lot! Also opening curtains to let in light, going grocery shopping, and story time at the library

mandymack · November 2014

Weather play such a huge factor in people feeling isolated and I can only imagine how hard it is for SAHMs! Where I live, our weather is mild year-round so even in the dead of winter we can be outside (I know how lucky I am!).

It's not helpful for those without these things but IF you have children's (or ANY) museums, indoor bounce houses, aquariums, etc. within a reasonable driving distance, I found them to be invaluable to join so we could go all year. Some times a big day-trip, just once a week or a few times each month really broke up the monotony of being a slave to meals and naps with young children.

We do a LOT of walking, riding balance bikes, riding our scooter, and being pulled around in a wagon around our neighborhood. For me, it's the same houses as we go around but for dig, it always seems brand new. He's 3.5yrs now.

It can get costly but I've also always enrolled my kids in mommy & me type classes: Gymboree, tumbling, Music Together, Lil Kicker's soccer class, Sluggers t-ball class, martial arts, pottery, ballet, etc., anything I could find to give us something to do and somewhere to go a few times each week to socialize with other families.

I'm also a member of our local health club/spa with excellent daycare and it's worth it's weight in gold! Two hours for $2/hr to workout, swim, or just sit in the women's hottub and read a book is probably MY #1 sanity-saver.

Even if the kids cried the whole time, I knew they were safe and I couldn't hear them so it never bothered me enough to not go.

I remember once when E was about 18months having an indoor ball pit. It was a baby pool filled with ball pit balls. She loved it!

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Favorite sanity-saving activities?

Re: Favorite sanity-saving activities?

eclaire 9.10.06 diggy 6.2.11

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