Sahm??

[ls1222]

I have been a SAHM for 11 years now and my "baby" is going into 1st grade next week. I feel lost!! What did you do when your children all got into school. I have applied for a couple school jobs (monitors,techs,aides) but yet to hear anything. I really am not looking forward to all the kids in school, its been so long.

 

[bananiem]

I started having time for ME for a change! I still have the cleaning and grocery shopping and cooking to do, but I have time to read a book or do some scrapbooking. I spend time at their school volunteering. I've thought of volunteering my time elsewhere too.
I think we all deserve some time to re-charge and I do it while they're at school.

 

[RitaZ.]

All my kids are in school full-time, my youngest is in 2nd grade. I have been involved in my younger children's school doing volunteer work, but toward the end of last year, I started to get bored with it. So... I'm going back to school and I start next Monday. I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[tlgoblue]

I still stayed home but got involved in my kids schools. This is the first year in 15 years that I am ot active in my kids schools. I am looking for a job because I don't want to find myself in 3 short years with one in college and one on her way, with nothing to do. So, I'm planning my future without kids right now.

I have talked to my girlfriend about this, and she is just beside herself with anxiety over what to do with herself when her younges leaves for college in 3 years. She has been a SAHM forever and has been very active in her kisd schools. She has chaired fundraising events from k-12 years, been president of PTO/PTA in no less than 6 schools from elementary thru HS and in different states. She is a Football mom and band mom. She is one incredibly taltented lady and she is worried that she has no marketable skills! It's not really funny though. I feel bad for her, as she thinks she can only get a job as a cashier or something. The longer one stays at home, the harder it is to jump back into the workplace with a full compliment of confidence.

Get involved in your childs education. It will make a huge difference and you can use those skills as a springboard for future employment.

 

[Castlebound]

This will be my first year alone during the day. I did interview to be a preschool aid at school, but someone with more experience got the job. I thought about going back to work. That won't work for me because I have to be off when the kids are off. I will not work to pay for daycare. That is the reason I became a SAHM to begin with. I have thought about going back to school but so far I haven't felt a real urge to go.

So for this year I am volunteering more at the school during the day, and cutting back on attending the evening meetings for the different school groups. I still have to clean, shop, keep track of our expenses, and cook. I don't think that any of that really takes that much time. Who knows after this year I may be ready to go back to college. My main job still is and will be for several more years to be here for the kids.

 

[bubba's mom]

"baby" is going into 1st grade next week.......What did you do when your children all got into school.

DS starts 1st grade in 1 week and 6 days He and I are both so very excited (still at the age where he likes school!) Anyway, after being home the past 6.5 years (only worked part-time=2.5 days/wk--that 1/2 day a Saturday) I am getting back to work full time---5.5 to 6 days a week!!!! I have 2 part-time jobs and the one will allow me to be home when he gets off the bus (the other 2 days the neighbor girl will watch him for about 1/2 hour till DH gets home). I am so happy to be able to be back to work more and make much better/more money again! I can help contribute to the finances and start affording nicer luxuries again!!! First up, new car for DH! That's me tho....I can't sit home....I'll go nuts!

 

[Skatermom23]

Both my kids are in middle school. I "still" am a SAHM! My dh loves that I get all the stuff done during the week so that we can play on the weekends. I know when my two finally go off to college that will be time for me to travel with DH and just focus on us. We are really looking forward to that. By the way I have a college degree but have no intention to going back to work unless circumstances call for it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have a dd in 3rd and a dd who is a freshman high school.

I do need to do "something". I have not figured it out yet. You will be surprised that after all that time, you have earned it!

So yea....How about searching, pondering, deciding, catching-up, instead of lost?

 

[SleepyMom]

When my DD11 went off to KG (full days) I knew I would need something, so I started watching a friends baby 3 days a week. Since it was part-time I was still able to help at DD's school and have time to do errands etc... but the best part was I was home every day after school for my girls.

Well, DD is now going off to Middle School this year and I am still watching friend's family 3 days a week, only now their oldest is going into 1st grade and the 2 younger ones are 4 and going to pre-school. So next year I may be back in that same boat, only it will be the day-care kids I am sending off to KG

 

[Mama Twinkles]

I'm not speaking from experience here, but what about taking some classes in things that are totally new and fun, and that build your confidence? For example, you could study carpentry or sailing or writing or improv or a musical instrument. You could also join some groups such as a choir or a volunteer organization. You could even consider part-time self-employment at something you already enjoy. It is NEVER too late to find new interests and meaning and ways to give. This is also a rare opportunity to do something just because you enjoy it, or to try lots of things.

 

[JESW]

I am exactly in the same boat - youngest going off to first grade (8/30) and the first time in 11 years I will not have a child home. I am going to miss DD like crazy! In kindergarten she had fridays off and her and I would hang out, do whatever she wanted (zoo, mall. stay home) and often went out to lunch. It was such a special time....

I hope to start weight watchers and lose all this weight I've gained over the years...I want to exercise on a regular basis (I go to curves)...continue to take classes at the scrapbooking store...volunteer at DD's school (DSD is going in to 5th grade and the volunteering basically stops in 4th grade)..I also have a TON of projects around the house and in the yard. I see myself being quite busy!

I will also have two with homework now. DS10 has aspergers so that's a big job keeping up with him and his school work, IEP meetings, etc.

I will certainly NOT be bored!

Good luck to you in keeping yourself busy!

Jill