SAHMs....What do you do all day?

[Mom21]

I worked and went to school and raised a baby/toddler until about 5 years ago. I have Lupus and lost my job. So then I became a SAHM and homeschooled. Well last year at 3rd grade my dd went to school. I just enjoyed the "me" time. I did a few things. She is very active so all time outside of school is spent on activities.

So now what do I do????? I told my hubby the other day I think I had come to the end of the internet (as in the joke). My dd will be 4th grade. She has lots of afterschool activities that keep me running. Homework. I keep my house decent (I can't scrub with a toothbrush.... I leave that fanaticism to my mom.... ). I can't volunteer since my health isn't dependable. I don't like noise or children so rarely volunteer in my dd's classroom (please no flames---just stating the facts).

So what can I do with my time????? I am soooooooooooo bored, but health wise, can't really commit to anything. I can only watch so much tv. I used to be an avid reader and now with the Lupus and fibro seems my ability to concentrate is gone. also have sjogrens so my eyes are dry and not so good. I also used to love to do cross stitch. Now I can't see nor concentrate to count the stitches. Wow that is a depressing paragraph!!!!! Sounds as if I have one foot in the grave....not quite. I do have health issues, but am really just bored. And that doesn't help with depression. So give me ideas. What can I do once dd starts school this fall?

 

[AprilShowers]

Do you like to bake? How about visiting someone in a nursing home and bringing goodies every now and then.
Do you have other SAHM girlfriends? I did, and we used to have "Wednesday". It was like our sanity time. Every wednesday we met for coffee and sometimes did some scrapbooking. Now, most of us have gone back to work, but we ALL know what we mean when we say "I need a Wednesday!" We try to get together before work sometimes just to keep in touch. Our Wednesdays were very important to us.

sign up for a computer class, or a pottery class. Let them know ahead of time about your health. They will understand if you have to miss sometimes.

Start your christmas shopping early. That way you can avoid the mad rush in Nov. & Dec. If you get everything done ahead of time, if you're not feeling well in December, you won't feel bad taking a break cause everything is already done!

 

[disykat]

Volunteer work takes up a good deal of my time. (I also do some subbing, so work part time). There are volunteer things you can do that have a more flexible schedule. Maybe you can do the PTA newsletter, correct spelling tests for dd's teacher, make phone calls to shut ins, bake for events, etc.

Honestly, the weeks my schedule is clear I'm bored. However, the weeks I have one day of work and a few volunteer commitments added to my housework, errands, etc. -I feel busy and productive.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

When I was out of work for high risk pregnancy, I really got into puzzles. My mother in law picked up one for me at a yard sale and had no intention of ever putting it together. Then one day I started and got totally into it. Unfortunately, it was missing several pieces so that was irritating so I actually ended up buying a couple of new ones.

 

[EthansMom]

My DS is just starting Kindergarten and DD is only 2, so I'm still kept pretty busy with caring for the kids during the course of the day. Other than childcare, I clean, cook (mostly from scratch), run errands (groceries, clothes shopping, etc.), read books, tend to items outside (pull weeds), correspond/send packages to a family member serving in Iraq, do counted cross stitch, quilt, pay bills, and plan our vacations, to name a few things.

When both kids are in school, I may volunteer more and/or go back to college part-time.

 

[Stacerita]

Take a class or sign up for seminars. The community college here has one day cooking classes.

 

[jennobrn01]

Scrapbook!

It's relaxing, therapeutic, fun, and worthwhile! It's a great hobby for a SAHM.

 

[Barb D]

You could come clean MY house! I don't expect toothbrush perfection!

I'd love to be a SAHM. I'm so stressed out from work right now that it's not even funny, and somehow the house just never gets cleaned.

 

[scraptoons]

I study, preparing lessons and curriculm for our church rotation workshops and ladies classes.

That alone takes care of my intellectual needs...I never thought I would learn so much!

I also plan church ladies retreats, get togethers for moms, help with school events.

By the time I do all that and the chores, make phone calls, pay bills, run errands and spend time with the kids and help them with their homework, go to softball and soccer games and practices, there is very little time left for what I like to do for free time.

What do I do in free time?
Read, scrapbook, surf the internet, stroll at the park, shopping, swing on the porch swing at the family cabin, watch tv.

 

[SplshMtn99]

With regards to being an avid reader, but unable to now....how about books on tape instead. I'm not sure, but do libraries have these to check out?

I don't have any kids, but I'm home sort of by choice right now for the past 5 months. I do housework, bills, any phone calls, errands, shopping, research cheaper expenses or better investments, cook & freeze some, weed outside a bit (its a condo, so just a small flower garden), I like to decorate & re-decorate, scrapbooking (but I want to learn Photoshop Elements so I can do digital scrapbooking on the computer instead), play games online, DIS.

I April I picked up a VERY part time job where I do in-store demos (hand out samples). I pick when & where I want to work from their website. So I work about 5-7 days per MONTH.... 4-6 hr shifts. Just something to get me out of house really.

This schedule has left ALOT more time for just DH & I. We don't spend our weekends doing housework & errands anymore since I do that during the week. He gets the "me" time he needs. And we get our time too. We geocache together when we can. www. geocaching.com

Tonight, I saw a job ad that I sound perfect for & just 3 miles from home, but it's full time...and I wasn't really looking to go back to work yet. I'm so torn on applying. I'm really enjoying my time off....and not looking forward to returning to work if its at all like my last employer. Decisions decisions.

 

[DVCLiz]

Hi, fellow stitcher!!!! Honestly, I spend a lot of my time at home during the day doing needlepoint. I watch TV while I'm doing it, too, but sometimes I listen to a downloaded podcast of my favorite morning radio show while I'm stitching.

If you think it's a hobby you're at all interested in, see if you can manage a needlepoint project. there are lots of great lights and magnifiers on the market - plenty of old ladies with bad eyes stitch, and the market has caught up with them. If you choose a painted canvas, there's no counting - you're basically coloring with yarn.

I've made beautiful Christmas stockings for my family, Christmas tree ornaments, pillows for my den, etc. It's a great hobby for someone like me who has a lot of time during the day!!!

 

[Beca]

Well, my dd is 4...so, I am INSANELY busy with her!! I have only been a SAHM mom for a year, and friends call me all the time and say, "What do you do with your time?"

We are TRYING to completely remodel our home ourselves. Right now, we are trying to lay 2500 sq. feet of stone in our downstairs...then, we will get to start on the upstairs. I haven't even BEGUN to work on the landscaping!!

My dd is in preschool 3hrs a day, and goes to cheer, gymnastics (both classes and privates) and dance. DH teaches her piano, and I teach her voice (usually 2 times/wk). DH is also teaching her French and Spanish. If days are slow ( ), we go swimming or to a museum.

Also, in preparation for our trip this fall to France, I am doing my best to acquire "some" proficiency of the language.

My dh asked me the other day, "What are you going to do when she goes off to school all day?" My response....BREATHE!!!

Beca

 

[Bunchkin]

I have an almost 9 yr old and a 4 yr old.
So I'm still busy with the 4 yr old even though he will start pre-school this fall.

I keep busy not only with them, but with the obvious house chores and the like.

DH & I own our own business so I do have work & errands to do for that. But not everyday.

I am my DD's Girl Scout Brownie Leader and we have meetings in my home. My co-leader is a 1st grade teacher and is busy all the time, so I plan out all our meetings and activities and field trips. So that keeps me busy.
I'm also a Girl Scout Troop Consultant, helping new and existing troop leaders.
Girl Scouting can be time consuming to a point, if you let it. But it's lots of fun!!

I love to scrapbook, but never have the time. And there are too many trip pictures to sort through!!

I love to cook and bake. I even like cleaning! Call me crazy, I know!!

I love to plan parties and get togethers. I love to plan vacations!!! It's my OCD....planning!!

 

[va32h]

There are lots of social clubs for moms at home - I belong to one, and it's been lots of fun.

It's true that many of the moms will have babies or toddlers, but sometimes it is fun to be around little ones again, and be considered the font of wisdom because yours are so much older.

We have a book discussion group, scrapbooking club, sewing circle, gardening club, "coffee talk" - (which is basically meeting at Starbucks and gossiping about celebrities!), Mom Matinees (just going to the movies), and lunches out, sometimes fun stuff like taking a pottery class.

It's pretty informal, so if people have to cancel at the last minute, that's okay.

 

[robinb]

When your DD starts school you can arrange to volunteer once or twice a week. If you make it then great, if you don't then that's OK too.

I sell used books on Amazon.com. Not only does the shopping for books and posting of books keep me busy, but so does the packaging of books and cashing my checks from Amazon! It pays for all of our Disney trip.

Oh yeah ... I DIS too .

 

[T1130]

Eat bons bons of course!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I'd love to be a SAHM!

Do you like to talk on the phone? Many nursing homes have people who have NO COMPANY. You could call and talk to a few of these people. A simple phone call would make their day!

How about books on tape? They have some good ones out there.

HOw about puzzles?

HOw about gardening?

 

[goofy's friends]

I love my weekly lunch with friends. Brightens my whole week I like the class taking idea--I am working toward a degree, but a hobby-type class is a great alternative. I also volunteer for the school and know that it doesn't all have to be with the kids--there is a lot of "at home" work that they appreciate--phone calls, cutting, editing, etc.

Church activities take time also. Trip planning, Christmas planning/shopping, shopping for kids' needs and scrapbooking will all take my time this fall in addition to class, part-time job, coordinating workers in my home, etc. etc. etc. Exhausting, just thinking about it

 

[luvmy2sams]

I have a 7-year-old DD and a DS, who will turn 3 this Friday. Wouldn't trade being a SAHM for anything in the world.

After the daily chores are done ( ), I love just playing around with DS. We go to story time at the library during the week, and I've got several SAHM friends that I meet up with for playdates. Honestly, the dates are as much about the moms getting to chat as they are about the kids getting a different face to play with during the day.

DD takes dance and piano lessons, so there's some shuttling going on after school and 4 days a week during the summer. I try to volunteer at her school in any way that is needed, which recently has involved auditing the PTF accounts and reviewing the school policy manual for needed updates. I'm serving as PTF president next year, so that takes up quite a bit of my spare time.

I also lead a Friday morning Bible study at our church, which is a great outlet for lots of moms in the community. Other than that, I'm trying to catch up on scrapbooking...a great hobby!...and I love to read.

Seems that there aren't enough hours in the day sometimes.

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

I relate a LOT to your post. Well, actually I have 4 children and I'm still homeschooling.... but most of the rest is the same, just add in migraines and take out the eye issue. Because of my health I still have to sit and rest a lot, and yes I get bored, even with the 4 children around. I spend a lot of time online too, because TV bores me and it takes less mental processing than reading. Plus reading and children don't go togather, because I tend to ignore them. It is very easy to pause while online. Since you've been all over, I'm sure you've seen this page, right? http://www.schaft.com/endofit.html

BTW, it may sounds like I don't do much, but I put my energy into homeschooling my children and doing things with them. I can't do that and take care of the house because of my health. My husband and older children are helpful, we have a weekly housecleaner, and we get meals from www.suppersolutionsinc.com . It sounds like you are finding a way to do it all and give both your dd and your house the attention they deserve.

If I didn't have children at home during the day, I'd sign up at a fitness center. One with a pool would be ideal because of the low intensity. It would be GREAT for the fibro and lupus, and hopefully give you less of the bad days. I am very active as a leader in our homeschool support group. Most of what I do is done at home on my laptop and phone. Could you find something like that to interest you? What clubs are available locally or within your church, etc. If nothing interests you, start something. It could simply be an online support group as well. My "job" gives me a purpose, and keeps pushing me to do things I wouldn't otherwise. And I love that I am helping people since I can't help in the classes etc, just like you described.

I'd also probably go shopping way too much. And I think I'd learn how to knit before you'd catch me baking with my free time, lol!