Alternatives to TV for bored, lonely SAHM??

[LDSmomma]

I am a bored, lonely SAHM. We are a one car family, and DH is also in school, so he's gone for fourteen hours some days. The only real opportunities I have to leave the house is on weekends, as the area we live in isn't condusive to much foot travel, and the walk to the closest bus is a hike! (I did it two days ago, while wearing DS, and I'm still very sore!!)

Anyway, to pass the time and to feel less lonely, I watch a LOT of TV. I hate it! I just can't figure out anything else to do where I can easily give DS attention, too. I use the internet to connect with people to, but I usually do that while DS is sleeping. It's just so easy to have a show on in the background while DS has tummy time, or while nursing.

Tonight, however, I noticed DS was watching the TV! I don't want him to watch much TV, but I'm not sure how to "wean" myself from it. Ideas?

[kbond]

I went through a stage of Audio Books right when my daughter was born. Once I'd recovered from the c-section though, we did/do a lot of walking around. We go to the park, run errands, etc.

[zinemama]

Read books. I read all the time while nursing.

[Breeder]

Books, magazines, blogs, online newspapers. There are a lot of books you can read for free on Google books.

Get a new hobby: knitting, embroidery, drawing, baking, yoga, pilates, etc

Do you have a yard? I love working in the garden to fight boredom.

Talk on the phone. When I can't get ahold of a friend I'll call my mom, she's just as interested in talking about my kids as I am.

[Nikola's_Mommy]

I love to download podcasts onto my ipod and play them out loud while I nurse and play with dd.

[JessieBird]

All great suggestions! You'll be amazed at how much more you'll enjoy time with your baby when the tv is off and no longer sucking away half your brain (speaking from experience...).

I say go on that hike to the bus stop again, it'll seem shorter every time you do it and it'll lead to fun adventures with your baby. Skip the mall though (fun once but then just as vacuous as tv!) and instead go to museums, people watch in a coffee shop, or just walk around town - I'm finding it lots of fun to be a tourist in my own city now that I am on mat leave and am starting to see things from a child's perspective.

[mamazee]

I love crossword puzzles and sudoku. And I read books and magazines and online stuff.

It is not easy to be down to one car and a SAHM, and it must be particularly hard with those hours. Is the one-car thing permanent or temporary?

[twins+1]

I have a car, but with 2 toddlers (twins) potty training and a newborn, I rarely leave. I can really empathize with you on the loneliness and boredom. Maybe get some good music and play it during the day? Helps me to cheer up.

[LDSmomma]

Originally Posted by mamazee

It is not easy to be down to one car and a SAHM, and it must be particularly hard with those hours. Is the one-car thing permanent or temporary?

We have a big tax refund coming, and planned on getting DH a scooter/motorcycle with it, or maybe even a really cheap car, but the state is delaying the refund, and we can't figure out why.

Really, I'd rather keep just one car, because it's so much less expensive, no extra insurance, no extra gas. I was hoping it would be easier to get to the bus, but after walking there Monday, I almost died! I'm going to do it again next week, though, to go to a LLL meeting.

[Melaniee]

Can you drive your Dh a couple of times a week to give you the car while he's at work or school? Even if it's just a few hours while he's in a class that can give you and your little one a break out of the house.

[syn_ack89]

I like to listen to the radio - dance music to get my 2-yr-old moving, classical when we are mellow. NPR and talk radio are also alternatives.

[Cherry Alive]

Getting an indoor pet (ex- house bunny or house cat), creating an indoor garden, joining an online club, taking an online class, visiting the library (if possible), or getting into crafts and becoming an etsy seller.

[Cherry Alive]

Originally Posted by LDSmomma

We have a big tax refund coming, and planned on getting DH a scooter/motorcycle with it, or maybe even a really cheap car, but the state is delaying the refund, and we can't figure out why.

Really, I'd rather keep just one car, because it's so much less expensive, no extra insurance, no extra gas. I was hoping it would be easier to get to the bus, but after walking there Monday, I almost died! I'm going to do it again next week, though, to go to a LLL meeting.

Oooo... Maybe you could get a SmartCar.

Can you maybe use a bicycle?

[snuggly]

Some ideas: Perhaps some online courses with a Community College, mom/baby yoga, baby massage, the local park or school ground, volunteering at a senior home/nature center/other, write in a journal, and local baby activities (our hospital has a new moms group once and week and our library has a babies story time once a week- both free and fun!)

[Halfasianmomma]

Start a blog and post some pics of your life, family, home, etc etc. It'll get you taking pics of all sorts of stuff and writing about the events of your life.

Also, I did "The Artist's Way" years ago and LOVED it. It's a process that helps unearth your hidden inner artist. It was definitely time consuming and I could do it to classical or jazz music in the background. If you did this, you get to expose your LO to some nice music and rhythms all the while writing and discovering stuff about yourself (the book prompts you to do all sorts of fun activities as well).

[Lusa's Mom]

Kudos to those of you who can read with your LO. My DD is sure that paper is for eating. Any paper in her world.

We are BIG book on tape/cd/mp3 listeners. Also, there are lots of good free music stations online. Any genra you could want. Kiddy CDs are so fun too. We love to sing and dance and act them out.

We also like to do the web cam with grandparents & auntie. It helps feel connected when they can see DD often.

I feel for the isolation. I have to get out of the house every other day. DD likes it too. I think she gets bored being home all the time.

[PaigeC]

Originally Posted by Melaniee

Can you drive your Dh a couple of times a week to give you the car while he's at work or school? Even if it's just a few hours while he's in a class that can give you and your little one a break out of the house.

This is what my mom did with us.

However, I just wanted you to know that the TV is my background too and yes DD is mesmerized sometimes by the lights and colors. /shrug. Don't beat yourself up too much.

[GAjenn]

Drive him to school once a week and find a play group or storey time near you. I find if I have one day out of the house a week only for fun, it does wonders for my attitude.

Turn the TV off cold turkey! Make yourself a list of things to do, some for fun...some not so fun (I have to clean the floors today, yuk). Walking also makes me feel better.
Hang in there!

[LDSmomma]

Originally Posted by Cherry Alive

Oooo... Maybe you could get a SmartCar.

Can you maybe use a bicycle?

I've heard bad things about the crash test ratings for passengers in the smart car.

For biking around here, I could use a bike with a trailer, but I couldn't take the trailer on the bus with me. That's a thought though.

I thought one should wait to use a trailer until LOs are over a year, though. I'm going to look into it. That's a great idea!

[LDSmomma]

A lot of these ideas would be great if DS was older. How can these be accomplished with a 5 mth old?

I tried to read a magazine while nursing him a little while ago, and he just kept turning & arching around to see what I was doing. I can barely cook a meal for myself without him needing attention. I tried to make a phone call with DS in the jumperoo, and after just a few minutes, he was fussy, so I sat him in my lap with a toy, but he just wanted more attention than I could give while I was on the phone. I think he may have been tired, because after several rough minutes of fussiness, he finally nursed to sleep.

Anyway, I just don't know how to do something else with him awake.

I am going to try playing the radio more, as background noise, that's a great idea.