Mental Stimulation - Page 2

[goldenwillow]

Originally Posted by SaRaiMelting 

I know how you feel...

I was working part-time at a yoga studio front desk and then right after me and my husband got married we found out i was pregnant. 2 weeks later I was hit with the WORST morning sickness EVER. I was puking all the time. So hubby said just quit and enjoy this special time, unwind from all the wedding stress and forget about having to wake up at 5am to get to the studio. I love him! The morning sickness lasted all the way up to my 18th week so im glad i had the option to leave my job. 

But now 27weeks later Im bored out of my mind!!! Which is causing me to become a bit depressed. Which is NOT good for baby.

I try to fill my time with sewing cloth diapers, practicing some pre-natal yoga and reading. Occasionally I'll get motivated enough to get ready and head to pikes place, or the library via transit system ( no car  ) and just wander around. Thanks to an idea on this thread I just requested to join a local natural parenting meetup group so hopefully that will help me cope a bit.

Staying at home is not all its cracked up to be thats for sure. lol 

If you are in Seattle...  here are a few great links for things to do... you may be aware of them already.  If you are over your morning sickness... I would get a part time position to kill time or maybe volunteer somewhere to pass more time.  I worked until 2 days prior to DS birth just to keep my mind going and to not obsess on his arrival.   

http://www.seattleholisticcenter.com/

http://www.momsalive.com/

[MrsBone]

I am a part of a church, where I help lead singing. All day saturday is mostly about church. I practice in the morning, and have to be back at church at 4 to pratice some more. Church starts at 5..goes till about 7. DS goes to bed at around 8, so I get a lot of time with out my kiddo on Sat. Granted, where we practice, there's about 5 kids running around, but they're not mine, so it doesn't bother me. DH has the kiddo all day(when he's not working on Sat). During the week I don't have a lot of me/adult time, but I am a part of a big playgroup(30 moms) and DS and I get out about 3 times a week with them. In the evening on Thursday I have bible study. Last week I got our son down for bed, then left for bible study, and had 3 1/2-4 glorious hours with adults/alone in the car. I even stopped at CVS on the way home to get some medicine for DS, but just looked around too :) Yeah, I didn't get home till 11:30, but that was my time for me. So yeah, you kinda just have to make that kind of stuff happen for yourself. I often feel guilty for wanting adult/alone time because DH works 50-70 hours a week and is gone a lot, so when he's home I feel like I should be spending every moment with him and our son, but unfortunately, carving out some time alone is just as important. It's also really hard to have alone time, time to go out and do something by yourself when you have a young baby. I've found that now that DS is 2, and doesn't need me all the time (for nursing) it's been alot easier for me to be gone for awhile, knowing he's in good hands with whoever he's with. Oh, I also forgot to mention I work 1 day a week in liquor promotions. I hand out samples at a liquor store, for about 3 hours. It's a nice break! I'm pregnant with # 2 though, so I'm sure things will change/be more hectic when the next babe arrives. I won't expect to have as much "me" time as I do right now when I have a young baby. I figure they're only babies once, and that it's important for me to be there for them. I will still plan on "me" or "dh and me" time but I know it just won't happen as often as it does now.

[jellybeanmumma]

Originally Posted by SaRaiMelting 

I know how you feel...

I was working part-time at a yoga studio front desk and then right after me and my husband got married we found out i was pregnant. 2 weeks later I was hit with the WORST morning sickness EVER. I was puking all the time. So hubby said just quit and enjoy this special time, unwind from all the wedding stress and forget about having to wake up at 5am to get to the studio. I love him! The morning sickness lasted all the way up to my 18th week so im glad i had the option to leave my job. 

But now 27weeks later Im bored out of my mind!!! Which is causing me to become a bit depressed. Which is NOT good for baby.

I try to fill my time with sewing cloth diapers, practicing some pre-natal yoga and reading. Occasionally I'll get motivated enough to get ready and head to pikes place, or the library via transit system ( no car  ) and just wander around. Thanks to an idea on this thread I just requested to join a local natural parenting meetup group so hopefully that will help me cope a bit.

Staying at home is not all its cracked up to be thats for sure. lol 

Enjoy being bored! Enjoy sleeping when you please, finishing meals, cooking meals, finishing hot drinks, having a clean house, wearing clean clothes. Enjoy long solo showers. Reading books. Leaving the house alone. Enjoy silence. Enjoy doing a yoga practice with no one biting your toes, pulling your hair or trying to ride you like a pony! Enjoy puking without a toddler trying to put their head/hands in it. Sleep in, be lazy, be selfish. Stay up late and stargaze and enjoy being totally present and not having one hear listening for a wimper..

Because these simple pleasures might be but a memory soon....

[impaz0330]

This is a constant issue for me, I'm currently pregnant and not a mommy yet, but I have been working from home for several years.  Even then, some jobs don't really provide much of a mental challenge. I do read a lot, I also try to watch documentaries. Of course, there's plenty of stimuli online, but nothing beats face time with adults! Once a month, I meet up with a group of women for a girl's night.  We have wine and talk about adult subjects. Its a huge relief to be able to talk about anything and everything openly with them, no matter what. Also, I gossip a lot with my family and friends as horrible as it is to admit, but we all do it. I participate in local groups on Yahoo, they're a great help in finding out whats going in my area. I go to art fairs, the occasional play, movies, go out with girlfriends. Its not always as easy, some days I have nothing interesting to say because all I've done is cook and clean, but with a little creativity, there's always something new to do! There's definitely a lot of great options in this thread, I must say.

[neveryoumindthere]

I'm here with you guys. Staying at home with kids is defnitely not all rainbows and unicorns for me.  I love them to death, I want to spend lots of time with them, but there is a limit.  I'm not the type that just basks in their beauty 24/7.  I'm easily overstimulated and my stress levels shoot through the roof just from the sheer amounts of noise and visual clutter. 

Even though it seems I'd crave less stimulation, mental stimulation is always welcome.  I talk to whoever I can, whenever I can. I feel like I have to get my words out or I'll explode!

I also joined a homeschool group and we meet once a month which is awesome, but definitely not enough.  I go to the bookstore and talk to other moms there in the kids play area, or the library, or the early years center or any place where there are kids/moms. 

I also started a blog, and read and research a LOT.  I still need more IRL interaction but it's a lot better than it was several years back. Glad I'm not the only one!

[pammysue]

I have been a SAHM for two months now and am really struggling with this!

[Harmony08]

Oh I so know what you mean!

I try to get out with other moms as much as possible but there are so many more hours in the day and it gets long. 

[umsami]

This is my situation too--and it hasn't improved in the past 7 years. I thought about going back to work, but realistically, with 4 kids 7 and under, the child care costs would make it not worth it. Unfortunately, DH's job is such that his schedule is crazy--so I can't count on having free time on Sunday, for example. It's very frustrating.

[mommy212]

Anyone know a good way to find local playgroups? Is there a website for this? I really need to get out of the house, it makes me short tempered with my LO even when he's done nothing wrong

[Harmony08]

Originally Posted by mommy212 

Anyone know a good way to find local playgroups? Is there a website for this? I really need to get out of the house, it makes me short tempered with my LO even when he's done nothing wrong

You could try Meetup.com and you could go to the Holistic Moms Network and see if there is a chapter in your area.

[Sorilla]

Do you work out every day? Is it possible?