Reassure me I'm not depriving DD re: outside time

[Sfcmama]

Ok, so I'm a little hormonal which means I tend to beat myself up a bit... Ugh, mommy doubt sucks!

Anyways, I know in my soul I am an amazing mother and that DH is a fantastic father. DD is 10 months old, super engaging, signing and trying to pronounce words, learning to stand without holding on, super joyful most of the time, etc. We've also create a home that is safe for her to explore with stimulating "play" spaces in each room.

That being said, I sometimes feel guilty that shes not outdoors more often. In any given week, there are 2-3 days where she doesn't leave the house at all or maybe just for a quick walk/errand. Typically, these are days where I'm trying to meet a work deadline while DH is working out of the home. In other words, I'm so exhausted from squeezing work in during her naps that I just dont have the time or energy to go do an outing.

However, when we do go out, we regularly go to childrens museums, music time, aquarium, good toddler playgrounds, etc. That's one of the great parts about living in the city (but the price to pay for no backyard).

I guess my question is: how often does your toddler make it out of the house? How often do you attend child centered activities? What do mamas in cold weather do to keep their LOs active inside?

Thanks!
_/|\_

[cileag]

At her age, I totally wouldn't worry about it.  I think they are fine with a different room most of the time.  My daughter is 13.5 months now and I notice that if we don't get out of the house, she starts to get crabby in the afternoons, but that's a pretty new thing.  So, we do try to get out most days and just brave the cold.  I'm lucky there are TONS of playgroups, open gyms, indoor parks for me to get to and we live on a bus line, and within walking distance of the library so if we don't want to drive, we don't have to.

If I could still get away with not leaving more, I think I would, so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it.  A happy kid is a happy kid, no matter the environment.

[dislocator3972]

We live in Fairbanks, Alaska and find ourselves in the house more days than not.  When the temperature gets above -20* I try to make sure we go SOMEwhere, but when it's -20* or below, I'm not beating myself up about it.

Yes, that means that sometimes she's in the house for days, but we just stay busy in the kitchen, stay busy cleaning, and doing lots of exercise videos together.  Other mamas in my area do the same.  Exercise videos to feel less like a lump, and anything it takes to stay sharp.

If it's -20* or above, we go to the library and run around in the children's section, go to Barnes and Noble and play with the train table, go to the gym, go to the grocery store, go to church, go to playdates. . . you get the idea.  Basically we go anywhere we can.  If we had a mall, we would totally be walking around in the mall.  Just to let her move. 

It's weird to feel like I'm imprisoning my daughter for days at a time in her own house, but she doesn't seem to mind.  She wakes up every day with a fresh, happy face.

[Sfcmama]

Thanks, mamas!

Cileag - maybe I should be reserving some of my tricks for when she's older and MUST go outside ;0)

Dislocator - that really helps me alot! Just because we live in California and CAN go outside most days doesn't mean we HAVE to?! What would I be doing if I still lived on the East Coast?! probably not feeling as guilty ;0)

As I thought about it more, I realized my career as a therapist in foster care probably makes me a bit of an over-achiever in parenting.  After working with kids with so much severe abuse and neglect, I want to give my baby everything I can.  Guess I need to work on a balance of giving to myself as well!

On another (similar) note, I just today stumbled upon a new children's store in walking distance that has a great play space.  I realized avoiding the car was part of my dilemma so I'm happy to have another option withing strolling distance!