My brain is atrophying!

[gitanamama]

Ah! I feel like my brain is slowly wasting away from not being used. I run a small playschool so I'm around little ones all day, on top of being a full time mama to my 15 month old son. I can't remember the last time I read a whole article (let alone a book!) or had a conversation that wasn't centered around children or child raising. I have a college degree and have even considered attending graduate school and yet I find myself talking "toddler" all day. I love my job (most days!) but I'm looking for ways to keep my brain engaged and challenged. What do other SAHM do to keep the neurons firing?

[wehrli]

[crunchy_mommy]

Honestly, that's one of the reasons I spend large amounts of time online. Info, research, entertainment, etc. -- it's how I spend most of my down time... though it's a bit of an addiction, not purely a positive thing for me! Maybe we should all take up sudoku or start doing crosswords...

[Erin77]

I started writing articles for one of those content providers online! It makes me consider completely un-child-related topics and I feel bizarrely refreshed after I complete an article. (Also, it makes me a little cash!) I also take a dance class once a week, adults only, and most of the women don't have little kids so we never talk about them. It's awesome.

[OkiMom]

I make time to read.. honestly I would be miserable if I didn't get that time. Some days its only 5-10 minutes but its there. I would suggest trying to make the time to do it, its worth it and its a good stress relief.

[MsBirdie]

I read a huge amount.  Each day I take 1 hr to read at naptime when they were younger, now it is reading time for all who are home.  Also, at night I read instead of watching tv.  I also get tigether with other SAHMs and we make it a point not to talk about the kids when we r together. 

[gitanamama]

Thanks for all the great ideas ladies! I realized I need to make more of an effort to mentally challenge myself. Headed to the library to check out a book or two!

[redskynight]

I watch lectures from UCLA and other universities online while I'm feeding in the evenings. Its a bit more passive and lazy I suppose than reading but I've learnt SO much about heaps of different things, and its really helped influence my life desicions too.