SAHM-- What does your day consist of? « Back to Group Discussions

[HawaiianBlesing]

I'm seriously considering not going back to work.  Right now DS is 6 weeks and I have no other children, so there's not a whole lot going on.  We snuggle and I watch him sleep and try to figure things out.  There is laundry and chores to do--of course.  I've been invited to a church play group once a week but have yet to attend and I attend a LLL meeting once a month.
 

Just curious what you mommas do to fill your days.  I'm so used to being on the go and working like crazy.  I'm loving not working and being able to spend time with our son but am afraid that I will get a little stir crazy once the house is clean and the chores are done.

This post isn't meant to sound condescending so sorry if it sounds that way. 

[SynEpona]

A couple weekly playgroups will help! Having something on your calendar makes things flow better.

Do you have any 'Early Years' type drop in centers? We have them here as a government funded thing, and they are for children birth - 6yrs. The parents stay, it's not a drop off & go do errands place. They have toys for all ages, and support systems for post partum depression, breastfeeding, early literacy, infant hearing, speech therapy etc. They also do 'circle time' each morning, which is fun for the babies to watch the bigger kids!

Do you have a hobby of any sort? I found that when I was first at home with just DS, I got a lot of time to work on my sewing, and that is when I really started doing more of it, to the point now that I sew nearly all DSs & DDs clothing. But that 'extra' time at home was was started it. A hobby that you can work at in little bits of time works best with a baby!

I try to schedule our days so we have one busy day, then one quiet day at home. It doesn't always work, but when it does, we're all happier. I also try to do all the errands that used to be evening/weekend ones, during the day. That way when DH gets home, he can help with kiddos while I get some time to myself, or we can do things all together.

Last idea -- check your local movie theatres for 'Stars & Strollers' or a similar program -- they play regular new movies, but with the volume a little lower, and the lights on a little, and have change tables at the back of the theatre, so you don't have to miss the movie to change a little one. They're mid-day, and a good time to see those 'chick flicks' your DH might not want to see! Plus, everyone there expectsthere to be babies, so a little fussing or BF'ng is totally expected.

[ursusarctos]

Wow, you sound so functional! Good for you! I have to say I am nowhere near as on top of things. Feeding and changing DD seems to pretty much take all my energy nowadays. I think slowly phasing in cooking, shopping, and cleaning will pretty much do it for me. I am very much a lazy introvert though so if I have extra time I am very happy reading something or going online. DH is also out of work right now though so I do have company during the days - which makes it easier to just hang out and not do stuff, actually.

[Baby_Cakes]

As your baby gets older you'll find there's a lot more to do!  Working around a  baby's nap schedule takes a lot of energy and effort, coordinating errands between them or during them if theres a lot of driving and your LO will nap in the car.  

For me, I'm still not quite back in the game 100% b/c of just being exhausted and everyone is trying to get used to the new routines... but I would say mostly my day consists of cleaning of some sort!!  LOL!  Dishes, laundry, diaper laundry, picking up after DD.  Sucks but right now, that's just how it is.  

I do throw in some sort of activity -- either a stroller walk or a walk to the park.  Since this is your first, you could just do a stroller walk, you and the baby, and that could take a good bit of your afternoon or so and give you some air.

The other bit (which I'm still working on) is running the errands.  Food shopping is a big one, making the meal lists, getting everything we need for the week, etc.  As of now b/c I'm just not really ready to go shopping with 2, I make the lists but DH does the shopping.

And making some meals.  Usually I do make dinner.  Odd nights DH makes dinner, but I still make sure we have everything and might prep if it's simple enough.

[SouthernStormy]

I'm new to the whole SAHM life, but so far this is what I do- (which isn't much)-

We'll wake up for good sometime around 8 or 9, lately she's awake until noon or later, so DH and I play with her, one of us fixes lunch, we clean up the apartment a little, I throw in a load of laundry. Once DH leaves for work at 2, the baby is usually ready for a nap so I get her to sleep, then I sleep for a bit- or either play on the computer. The rest of the night while she is sleeping I'm either trying to give the dogs some attention or doing things online (reading blogs, posting on here, etc). I really do hate how much time I spend on the computer but right now I don't drive and its so hot outside that I can't take the baby out for a walk.

Once DH leaves in a couple weeks, my "schedule" will be like this- (I know better than to try and get baby on any kind of schedule, but I've got to have a loose schedule so I stay busy and don't get depressed and/or go crazy). Once he leaves it should be cooling off some and hopefully I'll be mostly healed from my section and able to get out and exercise-

6:00ish- wakeup
6:00-8:00- feed baby, shower once she's back asleep and eat breakfast

Morning time- whenever she awakes walk the dogs, walk over to the grocery store to get whatever I need for meals for the day (I use to work there, so this is going to be my daily dose of seeing adults and talking to other adults), light chores/laundry, then fixing lunch.

Noon- early afternoon- hopefully the baby will be napping and I can have some craft time

Late afternoon- Exercising/going on a LONG walk with the dogs and the stroller. Once we get back, dinner time for me.

Evening- finishing up whatever I need to get done for the day, doing floor time/ reading to the baby (of course this will go on during parts of the day that she's awake and we're not doing other things as well), if baby is napping- more craft/computer time for mama.


After Christmas once I can drive again, we have lots to do in our town and I'm hoping to take her to a library story time, baby play groups, or something similar at least 2 or 3 days a week. I'm also planning on taking up a new hobby or two I can teach myself (maybe crocheting or knitting? or playing the guitar?)- I'm going to be alone pretty much 24/7 with the baby until she is a year old, so its really important I get out and do things with the baby so I keep myself sane.

[lisastrickland]

I remember sleeping lots and lots when I was a SAHM to only one child... how I miss thoes days...

I have 3 kids now. Between the oldest starting preschool, play dates, bible studies, parks and play places, we stay pretty busy. I do a load of laundry a day (well, actually 2 these days, one clothes and one diapers since we have 2 in diapers now), usually start it at breakfast and finish it at lunch/nap/quiet time. I pick up pretty much all day long so the house stays neat. I have taught the oldest to clean up one toy before he moves onto the next (not saying he can only have 1 toy at a time, but pick up the mess before you get out the blocks, etc)

I found that getting out of the house is the best thing for my sanity and for the kids attitudes. They get really cranky if we sit at home all day long. Even just going to the grocery store helps. That said, I still havent gone grocery shopping alone with the kids since Ella was born... lol. I need to go today, but Im waiting untill DH gets off of work, or I will shop when he is at work at the store next to his work so he can come if I need him.

[PoetryLover]

Wow, everyone seems to have it so together! 

Malachi is 19 months and Gabriel is 2 weeks. DH took 2 weeks off work and, strangely, I seem to do better when I'm alone with them for the day. I get a little more accomplished. I don't really have a schedule, though. I usually get up, start coffee, give DS1 breakfast, eat something myself and sit down at the computer for a bit. I follow Motivated Mom's Chore list very loosely, and usually do 1 load of regular laundry and 1 load of diapers (another one here with 2 in diapers) a day. I try to stay on top of the dishes and picking up toys, as well as get to whatever other chores that I can--without stressing too much.

We only have 1 car right now, so while I could do stroller walks, there aren't a lot of options for outings. I don't know other moms in the area, so I'm a little lonely for mama friends. Ideally, I'd work in a walk most days, as well as play time with the kids, maybe a messy art activity (which I love doing with little ones!) and reading to them. Right now Gabriel and I just snuggle a lot. :-) But Malachi is able to interact a lot more. I've found that he also does a lot better with structure (which I don't typically provide enough of). So I'm going to work on that.

I'm the type of person who will always need "me" time to read, write, exercise, get together with a friend, etc. When Gabriel's older, I'll probably go out once a week while DH cares for the children. Until then there is always nap time. :-) Also, as soon as we get 2 cars, I plan to get a family membership at the YMCA, where the kids will be taken care of while I work out and I will have an hour of me time.

A friend emailed the following poem to me, and I try to remember that it's better to spend time with my kids meeting their needs even if the house isn't spotless and even if changing diapers for and nursing two little ones is all I get done throughout the course of a day.

 Babies Don't Keep 

Mother, oh Mother, 

come shake out your cloth, 

empty the dustpan, 

poison the moth, 

hang out the washing 

and butter the bread, 

sew on a button and make up a bed. 

Where is the mother whose house 

is so shocking? 

She's up in the nursery, 

blissfully rocking. 

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little 

Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo). 

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due 

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo). 

The shopping's not done 

and there's nothing for stew 

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo 

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo. 

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue? 

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo). 

The cleaning and scrubbing 

will wait till tomorrow, 

for Children grow up, 

as I've learned to my sorrow. 

So quiet down, cobwebs. 

Dust go to sleep. 

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep...... 

~Author Unknown ~

[kylaskye]

PL that is such a cute poem. Thanks for sharing.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by PoetryLover 

So quiet down, cobwebs. 

Dust go to sleep. 

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep...... 

~Author Unknown ~

I quote this is my mind 100 times a day!!  Honestly, it makes me feel better when my house is a mess but my kids are happy.

[nald1]

Originally Posted by PoetryLover 

Wow, everyone seems to have it so together! 

Malachi is 19 months and Gabriel is 2 weeks. DH took 2 weeks off work and, strangely, I seem to do better when I'm alone with them for the day. I get a little more accomplished. I don't really have a schedule, though. I usually get up, start coffee, give DS1 breakfast, eat something myself and sit down at the computer for a bit. I follow Motivated Mom's Chore list very loosely, and usually do 1 load of regular laundry and 1 load of diapers (another one here with 2 in diapers) a day. I try to stay on top of the dishes and picking up toys, as well as get to whatever other chores that I can--without stressing too much.

We only have 1 car right now, so while I could do stroller walks, there aren't a lot of options for outings. I don't know other moms in the area, so I'm a little lonely for mama friends. Ideally, I'd work in a walk most days, as well as play time with the kids, maybe a messy art activity (which I love doing with little ones!) and reading to them. Right now Gabriel and I just snuggle a lot. :-) But Malachi is able to interact a lot more. I've found that he also does a lot better with structure (which I don't typically provide enough of). So I'm going to work on that.

I'm the type of person who will always need "me" time to read, write, exercise, get together with a friend, etc. When Gabriel's older, I'll probably go out once a week while DH cares for the children. Until then there is always nap time. :-) Also, as soon as we get 2 cars, I plan to get a family membership at the YMCA, where the kids will be taken care of while I work out and I will have an hour of me time.

A friend emailed the following poem to me, and I try to remember that it's better to spend time with my kids meeting their needs even if the house isn't spotless and even if changing diapers for and nursing two little ones is all I get done throughout the course of a day.

 Babies Don't Keep 

Mother, oh Mother, 

come shake out your cloth, 

empty the dustpan, 

poison the moth, 

hang out the washing 

and butter the bread, 

sew on a button and make up a bed. 

Where is the mother whose house 

is so shocking? 

She's up in the nursery, 

blissfully rocking. 

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little 

Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo). 

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due 

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo). 

The shopping's not done 

and there's nothing for stew 

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo 

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo. 

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue? 

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo). 

The cleaning and scrubbing 

will wait till tomorrow, 

for Children grow up, 

as I've learned to my sorrow. 

So quiet down, cobwebs. 

Dust go to sleep. 

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep...... 

~Author Unknown ~

LOVING IT!!!!!!!

[Beckily]

We get up sometime between 10 and 1. Often just for me to go to the recliner to sleep some more while he eats and such :)

Annd.. Really, we spend most of the day in the recliner. He's awake more, so we get to play more, so that will change!

I do dishes, clean up a room (I suddenly have energy!), wash laundry. Every other day I get a shower, and the others I get a bath with Charlie.

We go to sleep between 1 and 3a. Repeat. Once a week we go to the chiropractor. My mom comes over frequently. We go shopping as a family. We'll do more as he gets older :)

[nald1]

Im jealous every time I read that you get up between 10 and 11- i couldve slept forever today - but a 4 yr old can only wait so long for a mumma to be up - if only SHE had slept in like her brother, when i only had one!  ENJOY your "lazy" moments - I wish I had been as relaxed as you sound as a first time mom :)

[jillybeans]

Oh lordy mamas, enjoy it while it lasts!

Our routine (with the constant nursing/diaper changes not added....lol)
6:10am..dh wakes reed and I up. The girls' are up by then and are dressed, sitting at the table to eat (LOVE my dh for this!)
6:40am...I'm awake, drinking first cup of coffee. If I'm lucky, Reed is still asleep. I start the girls' hair routine (good god, three girls is a major PITA!) and try to grab a bite to eat
7:10am...remind dd1 and dd2 to get backpacks ready (tues-thurs) or just dd1 (mon, fri) and shoes on. Feed baby, change dd3.
7:30am...get ready for out the door....buckle all kids into car
7:40,am...rush girls' to school
8:05am...home, and unload younger three (on mon/fri) or younger two
from 8:30ish to 9:45ish...playtime. Try to eat something that I didn't get to earlier. Drink some more coffee, check email/FB, etc.
9:45...dd3 to nap, nurse baby usually. I also try to throw in some laundry, fold a load or two & put away, do dishes, work on something crafty.
11:30am, start lunch routine
12:10am: get kids buckled into car, run and get dd2 from preschool (tues-thur)
12:45: feed dd2 snack, put kids down for nap (unless it's tues, then dd2 has her speech therapist come over for an hour)
1pm-3pm is usually BLISSFULLY quiet! I usually get more laundry/crafty stuff done.
3pm...go get dd1 from school, go to PO box for mail
3:15pm: feed kids snack, ask dd1 about her day (which involves tears and hugs lately...stupid bully)
4pm: dh is HOME! He usually will spend an hour vegging with the kids'
5-7pm: eat dinner somewhere in there, work out in the yard, go on a walk
7pm: bedtime routine. Even with two of us OMFG it takes forever, usually with extreme fits.
8pm: it's quiet. Dh and I usually need an hour to be alone after the last few hours lol.
9-10pm: Pinterest/TV/crafty time!
10-11pm: snuggle in bed with dh and baby time...love love this!
11pm...bedtime.

And that doesn't include if I have to run to town (30min one way) for appts or groceries. And on a "normal" day, I buckle and unbuckle 2-4 car seats SIX times. On a "town day"....much more than that.

And we start fostering again next month.

[egmaranian]

Um, you are seriously my hero.

I don't have access to the smileys on my phone...insert jaw drop here!

I think you and Peony might be neck and neck on the kid shuffle.

Originally Posted by jillybeans 

Oh lordy mamas, enjoy it while it lasts!

Our routine (with the constant nursing/diaper changes not added....lol)
6:10am..dh wakes reed and I up. The girls' are up by then and are dressed, sitting at the table to eat (LOVE my dh for this!)
6:40am...I'm awake, drinking first cup of coffee. If I'm lucky, Reed is still asleep. I start the girls' hair routine (good god, three girls is a major PITA!) and try to grab a bite to eat
7:10am...remind dd1 and dd2 to get backpacks ready (tues-thurs) or just dd1 (mon, fri) and shoes on. Feed baby, change dd3.
7:30am...get ready for out the door....buckle all kids into car
7:40,am...rush girls' to school
8:05am...home, and unload younger three (on mon/fri) or younger two
from 8:30ish to 9:45ish...playtime. Try to eat something that I didn't get to earlier. Drink some more coffee, check email/FB, etc.
9:45...dd3 to nap, nurse baby usually. I also try to throw in some laundry, fold a load or two & put away, do dishes, work on something crafty.
11:30am, start lunch routine
12:10am: get kids buckled into car, run and get dd2 from preschool (tues-thur)
12:45: feed dd2 snack, put kids down for nap (unless it's tues, then dd2 has her speech therapist come over for an hour)
1pm-3pm is usually BLISSFULLY quiet! I usually get more laundry/crafty stuff done.
3pm...go get dd1 from school, go to PO box for mail
3:15pm: feed kids snack, ask dd1 about her day (which involves tears and hugs lately...stupid bully)
4pm: dh is HOME! He usually will spend an hour vegging with the kids'
5-7pm: eat dinner somewhere in there, work out in the yard, go on a walk
7pm: bedtime routine. Even with two of us OMFG it takes forever, usually with extreme fits.
8pm: it's quiet. Dh and I usually need an hour to be alone after the last few hours lol.
9-10pm: Pinterest/TV/crafty time!
10-11pm: snuggle in bed with dh and baby time...love love this!
11pm...bedtime.

And that doesn't include if I have to run to town (30min one way) for appts or groceries. And on a "normal" day, I buckle and unbuckle 2-4 car seats SIX times. On a "town day"....much more than that.

And we start fostering again next month.

---
- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Baby_Cakes]

Jill -   how do you keep your head screwed on!?  OMG you are supermom!!  

[nald1]

Originally Posted by jillybeans 

Oh lordy mamas, enjoy it while it lasts!

Our routine (with the constant nursing/diaper changes not added....lol)
6:10am..dh wakes reed and I up. The girls' are up by then and are dressed, sitting at the table to eat (LOVE my dh for this!)
6:40am...I'm awake, drinking first cup of coffee. If I'm lucky, Reed is still asleep. I start the girls' hair routine (good god, three girls is a major PITA!) and try to grab a bite to eat
7:10am...remind dd1 and dd2 to get backpacks ready (tues-thurs) or just dd1 (mon, fri) and shoes on. Feed baby, change dd3.
7:30am...get ready for out the door....buckle all kids into car
7:40,am...rush girls' to school
8:05am...home, and unload younger three (on mon/fri) or younger two
from 8:30ish to 9:45ish...playtime. Try to eat something that I didn't get to earlier. Drink some more coffee, check email/FB, etc.
9:45...dd3 to nap, nurse baby usually. I also try to throw in some laundry, fold a load or two & put away, do dishes, work on something crafty.
11:30am, start lunch routine
12:10am: get kids buckled into car, run and get dd2 from preschool (tues-thur)
12:45: feed dd2 snack, put kids down for nap (unless it's tues, then dd2 has her speech therapist come over for an hour)
1pm-3pm is usually BLISSFULLY quiet! I usually get more laundry/crafty stuff done.
3pm...go get dd1 from school, go to PO box for mail
3:15pm: feed kids snack, ask dd1 about her day (which involves tears and hugs lately...stupid bully)
4pm: dh is HOME! He usually will spend an hour vegging with the kids'
5-7pm: eat dinner somewhere in there, work out in the yard, go on a walk
7pm: bedtime routine. Even with two of us OMFG it takes forever, usually with extreme fits.
8pm: it's quiet. Dh and I usually need an hour to be alone after the last few hours lol.
9-10pm: Pinterest/TV/crafty time!
10-11pm: snuggle in bed with dh and baby time...love love this!
11pm...bedtime.

And that doesn't include if I have to run to town (30min one way) for appts or groceries. And on a "normal" day, I buckle and unbuckle 2-4 car seats SIX times. On a "town day"....much more than that.

And we start fostering again next month.

holy moly - i will think of you as i get my ONE DD to preschool and home with ONE crying infant i the car.  YIKES - do you get SLEEP!?!!? 

[jillybeans]

Yes I sleep! Happy baby=good sleep.

And I'm not super....just crazy. Honestly, I get into less trouble by keeping myself busy.

[bobbinbopbop]

not sure where you are located but our library system does a baby story time here you bring baby and they tell stories and sing songs. Just another thing to consider looking into! 

My day right now is still fairly calm. Baby is still eating on demand so I work around the house between her naps. (which are not very many during the day) I typically do the dishes, and try to do one little thing for myself each day. Weather that be working on or completing a craft project, or putting on makeup, or doing something with my hair. I usually do a load of laundry, (I rotate between a load of my clothing, my hubby's clothing, or the baby's. 
We aren't doing a routine for real till she's 2 months old. But right now I am trying to add a little structure to our day. Getting up with hubby at least twice a week so I have the car during the day to do groceries and errands, and staying out of the bedroom unless for a nap or bedtime. BRighter lights in the house during the day, and dim at night. That sort of thing. 

When baby is a bit more regular with eating and sleeping, I plan to do more housework during one nap and sleep during the other. If I have to wear her in between to get things done then so be it. :) 

[Beckily]

I enjoy reading this. I really don't notice the things you guys seem to notice - like number and duration of naps.

Probably because Dusty and I don't have any real kind of schedule so I'm not very attentive to them. I'm sure we'll start to get one because children like them :)

[bobbinbopbop]

Originally Posted by Beckily 

I enjoy reading this. I really don't notice the things you guys seem to notice - like number and duration of naps.

Probably because Dusty and I don't have any real kind of schedule so I'm not very attentive to them. I'm sure we'll start to get one because children like them :)

I wouldn't notice at all but I use an app on my phone o track diapers and feedings and just sort of know when naps are. Night time her feedings don't change much and haven't since birth but she's dropped a few on her own. We'll see if that lasts or not though. It's more so i know if shes had enough feeds a day, and not to many poops compared to feeds.