SAHM how long can you stay in without getting squirrley?

[anarchamama]

The temp is dropping here and we are staying home more and more as wrestling everyon einto their snowgear to go anywhere is just so daunting...... But I'm starting to realize that I start to feel crazzy after having not left the house for 48 hrs or so, and even then going to the park or grocery shopping while a nice change of scenery doesne't really charge my batteries.......Is it just me? How often do you need to go out to do anything and how often do you need to go out and do something adult or be by yourself? With ds1 I was working part time so I was out a few times a week, but now I'm realizing maybe I need to start going to the gym or something? What do you all do to stay centered?

[amamaslove]

By day three the walls start closing in! Even a trip to the grocery store on the third day would make me happy.
I can go quite a while without adult - out of the house time. I just don't have much oppurtunity to do so but I sure would love to do something once a week. More likely I get to do something by myself 1-2x per month.

[mimiharshe]

I can only do 24 hrs. There's only 1, maybe 2 days a week I stay home ( I get tons of cleaning done!) And we stay home Sundays as a family (other than church). Actually, the kids go crazy too. We are so used to going out...even if it's just to Whole Foods. We have playdates adn sometimes have them here and that counts I guess.

DH and I HAVE to have 1 date night a week and I try to have 1 girl's night/week, lately this has been every 2 wks or so.

That's what works for us.

[Mommabelle]

I have to tell you about this version of the Meyers-Briggs tests that I took at a Mom's group once. We all took the Meyers-Briggs test and the results were then taken in to account of our mothering style and what to do to maximize our mothering. I am the kind of person who gets "energized" by being with other people..so if I can at least get out and see some friends or go to the gym then I will actually accomplish more at home. There are others who are just the opposite. What I did was join a small womens gym and I went there 3-4 times a week for an hour..it was really fun and there were so many women there in the same shoes so we would work out and talk and that was like getting 2 for one!
I also joined a few Mom's groups. There is MOMS, MOPS, La Leche League etc...those are great starting places for finding people with some similar interest. I do not have to deal with snow gear! I imagine that would be difficult! I ended up meeting several other Mom's who knew other Mom's and we started our own Mom's group. Once every week or two (or three) someone would host a playgroup and we'd all get together for fun. It was great. Now my kids are in school..my 4 year old is still home half time...and so I'm starting over with making new aquaintences too.

[PumpkinSeeds]

I can go about 2 days without going out of the house. I get cabin fever so easily. Sometimes, going to the grocery store and doing errands is enough for me, other times I need to be out all day. We have some nice indoor playgrounds or museums with playgrounds that I can take the kids to so that they stay busy and out of my hair. Otherwise I try to make playdates or a trip to the library, zoo, anything to get out of the house. I get alone time for a couple of hours usually on saturdays when my husband busies himself with the kids and I can go out.

[hottmama]

I have got to leave the house every day, and my kids do too. One or more of us would be dead after 3 days cooped up. Even if it's just out to a coffee shop so we can get coffee and hot cocoa, and/or pick something up at the grocery or video store, we have to leave. My son plays soccer on Saturdays and we have playgroup on Wednesdays, so that's 2 days a week where I don't have to come up with anything.
I can't wait for winter to end.
Oh, and I have to go out by myself at least once a week now that my littlest is older. I go to the gym for an hour once or twice a week to lift weights, and I go out with "the ladies" on Tuesday nights, most weeks. I like to go out with just my oldest son once or twice a week, also. Even just grocery shopping, so we can get time together alone.

[dancingmama]

Wow, 3 days? 2 days? I don't think I've ever been inside all day since my oldest was 6 weeks old. I can't even begin to imagine a day with the two of them inside all day! We go out at least once (pre-nap), and oftentimes once more in the afternoon (though less so now that it's winter). How on earth do you guys do it? My kids get so antsy and so do I! I can't imagine what we'd be DOING all that time, with no change of scenery....

[Mizelenius]

How do you mamas with 2+ children, when one of them is a walking/grabbing/into everything toddler do it? How do you go out so often and not have a nervous breakdown? My youngest will not be worn anymore for any length of time, won't ride too long in anything-- she just wants to be DOWN, literally running. But, then there is the oldest who wants me to do what she wants to do! Even going to other people's houses is usually very hard, as all younger DD wants to do is climb stairs (and no one puts a gate up). I spend my whole time going up and down stairs or trying to distract her from it all-- I'd rather just stay home.

The sad thing is, by the time I can actually enjoy doing things with ALL the DC (like going to museums, parks, etc.) they will be in school full-time and I will be back to work. I so wish we could homeschool!

[PumpkinSeeds]

Well, for me 2 days would be the maximum if I had to do it. Sometimes, when the weather is really foul it can be a couple of days before we get out.

But normally we get out every single day too.

Originally Posted by dancingmama

Wow, 3 days? 2 days? How on earth do you guys do it?

[PumpkinSeeds]

When we go to the grocery store for example, we walk, or I walk and they ride their bikes. Even the 2yo can ride his bike to the grocery store. If they are particularly active, we take the long way round.

Originally Posted by Mizelenius

How do you mamas with 2+ children, when one of them is a walking/grabbing/into everything toddler do it?

[hottmama]

My oldest son is pretty easygoing and he doesn't mind me chasing my loony toddler around! When we go to friends houses I quickly put up breakables and then he's pretty much fine. If he goes up stairs, I'll go get him when he gets to the top unless he starts to come down himself. In stores he will ride in a cart for about 30 or 45 minutes. Outside I just keep him away from the street and let him run.

[Rainbowbird]

Originally Posted by dancingmama

Wow, 3 days? 2 days? I don't think I've ever been inside all day since my oldest was 6 weeks old. I can't even begin to imagine a day with the two of them inside all day! We go out at least once (pre-nap), and oftentimes once more in the afternoon (though less so now that it's winter). How on earth do you guys do it? My kids get so antsy and so do I! I can't imagine what we'd be DOING all that time, with no change of scenery....

I have to wonder the same thing! when my DS was younger, it was easier to stay indoors if we needed to. I prefer to get out but it was easy to entertain a toddler when he was the only one. Now that he is almost 4, with increasingly sophisticated tastes for adventure and entertainment, and a younger sister toddling around who he will torment for entertainment if cooped up--we MUST get out pretty much every single day. If the weather is nice, we might just play outdoors a lot if there is really nowhere to go that day. But usually we will go out in the a.m. to store, library, etc. and play outside in the afternoons if the weather is good.

We live in New England and thus far the weather has been pretty mild, which is so awesome. But soon it will be totally frigid on most days so we'll be indoors more. It's gonna be hard. Neither child naps anymore...they are up from 6:30 a.m to 7p.m.---it's a long day if we don't get out. Hopefully we'll have snow with mild days so we can play outside!

Oh, and in answer to a PP's question--it's no picnic taking the two of them out anymore. DS is like ALL over the place, doesn't want to stay with me, is in the begging stage for everything he sees in the store, etc. He's in a rough phase right now.

I do love taking them each out individually. They behave better and we enjoy the special time together. I try to do that once a week.

I totally need "me" time as often as possible. I go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week, try to get out with a friend or go shopping once a week. I love being with my kids but they are both at very demanding ages right now and with no naps there is no break til bedtime!!!