SAHMing w/o a car

1135 Views 26 Replies 19 Participants Last post by PeacefulSeams, Aug 17, 2006

ellesmama

Discussion Starter · Aug 9, 2006

We have one car which my dh takes to work everyday, so I am at home with my two dds and one extra one all day without a car. I will only be watching the other little girl for a couple weeks then its down to just me and my girls and I want to change our schedule up for the better. Right now, I cannot manage 2 two year olds on a walk (we have no sidewalks) safely so we mostly stay inside and I don't feel good about it at all. I know they need their exercise!!!

We need to get way more active and go out every single day.

SO, I am planning our new life and need some reassurance, that happy car-less SAHMing can be done.
I just want to hear from other moms who have lovely days without the use of a car.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

MamaTaraX

· #2 · Aug 9, 2006

Do you live somewhere with things in walking distance? If so, you're all set. If not...welcome to my world. We have no car. Neither DH nor I can drive. We live in the boonies. There are no sidewalks. The nearest things are about 10 minutes driving distance. It's aggrivating. Theo nly saving grace that we have is that we live on 7 acres of land. Lots of space, woods, a creek. we spend gobs of time outside,that's all we have to do. Best wishes to you!

Namaste, Tara

PumpkinSeeds

· #3 · Aug 9, 2006

I am a homeschooling sahm without a car, but I live in the city. Everything is either within walking distance or public transport is readily available.

If I lived in the suburbs, I think I'd need a car.

ellesmama

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 9, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaTaraX
Do you live somewhere with things in walking distance? If so, you're all set. If not...welcome to my world. We have no car. Neither DH nor I can drive. We live in the boonies. There are no sidewalks. The nearest things are about 10 minutes driving distance. It's aggrivating. Theo nly saving grace that we have is that we live on 7 acres of land. Lots of space, woods, a creek. we spend gobs of time outside,that's all we have to do. Best wishes to you!

Namaste, Tara

Yes, we live near a small strip mall, coffee shop, wal-mart

: , grocery store. However, I would rather be closer to a park or trail so that we could be in nature and get some exercise. The walk to the coffee shop, for instance, is short and requires hand-holding the whole time. I think I need some new ideas with what to do with the girls...

If you don't mind me asking, how does one live w/o a car at all, being a 10 minute drive from anything. Are you self-sustaining? What about groceries, household necessities, and jobs outside of the house? My dh has been obsessed with the idea of living w/o a car and so I would love to hear your input.

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ellesmama

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 10, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by PumpkinSeeds
I am a homeschooling sahm without a car, but I live in the city. Everything is either within walking distance or public transport is readily available.

If I lived in the suburbs, I think I'd need a car.

I plan to homeschool as well, so that is very good to know that someone else is already doing that without a car. Dh and I have been seriously considering moving to a city so that we could do without an extra car....

janerose

· #6 · Aug 10, 2006

We've only had one car for years. Even back before kids. Almost always lived in rural areas too, so while getting outside isn't usually a problem actually going somewhere (like the park or beach or store) can be.

My big advice is plan, plan, plan. How far away is your DP's job? Does he need the car during the day while at work? Is there anyway that once the little girl you're caring for it gone you could drive him into work once or twice a week and keep the car to yourself for the day? This is what I do with DH & it works really good. His office is only 10 minutes away though. I'll bring him still in my nightgown (with a coat or shirt thrown over the top) & DD still in her pj's lots of days. Then we go home and do our usual morning stuff.

Good luck!

Holly

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ellesmama

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 10, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by janerose

How far away is your DP's job? Does he need the car during the day while at work? Is there anyway that once the little girl you're caring for it gone you could drive him into work once or twice a week and keep the car to yourself for the day?

What a good idea!

DH's job is about 20 minutes away, I just talked to him and we agreed that this would work for us once a week. So, that's good- I'll plan my big outing of the week for that day.

Thanks for the idea!

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Mama Poot

· #8 · Aug 10, 2006

DH takes our only car to work, and come fall he will be gone from 7am to 11pm or later. Thankfully we live in a small town, and almost everything is within walking distance, and there are sidewalks, however treacherous they might be in some spots

We have a big backyard, and when I'm feeling really closed in I just take everyone outside. DS is only 1 and doesn't explore too far from Mama, and DS#2 just sleeps away in the sling. There are many times where I wish we had another car, but then I remember the expense and hassle of when we did have two cars and it just wasn't worth it. Besides, I don't think I could handle my two VERY little ones all by myself- or at least I don't want to.

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Cardinal

· #9 · Aug 10, 2006

Hi there. We have one car and it works out fine... been doing it for 2 years now. DS is military and his job is hectic/unpredictable. Sometimes I can drop him off at work and then have the car. Other times I just deal with not having a car. I don't have anything within walking distance in terms of stores or convenience, but we do have parks.

Can your DH carpool occasionally? Take him to work as often as you can. Otherwise, see it as a fun challenge to not have the car, and be glad you are doing your part to help save the environment. I like that we aren't driving two cars right now with the price of gas!

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Village Mama

· #10 · Aug 10, 2006

We have one vehicle.... and I dont drive! I have 2 young ones, one homeschooled kindie. I live in a small town as well with a post office, coffee shop , small corner store. Everything like groceries and nessesities are a 10 min drive away. I hate taking the bus with little guys because the bus schedule is kind of crummy! I always end up carrying a sleeping child the km home from the bus stop! Other than that though... things are smooth. Sometimes I wish that it wasnt such an ordeal though to take the kids to the swimming pool or somthing.Its two bus rides away and it takes about 5 hours for the whole trip.

pageta

· #11 · Aug 10, 2006

We did the one vehicle thing for a while. Even now that we have two vehicles, I still limit trips to town. I do errands once a week and pretty much stay home the rest of the week, unless something specific comes up. Before we had two vehicles, I would just drive him to work, like someone else suggested. We have a grocery store within walking distance, but I hardly ever go there. I do my exercise in the morning before dh leaves for work or after he gets home, though that depends on how many hours your dh works (mine is gone for 10 hours every day including a one hour lunch break and driving to/from work). So being a one-car family certainly is doable. Plan ahead a little and you should be just fine.

janerose

· #12 · Aug 10, 2006

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellesmama
What a good idea!

DH's job is about 20 minutes away, I just talked to him and we agreed that this would work for us once a week. So, that's good- I'll plan my big outing of the week for that day.

Thanks for the idea!

You're welcome! So glad it worked for you.

Holly

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Fiestabeth

· #13 · Aug 10, 2006

I didn't drive for my first several years as a mama, and my dd and I managed fine. We live in a big city, though, and the bus stop was only a couple blocks away. We walked and rode the bus a lot. I do remember a little cabin fever during the winter, but then it was just a matter of getting creative with activities. Finally learning to drive was pretty liberating, since running errands now doesn't take any major scheduling and someone to take me, although it's still not something I enjoy. I just view it as a necessity.

ellesmama

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 11, 2006

It's good to hear I'm not the only one w/o a car!!

So, it can be done!

Thanks for all the good suggestions, keep 'em coming.

I like the idea of accepting it as a fun challenge to SAHM with out the car.

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MysteryMama

· #15 · Aug 11, 2006

another SAHM without a vehicle... dh has a truck which he uses to go to work. it's not really a bother to me though, as i don't really have anywhere to go anyway. i would love a car of my own, but we really can't afford it now since im not working. it's a worthy trade-off though, if you ask me.

do you have a back yard? maybe you could just sit outside and let the kids play.

eastcoastmomof2

· #16 · Aug 11, 2006

We used to have 2 vehicles, but since our lease was up we now have one car, a new SUV which I keep home with me to take the girls places, run errands etc. DH get the bus to work 9what sense does it make for the truck to be sitting outside his office all day when we could use it?) . We pick him up after work though, so he only buses in.

We live in the suburbs, but i take the girls all over creation about 4 days/week in summer, visiting, playdates,museums, different parks, plays, new libraries, beaches and lakes, hiking trails etc. I'd be shack-happy if i stayed home all week.

StrawberryFields

· #17 · Aug 11, 2006

Only one car here, too! We are in walking distance of the library, the bank, a park, and a few stores. Sometimes I drive dh back to work after lunch so I can have the car for the afternoon.

ellesmama

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 12, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeannie81
do you have a back yard? maybe you could just sit outside and let the kids play.

yes we do and we just got a fence, and we are about to get a patio. But right now our backyard is all mud, we will be planting grass in Sept. So, I plan on doing just that starting in the spring, but in the meantime.......

Jaydens_mom

· #19 · Aug 12, 2006

I am a sahm as well and i don't have a license so therefor no vehicle. I am a very paranoid individual... afraid of basically everything; so taking my son outside for walks and such without a stroller ( in fear he will let go of my hand and get hit by a car ) is not an option. He is 2 1/2 and he's at that "i wanna do it by myself" stage where he doesn't want to listen to instructions or pay attention to things around him... and i am deathly afraid of him getting hurt outside.. So while my hubby is at work we play indoor games, run around, attack(playfully) eachother, watch movies, and etc.. and when my hubby gets home with the car thennnn we go to the parks and have outside time.

spiritmomma

· #20 · Aug 12, 2006

I am without a car, and DH uses the car all day for his job.

Isa and I take the city bus wherever we need to go. It rocks.
She loves it because she doesn't have to sit in her car seat. She gets to be in my lap with me paying attention to her. We look out the windows together, etc... I was really worried about losing my car to DH, but now I prefer to travel without the car!

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