how do other mums to little ones manage?

Miss_Money

black-saturn wrote:

Must admit I felt left out too at toddler group especially with me being a bit on the Gothy side (I tried to dress down to go there). I think I scared the other mums. I seemed to get on better when they started at playgroup.

aww! im en ex gothy type lol:rotfl: im now an indie chick

black-saturn

wendym wrote:

I've just been talking to my daughter on the phone about the nightmare psycho mums on the PTA committee (we're talking about a 4 year old in a nursery class) and I just love the idea of black-saturn scaring them!

Do you want me to go and sort them out?

cobbingstones

Hi all

Thanks for your wonderful ideas/suggestions. No surestart near me, just an expensive nursery (£34 daily inc meals)

I think its a great idea to have our own board what do u all think?

Thanks a million to each and every one for your help. My load feels so much lighter now.

ejushol

Just seen this thread, and I for one think its a great idea to have our own board for mums and dads who are at home with their children, or parents in general who would appreciate some support.

E

Miss_Money

madsmum wrote:

Hi all

Thanks for your wonderful ideas/suggestions. No surestart near me, just an expensive nursery (£34 daily inc meals)

I think its a great idea to have our own board what do u all think?

Thanks a million to each and every one for your help. My load feels so much lighter now.

yup i agree a board for SAHM'S and SAHD'S!!

rainbowrisin

Miss_Money wrote:

yup i agree a board for SAHM'S and SAHD'S!!

Excellent plan, although goodness only knows when we'll ever find time to post:D
I know sometimes I don't really feel valued as a SAHM - I left a senior managment job and became self employed for about 30% of the money because I feel that strongly that children are better off with mum when they are little, but must admit I do wonder sometimes whether anyone other than me thinks I did the right thing.
TBH I even feel awful if I say I think nurseries aren't the best care for very little ones - it's only other SAHMs I'm "allowed" to say that to, so a board for like minded parents would be really good.
It's also nice to know I'm not the only one who feels like they're wading through treacle trying to get organised. I try sooooooo hard, but never, ever, ever seem to get on top of everything - it's like painting the firth bridge - never ending.
I also feel like I'm stuck in "Ground Hog day", doing the same thing at the same time over and over and over again. Yep, at 5.15pm in six months time sleep deprived rainbowrisin will be wearily scrapping casserole off the dog, the carpet and the telly for the thousandth time - I sometimes think I will give myself a sticker chart - a star for every hundred nappies changed, or noses wiped, or things cleared up with a damp cloth.

wendym

Sticker charts for SAHM is the most brilliant commercial idea, and should make you a fortune!

pigpen

the dust if left long enough will vacuum away! (about 6 months does it in here)

It is a waste of time tidying
toys/vacuuming/dusting/sweeping/washing/wiping or attempting anything which might resemble 'cleaning' while the children are up. We ahve a mad half hour once the children are away to bed, hubby and I together and we put washing in the baskets, toys in the boxes, sweep the days crumbs and vacuum the days mess and have a clean(ish) house for an hour before we go to bed.. it is trashed by the morning!!

I prepare tea in the slow cooker when I get 10 minutes in the morning.. the breadmaker and dishwasher goes on while they eat their breakfast.. the 2 washing machines & 2 tumble dryers go on just as I get back from dropping the bigger children off at school.

The little one gets dressed when we get round to it.

We go to one toddler group a week, because I don't like busy groups and this is the only quiet one I can find!!! Toddlers hate to share so quiet groups are often far nicer for them as there are fewer children to share with. I avoid anything to do with surestart like the plague as they are always heaving.

They are allowed 1 dvd a day.. and no more. I use that time to fold and sort washing and clear a bit of clutter.

My ebay listing gets done when they are in bed.

For lunch we have something simple. hotdogs and noodles, beans and toast, sandwiches and fruit. Whatever the children want usually, thankfully they don't seem to think to ask for cake and chocolate lol.

2 is a fantastic age, whatever you are doing they want to 'help' for 3 minutes then they wander off and go play.. they are so easy as they entertain themselves (mostly) though supervision is necessary of course.

9 months is harder.. they need more entertaining and more 1-2-1.

just sitting with a story for 10 minutes or dropping what you are doing to look at the pictures or sing that song is enough for a toddler. They don't want or need to 'learn' they are learning by watching you and just playing by themselves don't rush them to grow up by teaching them letters and colours and shapes and stuff they will learn in time anyway, and they grow up WAY too fast. This is what I have learned over the 15 years I have been a SAHM.

Sometimes you should just stop and sit and watch them, they are amazing. The sheer joy they get from just simple things and the way their faces light up when they learn something new for themselves.

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I've learned, to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."
(Ruth Hulburt Hamilton)

tawnyowls

Miss_Money wrote:

yup i agree a board for SAHM'S and SAHD'S!!

But in the meantime, there's the Marriages, Relationships etc board, which tends to discuss children-related problems as well.

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

i'm 22 and was a SAHM to a 2 year old - i recently started part time work and my little boy is now 2 and a half.

Ive learnt that no matter hwo hard i try if i dont involve DS then he plays up and wrecks whatever i manage to tidy.

My other tips

a) take 5 minutes to yourself - or when little ones sleep try adn get 5 mintues yourself - its surprising how refreshed you feel.

b) if the kids are playing up and your at your wits end - put them in their room (check obviously they cant get out of windows/fall down stairs if they do come out!) i found this tip a godsend too when i had PND - i found putting Ben in his room for 5 minutes - he'd play happily and id get 5 to compose myself and chill then id go back to him (or if he was playing happily id justy check on him every couple of minutes)

c) make time for your child - some do it with the bedtime routine - bath, story, bottle, bed etc - others take 5 mintues after lunch to sit and read a book (settles their lunch and they get quality time with you) plan babies nap and put them to sleep in the buggy if you can then when youngest is asleep you can take the other one to the park adn have one on one play time with her/him

d) have a cooking night - noone wants to spend ages in the kitchen preparign dinner for baby when they could be playing - have a mass baby food making evenng and you have plenty of baby friendly ready meals to just heat up as and when needed.

sorry tired 2 year old screaming in my ear so ill post more after hsi bath!!!