Tips for a new Stay-at-Home mum!

Gillby1

Hi all,

I will be made redundant from my full-time job as of next Tuesday (yay!), and am planning to be a stay-at-home mum for the next year or so. My little boys are 18 months and 3 yrs, and although I am really looking forward to it,I also feel a bit apprehensive about how I am going to keep them entertained with very little money!

I'm quite lucky re timing, as we can spend plenty of time outdoors during the summer months. We're attempting to grow some veg in the garden, and i should be viewing a potential allotment tomorrow, so I'm hoping they'll enjoy a bit of digging and worm-hunting. Plus we have a paddling pool and plenty of toys etc... But i tend to feel a bit stir crazy if I haven't got something planned for an hour or two each day!

I think my three year old is getting a bit too big for some of the mother and baby groups we used to go to, and I will be volunteering the boy's nursery two days a week (as I am about to start work on a childcare diploma), which unfortunately coincides with the local library story and song times.

I think I'm just after a bit of moral support from other stay-at-home parents! Do you find it difficult to keep busy? We live in Chelmsford, Essex, so any local suggestions for good groups or clubs would be great.

Thanks for reading!

Gill

Threebabes

I have been a stay at home mother for nearly 7 year. My 3 are now 17, 13 and 9 and now I would like to return to work but finding it really difficult to find work. I have gone back to college to start brushing up on skills to see if that will help.

I do the school run, I do the majority of chores while hubby is at work. I shop, go to the cinema etc.

I would imagine you will fill your week in no problem at all, with doing the 2 days at nursery. Days in the spring/summer in the garden/park, meeting friends with kids.

Enjoy your time off.

Counting_Pennies_2

I would try to make friends with the other parents at the nursery.

Look to change the nursery setting to a local preschool as it is likely to be much cheaper. It is also likely to be closer to your home, that way you are likely to meet people much closer to home and you can do play dates.

Soft play centres are good as are the parks etc.

Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to other mums and you will find you make friends very quickly and activities will start rolling in

motherofstudents

I won't try to give you any advice because it's over 20 years since I was a sahm, but just to say enjoy it as much as you can because they are not little for very long. I know it's hard work but it is a lovely time in your life. I still love having my grown up kids round now of course.

minimoneysaver

Don't forget the local libraries are fantastic for activities day in day out! Best of all, they are free!

pukkamum

Oh if only I had time to be bored!
I split my day into hourly slots, to ensure that not only do I get jobs done and stuff with lo done but also a bit of me time!

bigmomma051204

Local Children's Centre? Make the most of them whilst they are a universal service :cool:

They will have lots to offer your children at the ages they are Also, leisure centre - see if they have any soft play sessions etc.

Local attractions - farm parks etc.. they often have play sessions which include reduced cost entry to the attraction.

Check out Netmums website - ask on there for local things to you

For things to do at home, google imagination tree - amazing blog with brilliant ideas for CHEAP homemade things to do with kids