SAHM's..Do You Ever Have Days Where You Are Tired of Doing 'Kid' Things All Day?

I have 4 kids from newborn to age 8, and I very rarely play with my kids. Maybe I'll read to them or play a board game from time to time, but they play by themselves or with each other.

how about getting them to play together? Don't know what their ages are. I have three girls, and the older 2 play together a lot.

my sister did this, which inspired me to do it and I am SO glad I saw it working for her...anyway--quiet time every day. they go to their rooms and play quietly or put on a movie. they aren't allowed to get up if they are doing the movie they lay down with blankets and pillows and just watch. if they are in their rooms they play quietly and can't come out during quiet time. her kids all stopped napping at 2. and my daughter did as well. but they need that down time still, and so do I as a mom!! I take that 1.5-2 hours and just veg. play a computer game I want to play, or read--something that is just for me.
also I agree on the have friends over to play--life is easier for me when my daughter has someone else to play with then I don't have to spend as much time with polly pockets and puppies. which I never played dolls much growing up and it is painful for me to play now--my husband is better at playing dolls with my daughter he has so much more patience for it!! I'm looking for a hobby to do outside of kids and house and wife--I haven't figured out yet what I want to do--but I know I need it. and getting in my workout every day where my kids can't bug me. the boys come home from school and if I am working out I just ignore what they are saying (they are teenagers so a little easier) with my almost 4 yr old I tell her talk to daddy right now this is mommy's workout time.
giving ourselves permission for those breaks is critical I think for sanity. at least for me it is. I'm not the type of personality who just beams and flourishes as a stay at home mom. Don't get me wrong I love being able to stay home with my daughter. I love each stage of her growth and cherish the time we have together but I don't bask in it like sunlight. I don't feel fulfilled with just this. I am a little jealous of the mom's who are completely fulfilled in motherhood. but not all personalities are the same, and I have one that needs something more than pullups and Dora and imagination games. one of my sisters is so creative and imaginitive with kids and its amazing to me how she comes up with the stuff she does. its instinct for her. not for me. I get books that tell me how to do creative activities! lol. anyway, I guess don't be hard on yourself. look for things that will help you get the break and get the "me" feeling back because when I take care of myself first as selfish as it sounds I am SO much better at being mom, wife, etc. when I forget to do that I get burned out so much faster and feel stuck and unfulfilled. the answer will be different for all mom's because we all have different gifts and talents but try something and if it doesn't work for you, try something else. for me I tried mom clubs. and I felt like it was just more mom stuff. it drained me more. so it wasn't for me. It is perfect for other moms, that is what they need. I need alone time. my time. no other mom's no husband, no kids, just me. if I don't get that I am a grouch. but when I take that time for me I'm fun and energetic. (if I do say so myself!ha) So big hug, I get the rut thing. I think most of us have been there or are there at some point. so don't be hard on yourself and give yourself permission to find something for you.

Hello,

I like this blog I found through Mamasource on a different post.

http://toddlerboredombusters.blogspot.com/

It has lots of ideas of what to do for fun projects with the kids. Some times when I look at it I feel a little bad because I don't do more things like this. But I try to remember as you should that independent play time is important to child development. So don't worry about always being by their side and playing with them just let them go at it themselves.

Also it might help if you get out of the house more often...I don't know how much you are out now. But go to story time at the library and let someone else entertain them for a bit. When it is nice out go to the park or just bundle them up in snow pants and hats and mittens and go out now!!! Have a play date and let them play with kids their age.

We all get a little discouraged some times but you can do it. Just try to be creative and have fun!

Dear Mom,

You are not alone. My friend had the same problem. What we did for her was to plan a lunch out every several weeks or so. She would find a sitter for the kids and we went out to lunch and did adult talk for a couple of hours. That helped her to keep her sanity during this period of her life. We had so much fun doing it that, even though she no longer has little ones, we are still doing it.

Good luck.

yes. that's when i tell them to find something they can do without me. my kids spend a lot of time playing at the table near the kitchen while i work. i know it SOUNDS like more work, but have you tried letting them have a friend over for an hour? my kids fight less and need my help less when they have a friend to distract them. then at another time the mom of your kids' friend can watch one or more of your kids to give you some quieter time. i should say that this really only works if the friend is older than 2. how old are your kids? some of us may have some ideas on specific things you can do for their ages if you post it.

I am also a SAHM, and there are plenty of days I crave having a job to go to! So don't worry, you are not alone. I joined a local Stay at home moms group which hosts lots of playdates and activities and lets moms get together to have some actual grown up talk. I belong to MOMs club Int.if you want to check it out!

I am a SAHM too, to three kids under 4. Your days sound like mine! I cannot stand to be here all day, so every single day we have at least one park district activity. Gymnastics, swimming, etc. The oldest is in preschool three days. The littlest ones can simply play in the nursery while I take an exercise class. This is well worth it!!! The park district tends to be low cost, too.

My kids are 20 months and 4 (next month) and I am a SAHM. My husband is in the military too so hes gone a lot. So I know exactly how you feel I go insane sometimes. I started joining playgroups and just going to the mall and playing if needed just to give us all a break. If you can see if you SO can watch the kids for a few hours once or twice a week just to get a few hours by yourself. Even if its just grocery shopping it will help. Or the YMCA has babysitting while you work out or do whatever. You just need to be able to focus on you from time to time. If I dont have anyone to help me get a break after I put the kids to bed I take a nice long hot shower just to have some me time and quiet. Goodluck hun.

Updated

My kids are 20 months and 4 (next month) and I am a SAHM. My husband is in the military too so hes gone a lot. So I know exactly how you feel I go insane sometimes. I started joining playgroups and just going to the mall and playing if needed just to give us all a break. If you can see if you SO can watch the kids for a few hours once or twice a week just to get a few hours by yourself. Even if its just grocery shopping it will help. Or the YMCA has babysitting while you work out or do whatever. You just need to be able to focus on you from time to time. If I dont have anyone to help me get a break after I put the kids to bed I take a nice long hot shower just to have some me time and quiet. Goodluck hun.

Find a hobby, something you are interested in that doesn't involve the kids. Talk to your husband and find a way for you to have a night once a week, or every other week, that you can take on your own to persue your hobby.

Look into service projects. There are some things you would have to do by yourself, and also things that your kids might be able to help with (depending on their age). Helping others always makes you feel better about yourself, and you'll be showing your kids a great example to follow! Contact local churches as a good starting point.

Try to find (or form) a mommy play group. I used to go to one when my kids were littler. We would get together once a week (not all moms came every week, but it was always available) and have lunch and play games. The kids played together and loved it. In the summer we'd even go to the park. The adult interaction, even though we still had to supervise the kids, was a lifesaver some weeks!!

You sound like a great mom to be doing all that with your kids. Good job! I can tell you are the type to enjoy the different stages of childhood and get down with your kids and play with them. That is so wonderful. Keep that up!! But also develop yoursef by having hobbies, projects and things that you do at the same time they are playing. Stop as often as you can and join in. But they will know that Mom is working on her things sometimes too. They can maybe join in with your scrapbooking or whatever it is you like to do and do "their version" drawing pictures, making their own little books, etc.
Have Fun with your children...they are only young for a very short time. But keep developing yourself too!
Keep being a great Mommy!

I'm probably too far the other way. I usually have my kids playing on their own while I do something else. Of course, it seems like I'm always cleaning up, not necessarily doing something fun for me.
I doni't know how old your kdis are, but they can play with Playdoh at the table while you're reading a book, or working on a hobby, etc. You'll get lots of interruptions, but it might keep you sane!

I've never seen my role as a playmate for my kids. That's what they have each other, and friends, for. I provide materials, step in if need be, but otherwise step back and let them play on their own. I'll clean up, work on the computer, etc while they do their own thing. I take them to the library, museum, hikes, special events, school and other things to keep things fresh, but for play, it's all about them. To me, it's how they learn best.

I also do a lot of volunteer work and I am building up my business. I don't want to work full time for a reason, but I still keep active in my field to keep current.

Okay, hopefully this doesnt make me sound like a big meanie, but I really don't see doing all that kid stuff as part of the SAHM job. Yes, I make sure I spend time with my kids, we have reading time together every day and we do a lot of cooking together or go on walks etc. But I think it is important for kids to entertain themselves. So, no, I don't often play legos or dressup or whatever...i send the kids off to play while i get my stuff done, and then we make sure we have plenty of quality time throughout the day like reading together or even just working together. Doing chores together can be positive, like we will rake leaves or shovel snow or garden or pick up the house, but we are all working together.

try goining a playgroup. go to meetup.com and you will be able to search your area for one or start one of your own. it's nice to go to each others house and chat while the kids play or to have mommy company for library story times or museum trips.

I keep mornings for activities and work. Check out coloradoparent.com. They have a calendar of activities going on in the area. We do a lot of the free day things as well as library events. You didn't mention how old your kids are, but Centennial library has a great sign language class that my kids loved. They are 6,3 and 1 1/2. The older two want to go back even though it's the same class again. I know Centennial would be a drive for you, but they aren't far off I-25. There are a lot of great things in Castle Rock and CO Spgs., too. I'm just not up for signing up during the winter for that drive. :) I try to do at least one fun thing a week. We use it to count for school, too, so they are educational things that we do. I do think it's important for kids to self entertain, so they have some time to do that each day, as well as play outside. Maybe I'm mean, but they're outside everyday. They love the snow and our backyard is will shaded. We have time set aside to go over church papers and read library books, as well as read a book together. I try to do about 10 minutes of each of those activities each day, although it's sometimes done while I'm getting dinner ready. Hope that helps. I understand the rut. :)

Well sometimes, you do have to tell the kids "no" go sit down, and take a breather for maybe 10-15 minutes, 20 if you really need it. :)

I know exactly how you feel. I have been there. You need to have something that is just for you. When my girls were young I was so happy to be able to stay home with them but I did get stir crazy. I missed the socialization of my job. After I figured out what I was missing and found a way to fulfill that need everything else changed. I was passionate about staying home again. What are you missing? How can you get what you need. Take care of mommy. Don't under value your needs.

I have those days. I love being a stay at home mom, but sometimes I get in a rut. I feel like it isn't as rewarding as I would like it to be. Sometimes I want to scream and pull my hair out. Over all, I wouldn't change it for the world, but there are times I want to scream.
Being a SAHM is tough, there isn't always instant gratification. I made dinner the other night and my daughter looks at it and said "that looks disgusting." I was so mad.
I try to make time for me to get through it. Girls nights out, that sort of thing. Make sure you find time for you everyday. Even if it is just 30 minutes, of YOU time, it will make a world of a difference. I know this can be tough. My son naps, my daughter watches a movie (her only tv of the day) and I do what I want. I don't clean or do chores, I focus on me.
Good luck to you, the rewards of staying home will come. I would like to share a quote that helps me. It is from one of my church leaders: "We salute you, sisters, for the joy that is yours as you rejoice in a baby's first smile ans as you listen with eager ear to a child's first day at school which bespeaks a special selflessness....You rock a sobbing child without wondering if today's world is passing you by, because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms."

I know just how you feel so for me I just have to get out of the house. I try to do some things outside the home 3 to 4 times a week. In the summer it's easy cause I take the kids to the park to play while I talk on the phone, read a book, or visit with other moms. But in the winter it seems harder. So I take them to the mall to play, or to lunch at McDonalds to play at the play area. You can also check out your public Library. Mine has story time once a week for all different ages. Plus I just try to do a playdate once a week too. I find that if my kids have other kids around they play with them and leave me along for a while plus by doing lots of these things your around other Moms which give you adult time as well. Hope this helps a little.