Stay-At-Home-Moms: what do you do all day?

Question

I'm a new stay-at-home-mom, and I'm wondering what you all do all day? Besides taking care of your baby, and keeping the house picked up. I feel like I have so much free (boring) time, and it's driving me nuts feeling useless! Like my poor hubby is out working all day, and I just bum around.... Any of you all feel this way, too?

Answer 1

To be honest, as soon as I get both the kids down for their naps, I come onto Yahoo Answers and kill the couple of hours this way.

Answer 2

I have been a stay at home mom for 14 yrs. When my first baby was born, I was so overwhelmed with everything because I had only been married 11 months. Everything hit me all at once. I had been working in a warehouse in a factory and was so glad to be able to quit and be at home with my baby! My husband worked nights, so I'd get up early with the baby, so he could sleep. I probably never put her down unless she was sleeping! I video taped her and cassette recorded her cooing and talking. Of course I cleaned and planned dinner. I did watch tv and take short naps. (This was before I had a computer, so I didn't get on Yahoo Answers!!) I would also go to my friend's house who had a baby also and we'd talk and visit. My dad would come over and visit. I'd go to the grocery and get all the errands done, so we'd be free on the weekends to just relax.
Then when my son was born 4 yrs. later, it got more interesting and busy!! There was less free time and so much going on all day with those 2!! I would meet my friends who had kids and we'd go to McDonalds to let the older kids play or a play place or library or each other's houses. I also started a home daycare business to help with the bills, so I had 2 or 3 other little ones running around! So ever since then I've never had a boring day with nothing to do! I still get all the shopping and bills and cleaning done all week, (plus have time on Yahoo Answers!) so we can all enjoy our weekends.I also homeschool my 14 yr old. Plus, I make extra money, so we're not hurting for money.
I would just suggest to you to really enjoy this time with your baby. Hold him, play with him, video him, take naps when he does. Yes, relax and enjoy yourself also and don't feel guilty! Have all the housework and laundry and grocery shopping and errands done, so by the weekend, you can all just have fun together! Maybe to make yourself feel better, have dinner ready and do extra special things for your husband when he gets home. Just enjoy this time. I miss it sometimes. It was so laid back and slow paced! I can't believe my babies are 14 and 10!!! Time flies! You never know when your life will change and get unbelievably busy, so I'd just be thankful and count your blessings! And stop feeling guilty!

Answer 3

Well, I have a part time job (3 days a week) I take my baby to, but, on my off days....

I run errands, do laundry, cook either a meal or a dessert (I like cooking, it helps me unwind), clean up from cooking, walk the dog, pump every three hours, play with Katie (she RARELY naps, but sleeps 12 hours a night, so, no complaints), pay the bills, take out the garbage, walk the dog, do the shopping, if there's leftover time, we go to the musuems, children's play center, etc.

I don't really have free time unless it's a weekend and my husband is watching the baby. Maybe an hour between 7 and 8, before my husband gets home. But my baby is just an odd duck in that she doesn't nap very often. :-)

Answer 4

Yeah, sometimes, but as your kids get older, you'll find that there's plenty to do! I've got 3 kids and 2 of them are school age, so I homeschool them. My third just turned 1 at the beginning of the month, so keeping an eye on him is a job in itself! Then there's picking up the house, cooking, and I make sure the bills get paid, because my hubby has crazy work hours (he's military), so he can't always keep track of the bills and the overall innerworkings of the home. There's also extracurricular activities to put the kids in, doctor appointments, playdates, etc.. Before you know it, you'll be wondering where the day has gone!

Answer 5

I felt like that when I had just one kids. But we now have two, and it is SO much more work. I have a baby group that gets together once a week. That really helps get us all out of the house. And you are not useless - you are doing the most important job on the planet. Raising your kid(s).
Other than playing with the kids, picking up their messes, feeding them, doing laundry, dishes, cooking, changing diapers and pull-ups, giving bathes, I like to answer questions on here and go out visiting with other stay at home moms and my baby group and my family.

Answer 6

I AM BORED OUT OF MY MIND MOST OF THE TIME!! I used to enjoy going shopping with my 4 year old, but my husband claims I spend to much money and that I need to learn how to save. Now I'm starting to look for a house for us to buy in May and thinking of ways to decorate it. humm funny how everything I do revolves around money. But my boys enjoy coming up with idea's for there rooms. We also have 3 ferrets and a cat so I am trying to learn how to sow so I can redecorate there cage and make stuff for my animals. So far that's a disaster though, well except the cat bed, that came out nice.
Plus my 8 year old is in school all day and my 4 year old doesn't wake up tell about 10 or 11. So after I get my 8 year old off to school, I get to go back to sleep for haft the day.

Answer 7

READ, there is so much to know and learn. Pick a subject. We have an election coming up , you could take the time to find out all you can about the canadates.
Rent Al Gores Movie, that will get you up and moving I promise you.
We can all be better teachers! and you have a little one to groom into a responceble adult and positive member of socity. Believe me, you can talk untill you are blue in the face but unless they see you involved in your community, they won't be either.
Hers a great place to stat, www.onenoci thing .com. pick one day of the week and promise to visit the site, pick somthing and do it. You can make a difference in your childs world, we all can, one nice thing at a time.

Answer 8

Well, when I had just one baby, I was still in college and working full time, so I did not ever have the particular 'problem'. If I had time to myself now, I would volunteer with the local womens center, my church and the homeless organization. There are dozens of organizations that need volunteers, you have time, and to raise your child up to help others is probably the best service you could ever provide as a stay-at-home mother.

As I have seven kids I'm homeschooling, I spend most of my days being with them, cooking and cleaning up afterwards. We have field trips, therapy with my special kids, time directing on the internet, teaching them how to do chores, helping with reading, and with food allergies we have to cook almost everything from scratch. I couldn't even tell you at the end of the day everything I've done, it's a whirlwind.

Enjoy your time, take it to better yourself and your husband. Remember, as your child gets older, they'll need more of your time and energy, so set up a good schedule and set ways of doing things now while it's easy!

Answer 9

Here are some suggestions:

Take an online class
Take up reading
Get rid of things around the house you dont use and sell on ebay
Cook make ahead meals
take up a hobby (painting, scrapbooking etc)
Go shopping
Call a friend
Do a household project you have been putting off

Answer 10

I wish I was a Stay-at-home mom. I am out here working all day, then off to collect my son at day care, go home to prepare dinner, bathe baby, tidy up what we left in a mess this morning, iron for tomorrow, wash if I get the chance...

Why not start working from home, or if you're scheduled to go back out, just enjoy the time away from the office?

Other options-

join a club
start a stay at home mom group
re-decorate

Answer 11

Trust me, you are not USELESS!! I am a stay at home mom too, and yes while the baby is small you have quite a bit of free time, but as they get older you will all of a sudden be VERY busy!! Enjoy this time while you can!
And remember your job as a mother is 24/7!!
You have a very important job being your childs mother!!