How can I make the time i spend with them more enjoyabl? Im always there and always stress about one thange and another. How do I get them to mind? They run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Someone please help me befor i pull out all my hair.
2007-02-25 11:05:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
You didnt say how old your children are so it is hard to give advice. Are any of your children school age? Most importantly, a SCHEDULE will work wonders. I dont know what I would do without my schedule. Up at 7, breakfast, get dressed, take meds, teeth brushed, out the door at 8 to get kids to school that starts at 8:25am. Then I clean up a little or run any errands and back at home by 9:30 for the Doodlebops (I have a 21 month old at home with me while his mom trains for deployment). After Doodlebops, Blues clues til 10:30. Then we have educational activities, including coloring, book reading, computer games together, etc. 11 is playtime while I prepare lunch. 11:30-12 is lunch and we listen to XM radio online. 12 NAPTIME...I LOVE NAPTIME!! Then it is time for me to recharge my batteries....I may watch TV, take a nap, read a book, but it is all about ME!! Baby naps til 2:35 when we go get the kids from school....snack time, homework, cook dinner, eat dinner, watch tv/play/games, bath time, teeth brushing, read and settle in for bed, 9 BEDTIME!!! That is life....and it makes our home so orderly and much less chaotic.
If all are under school age, I would say take advantage of nap times....when one is napping, give quality time to others.
Just take a few minutes to enjoy your children, but also remember it is ok to take a little "mommy timeout" if the children are really rattling you. Good luck to you!!
2007-02-25 11:29:52 · answer #1 · answered by an88mikewife 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly what you're talking about.....welcome to my world. I have a 7 year old, a 4 year old, and 20 month old twins. I'm a stay at home Mom, and my house is usually hectic.
First I recommed that bedtime, is Mom's time. It's nice to lay in a nice bubble bath, and read a book.
Second, structured activites are a good idea. Arts crafts or games are fun. Everyone is smiling, there's no bickering. Things might be a bit messy, but all is well when kids are coloring or making something.
Third, get out of the house, even if you have to take them with you. Go take a walk and let them pick out find five leafs a piece for a craft project. (Kids enjoy "rubbing" where you put a piece of paper over the leafs, or other object, and use a crayon or pencil to rub over the image so it appears on the paper.)
If all else fails, you might consider seeing a doctor. When things were falling apart for me, I went to the doctor to discover that I suffer from clinical depression. Now I take a purple pill twice a day, and I'm a much calmer Mom, and I rarely try to pull my hair out anymore.
Cheers, they won't be kids forever. Once day you'll miss it!
2007-02-25 11:22:37 · answer #2 · answered by Patty O' Green 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am at home with three boys...ages 17, 12 and 10. What I find works with me is finding something I like to do for myself that is stress free. This makes me feel good and buries the negative, mundane day to day same old stuff. For me, I like making jewelry or something artistic and creative. In doing this for myself it alows me to better enjoy time with my children. I'll take them to the community center and let them run loose for a couple of hours while I go window shopping. They are happy, I am happy for the free time. If your children are younger, find some other parents that will take turns watching the kids one day a month and the other mommies can go out for coffee or a manicure. Get a buddy system going!
As far as them misbehaving...I never threatened unless I carried it through. No means no the first time and after that you might as well be talking to the wall. Create a time out for younger ones and the older children relate better when the punishment has something to do with the bad choice they made. For instance if the child hits a sibling then I would imediately make them give hugs and go through the actions of dressing the wound...a little ointment and a bandaid never hurts to show there are consequences. If the child steals, then they would go to the person to apologize, then offer to do chores as a way to make payment for the item stolen. You get my drift?
You deserve to be pampered a little even if it means doing it yourself. This will make you feel better and change the perspective of how you look at your children. Best wishes to you!
2007-02-25 11:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by rggiggles 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would check if there are any Parent/Child classes offered in your commynity. When the weather permits, go for walks, go to the park. Check out your local library for activities that the children could be interested in. Try to find at least one activity a week that can happen outside the home, this may give the children something to look forward to, and relieve some of your stress.
2007-02-25 12:50:41 · answer #4 · answered by k_smile17 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am at two with one on the way. I plan our days with one special idea a day. I make a list of special stuff to do, then I pick whatever strikes my fancy for that day. Most days it is something with an educational value but sometimes, its just plain fun. To get the cooped up energy under control, start with a schedule. It doesn't have to be down to the minute, but make the order hard and fast. Keep them busy, you don't always have to be doing it with them, but keep them on a mission of some kind. Don't tell them to go play, tell them to go build you something out of toys and blocks. Then go take a peek after a few minutes. They will feel like they are doing something and keep at it for awhile. Keep your requests specific. Kids need to learn to entertain themselves, but they need some ideas to get them started. I assume your kids are relatively young or they would either be in school or you would have school work for them to do. Little kids need a lot of attention, but usually they are "down for whatever". My 4yr-old and 2yr-old help me cook (meaning they stir lots of things onto the kitchen floor, but they still think mopping is cool), they help me clean, they help me research things on the internet. We always have a mission. I sometimes need to rest (I'm 22 weeks pregnant and wicked tired) so I send them on scavenger hunts for things. I start with the usual, a bottle of water from the fridge, a pillow, the remote. Then we move onto whatever they can carry. Sometimes, I have a good hour or more of stuff to put away, but they aren't climbing the counters or lighting fires (both of which have happened during mom's potty time). We have an old Super Nintendo System and so we found a letters game for it, they kids can play that for awhile while I make dinner. We have a handful of games for the computer that the kids can play while I make dinner or clean something. Sometimes, I do something crazy like tape paper all over one wall of the living room and let the kids redecorate. It sure brightens up the room for awhile (use washabe markers, they won't stay on the one wall). Hope that helps some.
2007-02-25 13:58:51 · answer #5 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
5 words:
Get out of the house.
I'm a stay at home mom to 3 kids ages 2, 4, and 6, and I would go crazy if we all stayed at home all day. If you have a napper, then work around the naps. Get out in the morning, come home, nap them---and then maybe stay in that afternoon. Since they were out all morning being home for a few hours in the afternoon while you get dinner ready won't be so bad. Their toys will look good to them since they haven't seen them all day!
Some "free" things you can do:
Sign up for every story time you can find at local libraries. I sign up for 3 different ones at 3 different libraries. They are GREAT for getting kids used to small organized "school" type situations (listening, participating, following directions....) and you will be fostering a love of books that will last forever!
See if your community has a "nature center".... ours is free and has turtles, snakes, etc. that the children can look at.
Buy a zoo pass (it's worth the $50 or so and this way you can go for an hour or two, get home for naps and not feel like you had to make a whole day of it to get your money's worth.) We do the zoo about twice a month.
Ok--these aren't free, but:
Gymboree class (sometimes your local rec-center has a similar class for less $$)
Look into your local rec-center for really reasonably priced "classes" (parent participation)-- like music, art, science, etc.
When it's nice out---go to the park, go feed the ducks at a nearby pond, take them to the local swimming pool or sprinkler ground. In the winter...... go ice-skating, sledding.........
The important thing to remember, is you don't have to have an elaborate plan---and the activities can be short (kids don't have a very long attention span anyways.) BUT, by the time you get out of the house, go to where you need to go, and get home......1/2 of the day is usually passed you by. That means less time to occupy them at home (where there is less to do.)
Of course at home---always have a handy supply of playdough on hand, paper, crayons, beads, craft supplies........they keep kids busy for a long time. Many times, if you "create" with them for a while, give them some ideas on what to do with the play dough etc. (as well as give them your attention) they will most likely give YOU time to yourself to do what you need to do around the house. Good luck---and treasure this time---I'm going back to work in the Fall and am going to miss these special times with them! :)
2007-02-25 11:23:36 · answer #6 · answered by josie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am a mother of 4, a 3 yarold who has adhd and twins that are 2 and a premmie that is constantley hooked up to monitors at home.
we do crafts and play games and storie time just like at a daycare. tryto hav a bit of a routine which i know is hard as it is really hard with mine.
also give time to your self you need it. i go to the gym every morning before my husband goes to work and it is great.
2007-02-25 14:17:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG...GET OUT OF THAT HOUSE!! I have a 7month old, 2 and 6, I stay at home with them and if i stayed in everyday I would go nuts! Go to the park, mall, gym, friends house, target, walk outside,zoo... anywhere!
The reason they are hyper is b/c they need to get out too! After you have a few days of going and going then its fun to stay in and have movie afternoons and just hang out with each other!
2007-02-25 14:02:07 · answer #8 · answered by Tracy S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get out more with them
2007-02-25 11:47:29 · answer #9 · answered by momof3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You bring them to the orphanage, so that you can enjoy the life of a single married woman
2007-02-25 12:26:59 · answer #10 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋