Question for the SAHMs....

How much time would you say you devote to just playing with DC a day? I feel like all I do is clean, cook, do laundry, etc. and I don't get nearly enough time to just sit and play with Ava, and I've only been home for a week. I only have the summer to spend with her, but already, I feel like all we do is run errands and clean I just feel really guilty. I feel like my day should be all about her, but at the same time, I have so much to get done now.
So, I'm just curious, how do you balance it?

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

the day cant be ALL about her.....but I play with DD on the floor with toys for a while and then I come on LIF here and they and she plays with her toys without me......but I have to get cleaning and laundry and all that done as well I dont feel that she is being neglected or anything
it all balances out

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

Rach,

I did that on my Mondays and Fridays off for the first few weeks and then I realized...

I arranged my life this way so I can be with my DD, not be the maid. So the laundry sat, the dust stayed right where it was, and the my floors were not "spotless". HOWEVER, I truly enjoyed my days off when I focused on Gracie, rather than how clean my house was. This was very hard to do at first, but I am so glad I did it. Then when she napped, I cleaned what I could and somehow it all got done. I am sure if Martha Stewart came to my home she and her white glove would be appalled, but my home is clean. It is just not as spotless as it used to be. I hope that makes sense. Get out of the house and go to the park, bookstore for story time, or meet up with other moms and kiddies. She will nap longer and you can get the cleaning done then. HTH.

Message edited 6/20/2007 10:58:18 AM.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

It balances itself out. We play together, then when I go clean she plays by herself or its nap time. She watches some tv- we watch together so I can interact with her and sing with the tv to her, and sometimes she watches it byherself for about 10 minutes just so I can do a quick something like coming on here But she gets a ton of attention so Im not worried about leaving her to play by herself for a lil bit, its good for them too, to entertain themselves.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

it def balances out, there are some days where I do zero housework and we play all day and there are days that I am running all over and I feel bad cause she spend the whole day in her crib, stroller or playing by herself.

I prob used spend a good solid 2 hours just playing one on one with her on the floor throughout the day avg'ing (sometimes less in the last couple weeks since i am almost 37 weeks pg now). Then DH comes home and he plays with her. I think independent play for her is important to learn too.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

well considering I don't really clean that much, I have a lot of time with her
But usually I just do a light clean up of the kitchen when she finishes her meals while she plays in the other room...
I can throw laundry in, that takes 2 seconds, I usually just fold it after she goes to sleep or when she naps.
And we do one big errand a day, like food shopping or target or whatever...
I let her play by herself for a while too but I spend a good part of my day playing as well.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

My laundry has been sitting in the basket for a few days now. Sometimes I'm just too busy to do it. I know that I can get it done within a few hours so I don't stress about it.
Most of the day is all about Jared...we're outside, running errands and playing. While he's napping...then I'll throw in the laundry or mop the floors. Everything doesn't need to be done all at once...you'll burn yourself out.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

I feel like I dont get a lot of play time in with her some days as well.....Now that I am a SAHM, I feel like its my job to clean more and cook more - - all of those things that I used to say didnt get done because I was a FT working mom ;) But, it does balance out, most days....

Id say I spend a good 2 hrs or so playing one on one with her on the floor, in her ball pit, taking her to the park or for a nice walk, singing, dancing, etc.

When I do have to be out a ot on certain days, doing errands and stuff, I try to interact with her - I talk to her while IM driving, try to make jokes and make her laugh while pushing her around in the shopping cart...I dont just got about my business and ignore her.

I do have to tell myself that the cleaning and laundry can wait and put playtime with her first though while I am lucky enough to be home with her...

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

well since DD is only 8 weeks, I think its a little different for me because I feel like I spend the entire day with her cause I'm always Breastfeeding her... every two hours she likes to eat and takes about 30-40 mins...

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

I'm just the opposite, all my time is her... so all the housework is left for daddy!

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

From 8 AM to 9 PM...total baby time. no housework gets done.

At 9, I start dinner, do laundry..I call it my power hour and a half. That's when I clean.

I can clean throughout the day, but I feel like I never stop. At night, it all gets clean, I wake up to a clean house.

About errands...the post office/bank is a little over 2 miles away. So I stick him in the stroller and we walk there.

Grocery store is next door, so we walk there.

DH ususally leaves for work at 2 PM.

So, he eats whatever I cook at 3 in the morning, I will eat last night's dinner for lunch the following day.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

I do at least 3 loads of laundry a day - but I don't fold it, I just pile it on the bed to fold when they go to sleep at night. My washer/dryer is also in my bathroom so it takes less than 30 sec. to put a load of wash in.

I shower and run the dishwasher when they take their first nap.

I do some chores when they take their second nap (clean up, pay bills, etc.)

They're now mobile so I really can't do too many chores while they're awake. If we're home I'm in sweats so it forces me to stay on the floor and play with them all day.

If we do go out I do run an errand or two, but I try to keep those trips short.

It's a hard balance!

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

Message edited 11/24/2007 11:17:23 PM.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

I try to spend most of my time with him and we go out a lot if the weather is nice. My place is not as clean as it used to, but is normal clean. I try to clean when he is napping or at night, after he goes to sleep. Sometimes he "helps" me cleaning and he loves to do that... and I tyr to do it as a game for him. Good thing, I don't do laundry... that is DH's job When we go grocery shopping I talk to him and try to teach him things so I don't feel guilty of him spending lots of time in the shopping cart.

Re: Question for the SAHMs....

It balances out. I clean while DS naps.
Do laundry either while he naps or once DH is home and can be with DS.
Right now DS is in his gym playing. He's right in the room with me. As long as he can see me, he's fine.
Slow down and enjoy Ava time. It will work out.