I feel like everyone always says “how do you not go crazy just being at home all the time?!?” I personally enjoy it. Pre pregnancy me, I NEEDED to go for rides everyday after I got my coffee. Loooved it. We moved out of our hometown, have a coffee machine and I make even better coffee than I used to get at Starbucks lol, and I just genuinely don’t feel the need to leave my house unless I have money to spend, or need to go grocery shopping. Once a month I’ll usually go out for drinks with a friend or something, sometimes not even once though lol.

Am I the only person who can stay home for days at a time without going ‘crazy?’ Everyone always says “it’s good to get out of the house!” But like…. I don’t mind. There’s plenty to do at home. And I love being cozy and comfy.

It’s nearing the end of my maternity leave and I knew this conversation was inevitable, but it sucked. Having to tell my boss, the person that has advocated for me for the last couple years on so many levels, that I wasn’t returning. Know how he responded?
He told me he wants me to do what’s best for me, my health, and my baby. Even though he’s planning on retiring in a couple months and has been reliant on me for a number of different projects, he just wants the best for me. And it breaks my heart. I’ve never cared that much before about putting in notice at a job, but for some reason, this one hurt a bit.
I’ve been in the working world for 20 years now and yet this was my first real “grown-up” job straight out of college. He remembered me from conversations a couple years ago and rung me up at the end of my degree program to offer me a job. I just feel bad walking away from people who have been such great mentors. I know I shouldn’t feel bad and it’ll be fine, but part of me is still anxious about walking away from my career, for however long.

That said, I am looking forward to SAHM life with my kids.

I’m always amused by the books I assume are going to be a complete miss, only to somehow end up reading them over and over. Meanwhile, the book I thought would be an instant favorite barely gets a reaction.

What’s the children’s book that surprised you like that? Especially one where you thought “there’s no way they’re going to care about this” and then somehow it became part of the bedtime rotation.

Not sure if this is the right group for this but looking for some advice here. My husband wants me to get a job now that our 5 & 6 year old are in school. We just got a beautiful home last month and my brings in over 11k a month we aren’t struggling or anything, he told me he wants me to get a part time job and that I could just put the money in the savings which was fine with me but here is where it gets tricky.. we moved to the country and a lot of places are 30+ minutes out and my husband works 50 minutes away so he told me to work closer to the house that way I’m able to pick up our kids from school at 3:45. I’ve been searching for jobs but most of them are way too far out or they’re only looking for people to work full time and whenever I do find part time jobs .. again they’re too far out. 😭😭 it’s causing issues in my marriage my husband thinks I’m not trying to find a job and got upset and said this is his house and that he doesn’t need me and that I can gtfo all because I told him that he doesn’t appreciate me and that I’m trying to find a job. He makes me feel like a failure. I wake up every morning at 5 AM get my kids ready, make breakfast, pack their lunch, and take them to school and when I get back home I prepare dinner early, clean up, do laundry run errands etc, and once my kids get out I have to bathe them, feed them, help them with school work and get them ready for bed. My husband does nothing but work literally nothing. And every day he comes home bitching saying I lay down all day (which I don’t ) and when I tell him I am trying to find a job and that it would be more helpful if he puts them in daycare so I can just work full time he gets upset. I’m feeling stuck and idk what To do, he think he’s better than me because he works and I don’t but I have always put myself last 😞

Edit; also wanted to add that we have no family where we live all of our family is 6 hours away so no support system at all.. and my kids don’t have school on Fridays and idk what to even do if I was to find a job because my kids also would have weeks/ days out of school for holidays and my husband doesn’t want to pay for daycare.

We are entering rainy season and I would love some toddler friendly, indoor activities.

We only have one car and my fiance leaves for work about 2-2.5 hours before our daughter usually gets up for the day. She has recently dropped her nap and gifted us with a wonderful sleep schedule of 7/7:30pm-8/8:30am and I would rather not disturb that to be able to have a car during the day. We don't necessarily have the budget to be able to go out and do something daily either, anyway.

We reserve our "fun" money to do something as a family during the weekend, so it's not like we never leave the house. We go for daily walks around our apartment complex if weather is permitting.

We have a two bedroom apartment. We do have a small covered cement patio that I have been slowly making a a better space for a toddler. But we are on the second floor, so i try not to do super messy/water activities out there.

I have an old shower curtain I could lay out in our living room for like a finger painting or sensory activity, but she seems to be expanding her skills/getting smarter.

I am hoping for some ideas on what crafts/activities/games/anything we could do together or bonus if i could some work in setting it up and could read a book nearby while she plays independently (asking a lot, I know).

She has no allergies or limitations. She really seems to be into drawing, exploring colors and shapes. But we can only color and draw shapes for so many hours lol

She also really likes counting and learning about what letters make up words.

Also, very much into animals.

Her current obsession media-wise is bluey and zootopia

I feel like this is all typical toddler, but i am struggling for some activities that help her build the skills she is obviously interested in building.

She helps me do chores and that takes up a good chunk of our day sometimes, but again, only so much cleaning needs to be done and I would also like to be able to foster her creativity and curiosity for new interests.

Any ideas would be very much appreciated!!

As a SAHM myself, I have a few friends who are also SAHMs. 3/4 of them have either a part-time job, are in an MLM, or do something online to earn cash. I also frequently see posts in this community about how to find additional income while being home with the kids. Out of curiosity, why does it seem like most women who stay home also have a side job? Is it out of financial necessity? Wanting financial independence apart from your husband? Boredom or seeking purpose? I am thankful that I am in a position where I do not need to have another income to be able to stay home with my baby, and I realize not everyone is able to do so, but I also have no desire to work outside of the home in this season of my life. No judgment from me either way — I am genuinely curious what drives a lot of women to still want a side hustle while raising babies.

I have a toddler. I'm pregnant and due in February. I'm just sad. I don't know why. I'm sure it's the hormones. But every little thing is just making me sad and overthink. Nothing to do with my toddler either, he's the only light in my life right now aside from Jesus. Anyone else just struggling with day to day? I just feel depressed, I don't know how to explain it other than just feeling down.

My son is 20 months and today was his second day of daycare, 8:30 to 11:00. I’m a stay-at-home mom. I quit my job to be with him, and I’m sending him now because I want to start my own business and I need some hours in the day that are mine.

When I’m with him, I want time for myself and my own life. When I’m not with him, I feel guilty for doing this to such a little kid.
He can’t really talk yet, so I can’t ask him how it’s going, and I think that’s part of why I feel so unsure.
Maybe at three it would feel easier.

I can’t imagine sending him for a full day right now. Even the half day feels like a lot. I don’t know if that’s me or him, or if half days are just where we should stay for a while.

It’s only day two. I know the adjustment period is a thing. But I’d really love to hear from people how long did it take your kid to settle? How long did it take YOU?

Being home with my almost 3 year old and almost 1 year old has put me in survival mode lol and my baby still nurses to sleep and has a super strong sleep association. He is the worst sleeper!! He turns 1 in two weeks and I’d like to transition him to whole milk but he is completely reliant on me to fall asleep. It’s just been so easy to do that with the chaos of having two babies at home. If you weaned around this time what worked for you? I am desperate for some better sleep and although it’s been an amazing journey I’m ready to stop BF!

I stayed home with my daughter. She is now 3 years 10 months old, and is starting full-day kindergarten in 2 weeks, I'm going back to work full-time. My mental health is bad right now - very very bad. I don't want to work, and I don't want my kid going to school, but that is the reality and there's no changing it. I'm very depressed. I don't want my time with my child to end. I'm grieving these years are over. I'm not having another child so I won't experience it again. I'm having suicidal thoughts. Please - I don't want to hear anyone say call a suicide hotline or go to your doctor. I've been on antidepressants in the past and they numb any positive feelings I have so there is no point in taking them.

Anybody else go through this to some degree?

My son is in 3rd grade and he wants to have like 4 friends tops come over to our house for a birthday party - play video games, we were thinking maybe a bounce house and pizza and cake.
My question is I don’t have the boys parents numbers or how to contact them.
I know most schools if you have a party you have to invite the whole class, which we don’t want to do.
How do y’all get other parents numbers?! Sometimes kids take the bus so they aren’t always at pick up?
Any help or guidance would be appreciated! :)

I’m now 7 months pp and would love to start incorporating fitness back into my daily life again, i used to go to the gym at least 3x a week before i got pregnant and i love being in shape, so this isn’t a “feeling pressured to bounce back” thing but more so something i really want to do, i just have no clue where to start. I was really into lifting before and have no experience with other types of fitness, but lifting is ofc not something i can do at home. has anyone had success with at home workouts? if so what do you do and what are your physique goals? i’d like to keep my muscle and just tone up/lose some fat!

I hated my job and my boss was so annoying to work with but it was money. We obviously are in a fine spot which is why I quit. And I mentally couldn’t handle it any longer. But I honestly think I just needed a long break and should’ve had a longer maternity leave… but it’s been well over a month and I realize even tho I don’t like my boss I had a really nice flexible job that wasn’t too hard… I know they haven’t filled my spot but I’m not crawling back for my job… I just think a little extra cash would be nice

I’m just curious if anyone here does anything to bring in a little extra cash? Like literally anything!

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I'm the one who's home with her all day but he sees what we watch on tv and he said "I don't know" and then walks away.

Yet when I've asked him to help me figure out what shows he thinks she's allowed to watch he doesn't wanna help me at all.

Long story short I’m home with my 2 year old with no other kids. As all toddlers are, he’s busy and loves to explore. I’m starting to think he is getting bored and is craving more stimulation. I do take him out almost every morning and we do go do stuff but it doesn’t seem like it’s enough. When I see him with other kids I get a little sad bc he’s so happy.
As we all are on this subreddit, I’m pretty burnt out as well. I’ve been thinking of doing an in home daycare once a week. I toured a few. The first was a hard pass but the second one…I hate to admit it but I did love and I didn’t see any red flags. They are willing to do daycare once a week for my son. My husband has a well paid job so we could easily afford this. Is this foolish? On one hand, it sounds amazing to have a day to do whatever I want to do and have another adult provide him with some structure. But the other part of me is like…don’t be lazy. You provide him great cars and he’s getting everything he needs. What would I do for that entire 8 hours? I would love honesty thoughts and feedback as I’m super torn. I would hate to regret this decision one day when he’s older wishing I had more time with him but this could also be a really good thing for both of us. I never thought I would use daycare either but here I am. Be honest!

Hi! So currently I’m a stay at home mom to my almost 5 month old. While I LOVE being with her all day and I understand the privilege it is. As an individual I’m losing my mind. I just want some interaction and something to do (other than keep a whole human alive) but whatever besides the point. She’s fully breastfed and I made the mistake of not offering a bottle to begin with and now she won’t take one. Obviously she will take one at some point but I have a job interview this week to work one day a week and I really want to take the job. She does eat a lot throughout the day so would it be okay for my husband to feed her through a syringe?

“Fed is best” but that just seems weird. Idk. Feels like a bad mom thing of me to do and to think about it makes me sad. I also worry it wouldn’t work. Her pediatrician said it would be okay, and actually suggested it, but I just need advice.

The one we have is a curved syringe.

Edit: I should add it would be 12 hour shifts at the hospital.

I’m looking for a solution other than screen time. I’ve had several mornings lately with poor sleep and therefore quickly overstimulated. My house is a mess and I can’t clean because my 2yo toddler immediately undos everything. I want an hour or so of just silence to myself. Maybe more so I can clean a bit. Any suggestions?