stay at home mums please give me some tips to save my sanity

[pixieponies]

I have two lovely boys aged 1 and 3. I was made redundant in December so have become a stay at home mum (i cannot find a job for love nor money at the moment)

as lovely as they are i'm starting to go slightly insane. Being stuck at home all day is very new to me as I have worked since leaving college 10 years ago.

As funds are limited we can't always go out and due to the UK weather trips to the park are in short supply too

please give me some tip on how to do this, I really am thinking I'm not cut out to be a mother

[Refuse to Dance]

Do you have toys to keep them entertained, maybe kiddie videos?

[kezrob23]

it's really hard to go from having adult conversation and interaction every day to babies. i'm a stay at home mum, and quite often i miss working and having that stimulation my daughter is at school, but my 2.5 yo son is home. all day. every day. 24/7. he drives me nuts. constantly. i loved being home with my daughter, but this time round, not so much. the arena has been great for me in that i can still have adult "conversations" (i don't see my friends much anymore as my son is waaayyy too devilish to take anywhere!) maybe join some other parenting forums for you to have some you time, and get some great tips and advice at the same time. also see if there are some mummy groups or play groups in your area that you can join. i'm not sure about where you are, but my local library runs free kids sessions where they do all kinds of activities. try contacting your local/surrounding councils, or even "what's on" type websites for free indoorsy entertainment

[StoryDreamer]

Well, I'm not a mother, but I do work from home and I only started a few months ago, so you can go stir crazy at times.

Do you have a local library that does storytime?

What about doing some crafts together? Singing songs? Dancing?

I know there are a lot of mommy blogs by stay at home moms. Maybe visit some of those and get ideas.

Also, here's a blog that might help you.

http://www.thestay-at-home-momsurvivalguide.com/p/preschool-activities.html

Here's a board full of age 3 crafts.

http://pinterest.com/michellekeller1/crafts-for-age-3-4/

Pinterest can be a great source of ideas.

http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=stay+at+home+mom

[kaoskat]

Are you looking for ways to get out with them or more ways to occupy them at home?

[pixieponies]

koskat - both really. all of us are getting a bit 'barn sour' from not being able to go out much

they have more toys than i care to think about and we have all the childrens channels on sky TV

storydreamer - thanks i'll take a look at the links when they have gone to bed

[ashes]

The local library can be a wealth of activities!  Also sometimes shopping malls will do a kids' day one day a month (where they have crafts and other activities for free).  Either might also be a great way to try and find a network of friends who have young kids as well, because then you can organize playdates or even swap babysitting.

I have four kids myself, but I know I have it pretty easy when it comes to finding activities for them due to my church.  At my church there's quite a few of us with young families, so we have a park day once a week. But we're all pretty good friends, so we'll schedule other playdates and such for our kiddos - we've even organized a co-op preschool for the 3-year-olds.  Plus then it's a chance for us to catch up and have some adult conversation!  We also make time for ourselves by having a Girl's Night Out the last Friday of every month.

[Sarahlacewing]

If your kids are like mine (2 1/2 and 8 months) then they sort of like playing the same games over and over again.  It's somewhat maddening.  My son likes to have big boy chores so he 'helps' me fold laundry or sweep sometimes.  I like to make things with craft foam or construction paper... like just cut out different shapes and we all glue them together to make stuff. (apple trees mostly mine love to make cars and apple trees).  He likes to practice mixing colors with water and food coloring.  He likes to paint and read.  Hmm.  Family bath time is stressful, but it takes up time to get them both clean and makes the day go faster.  Paper bag puppet story time was a hit.

Play dates are good too, it entertains the kids and gets two desperate parents together.  Mostly I just remind myself they will eventually go to school and I'll miss them terribly.

I think everyone feels sort of lacking sometimes.  There are days I just cant stand them anymore and I sit them in front of sesame street just to get an hour of quiet.  I don't think there is anything wrong with that once in a while.

[pixieponies]

thanks sarah, playdate sounds like a good idea. My husbands cousin has just moved into the area with her 2 (her little boy is just a couple of months older then my eldest but her little girl is only 2 months) I might see if she wants a get together when she is more settled

i struggle with crafts and messy play as we rent the house and im terrified they are going to cause damage

[Sarahlacewing]

That does make it more difficult! Hang in there. You are doing a great job and the days when the two can play together and amuse themselves for a while aren't far off.  Play dates are kind of a god send though.  Other moms don't judge your mess cause they have one of their own. And they understand that you always have one eye on your kid.  It's like mom Tourettes.  How have you been doing la... William get down from there right now! Lol

[Eviecorn]

Definitely seek out other mums with kids around their ages for play dates.  This helped me when I was a stay-at-home parent.