any ideas to keep boredom at bay whilst on maternity leave

I'm finishing work in one week as a primary school music teacher. I'll be 35 weeks....can't wait as the little ones at school are draining all my energy and patience! I'm EXHAUSTED!!! However, I am concerned as to what I'm going to do for the next 5 weeks while waiting for bubsy to arrive.

Any suggestions??? Have images of me as huge as a house, stuck on the lounge watching dodgy midday television and the walls of the house closing in on me, slowly going insane....

[*Shell*]

Relax and enjoy the time & get plenty of sleep! I spent alot of time in Emily's room, painting & making sure i had everything etc. Catch up with friends, things that you wont have time to do later!
You'll find the time will go really quick!

Hope the rest of your pg is happy - and good luck!

[Alipralli]

Relax a lot! I spent a lot of my last 6 weeks on the couch with my feet up as they were REALLY swollen, and just watched a lot of daytime TV and DVDs.

Shell's things to catch up with friends is also a good idea - I made sure that i went to visit my Oma who lives on the Northside while I am on the Southside, and it was a good thing I did, coz I had to have an emergency caesarian, and then couldn't go and see her for ages after the birth, as I couldn't drive, and my DH had to work.

Go shopping! My favourite! Buy any other little things that you will need for yourself and your baby.

If you get that bored sitting at home, even just go to a park, sit on a bench and watch nature, or go to a shopping centre and watch the people - you could treat yourself to something yum while you are there, and enjoy the air con - I reckon it is going to start getting hot fairly soon...

Or see a movie on your own! You won't be able to go to another one for a while without lots of difficulties with babysitters and such - especiallly if you breastfeed...

Hope I helped with some ideas to stay entertained!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!!

[Tracey]

Facebook!!!! Lol

[Roryrory]

Write a diary for yourself or your baby and talk about your life and hopes and fears. If nothing else it will be interesting to look back on in a few years.

And SLEEP! I am 7 weeks off my mat leave but with a toddler at home I won't be getting enough of thatm sadly LOL!

[Janie]

Sleep, relax, just ENJOY!

[*star*]

Get your hair done! DD is 9 weeks and I haven't had my hair done in ages - regretting not having organised that early enough.

I made myself one appointment a day - lunch with people that are around during the day, chiropractor, plus I had vouchers to get a facial and pedicure. Unfortunately I had to get DH to cancel everything as I went into labour 2 weeks early!

I also wrote a list of all those little jobs that can only be done during the day that had been hanging around a bit - banking, new shelf for the fridge, ooh - and the one I actually got to- sorting out our photos into albums and also on the computer.

Of course I spent a lot of time on BB!!

[Tanstar]

Hey Micky - Im a primary teacher too and was well and truly ready to leave school at 34 weeks Funny how they all come up and say - "how is your baby today?" So cute - anyway a bit OT, so heres a list of things I found to do!
Painted a picture for her room (Im not very arty - found a pic on the net and copied it )
Lots of time on Belly Belly
Took belly shots
Got a website ready to go
Designed birth announcement ready to go once she was born
Sat with my feet up and watched dodgy daytime TV
Belly Belly
Sat in the nursery dreaming about bubby!
Shopping for baby stuff
Lunch with friends
Arranged and re-arranged the nursery
HtH

Thank you so much everyone for all your ideas.

I do have a hard time relaxing but will definitely try harder to do so since that seems to be the one thing that most of you suggested!

Liked the diary idea Aurora. That will be great to look back on.

Star, I also have hundreds of photos that I need to organise into albums. This is a great chance to do that! Plus my sister lost most of her photos in a recent house fire (everyone ok thank God!) so it will be good to organise mine and then copy some for her...
I also need to get my hair done... so that's another day planned!
My grandmother loves a visit, Ali, so might do a few of those with my Mum and have a cuppa and a chat.
76 Stars- I'm a sooooo not arty-farty but love the idea of doing something like a painting to hang in his room....might just have a look on the internet for some ideas.

Thanks again everyone...they're all great ideas!!!

[Willow]

Next week is my first week of maternity leave and I have a list of things to do which include:

*Get babies nursery done (whoops! haven't even started on this! BUT I figure it's going to give me plenty to do so there's no risk of me getting bored)
*Wash all babies clothes, linen, blankets, nappies etc.
*Sort out photos and put into albums (seems to be a popular one!)
*Sort out linen cupboard - stuff to give to Vinnies/Salvos
*Sort out our wardrobe - stuff to give to Vinnies/Salvos
*Go through filing cabinet and shred all old paperwork
*Get hair done

Basically most of these are jobs I've been putting off for months. Funny thing is I only work 2 days a week normally but I have a toddler at home too so that's my excuse!

Getting your hair done is a great one too. I'm trying not to do mine too early before my due date because it's hard to get that much time to yourself once bubs arrives and I don't want to end up with 10 weeks of regrowth!

You'll also have days when you have appts with your ob/midwives so that will get you out and about on those days.

When I was on maternity leave with DD I never had a single day where I was bored. She was due on Xmas day so it was a busy time of the year I guess.

[Ginger]

hi mickey- i have to say that even something as little as taking my dog up to the park evryday has helped me get through. i've actually met lots of people down there - it's an off lead dog park- and i find that being pregnant really encourages people to talk to you! just doing little things like that- giving yourself one thing to do a day helps you get through. i absolutely love being on leave, especially as the weather gets nicer- it's great!

Hi Gracie,

We have a border Collie who LOVES going to the dog park...good for both of us I guess.

So you've only got a few days to go!!!! How exciting and terrifying and wonderful for you! All the best and can't wait to here all about it.

[missbelinda77]

Go platinum on BB and spend all day playing in the games arcade! LOL

[Ginger]

hi mickey...ooohh border collies are gorgeous and love being walked so that should keep you occupied! yes it's not long for me now, i'm starting to get really excited. still finishing off packing my hospy bags though

[Kristy D]

Sorry to be the boring one, but cook some ready made meals for when you get home with Bub. I had a freezer full of lasagna, spag bog, casseroles, soup etc and it was fabulous in those first few weeks to know I had something already prepared.

I also spent alot of time at our local pool which was heated and it was very relaxing just to float around! Enjoy !!!

[mel_thekiwimum]

spend lots of time relaxing especially if you're in NSW with this heat
my DS came early so I didn't get to do half the things I wanted
but I did watch two series of House and three of Gilmore Girls and feel I have an intimate knowledge of Dr Phil
and most of all enjoy your pregnancy and every second of it - good luck with your impending arrival
M

[Nadine216]

SLEEP, SLEEP and SLEEP
Cook some meals that you can just warm up, because hun, there is NO time for cooking with a new bub. Do some really serious stocking of kitchen cuboards (if your buget allows)
Read (if you like reading) all the books you have promised yourself you will read this year
Relax and enjoy the time alone with DH, give him some good quality time and attention - he is going to be in the background after bub is born.
ENJOY!! Hope the rest of your pg is glorious!!

[Mellybubz]

sleep, read, go to the movies, catch up with friends... these are things you may miss after having a baby. I thought I'd have all the time in the world being on maternity leave but the day rushes through, barely get time for housework... if anyone says anything I just tell them i'm on baby time!!.