I was at first. When you only have the one, it it pretty easy to stay on top of your game in regards to the housework etc, so once that's all done and bubs is asleep, you do find yourself at a loose end sometimes. I took up cross stitching to help keep my mind active and there were various committees that I got involved in too so I had an interest outside the home. Once more babies came along there was less time for boredom, but again, from time to time it was still there. I still had my committees etc so it hasn't ever been that bad where I really get in a rut over it though. I think going back to having only one child at home and not having preschool for 12mths before Alister starts will bring the boredom back though.
I do enjoy it, but like you I got bored not long after I had DS1. I ended up starting my business just to give me something else to do, challenge my mind and to give me more opportunities to interact with others. I would have gone crazy if I didn't have the business!
Bub #2 made life busier and less time for boredom though and I'm sure when #3 comes along I'll forget what the word "boredom" is LOL!
So no, you are not a freak and you are not alone .
Thanks for starting this thread! I am on day 2 of my mat leave and am already missing work! Work was my social life too and I felt so fulfilled by it. I know when Blake arrives I will have more to do - but am already getting "criticism" for my plan to work PT after 6 months. People keep saying things like "you'll never get the time back" or "its time to sacrifice your career for your family". I may surprise myself and lov being a SAHM -but there is nothing wrong with not finding it to be "enough". Everyone is different and has different needs - I am lucky that I won't "need" to go back financially - but may need to for my own sanity and sense of self IYKWIM.
FWIW - IMO - having something mentally stimulating for you (work or otherwise) even if it means some time away from your children, does not "harm" your kids. I subscribe to the "happy mum, happy kids" school of thought.
I find I am busy, but at the same time bored and stressed. I really do not find housework stimulating, I do enjoy cooking and I am not very good at "play" with the kids. I agree with you about the loneliness. To me whilst playgroups, ABA etc are helpful for that, I am still home alone without adult conversation most of the week. It was something I really noticed when we stayed at MIL's for 2 weeks. It was so nice to have other adults in the house.
Astrid, you have put it perfectly. It is not so much that I lack things to do, just that all the at home mum things are so boring and dissatisfying. I do the housework mostly so DH doesn't complain, I get no reward from a cleanish house. I can sit and play with DS but it is hardly stimulating. There is very little reward, even in a boring job at least you still get paid!
No chance of job share with DH, we live in a very small town so not many part time options. And he earns twice as much as me (with the exact same degree!!!) so there is no chance of him staying home. If it wasn't for the new bub coming I would seriously consider doing something part time.
I would liek to enroll in some sort of online course, but there is no way that I would have any time to actually do any of the work - DS is far to clingy and naps are few and far between these days. Hopefully when the new bub is a bit older I will have time to do something (provided my brain hasn't rotted completely out of my head).
Some days I hate it but lately I've been more happy with it. TBH after 4 years I can't imagine going back to a paid job where I have to wear a pants suit and be at central by 9.
I've started doing a course on saturday mornings. It's nice to get out of the house and talk about non-baby stuff with grown-ups. Also it's nice to be stretching my brain a bit.
I hate house work and DH has really slacked off over the last couple of years which drives me nuts. About 50% of our squabbles are about housework - he complains that the house is a mess, I tell him to get off his butt and help me clean it and then it's on
Arte: seriously sista you're gunna need to get some time back for yourself. even if this is to do something really simple like an hour of yoga class one night a week. it might not be the 'dream' distraction, but doing something that is separate from house/baby duties is IMO a sanity saver.
there was a thread on here ages ago (it got heated, but like all good bb debates really opened up great discussions) about SAHM and finding satisfaction. it might have been deleted with the clean-up but i'll try and track it down. there were some really great boredom buster ideas and i reckon it was good just to read about other peoples experiences etc...
before i went to work groceries were also my 'fun' time...so you are soo not alone on that one!
I felt the same way. I decided to go back to work when DS was 7mths at the time it felt like I was giving him away, but the walls were starting to cave in. The only friends that had children in my circle moved to Sydney and Wangaratta in the same month and my family are all in England. I just felt I needed to be me for a little while. DS loooves day-care it's like his second family and with working part-time I know there are 2 days where DS and I just do fun stuff all orientated around him. The weekends are a bit of both play, cleaning and cooking.
Now he's at this great age where we can do crafts etc I sometimes wish I was home but I know that soon enough the walls would be caving in again!
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