Calling all stay at home moms!

[AnKsMommy]

My husband and I have recently made the decision that I will be separating from the military and for the next year till we go back to the states I will be a stay at home mom for my two girls. When this happens, my oldest will be three and my youngest will have just turned one.

I'm scared out of my mind!!! I have so much respect for the stay at home mom because I know it's the hardest job ever! I wasn't even sure if I wanted to do it. But between that and leaving my children for six month deployments...you can see my point.

I'm not sure what to do! My oldest loves daycare and loves to play with other kids. I've already told my husband that I plan on dropping her off there in hourly for a few times a week so I can go to the gym.

Anyone have a website on ideas on activities to have my kids do? Right now I have I just get paper and cut out some different pictures and she'll glue them on, we play in the dollhouse with her dolls, play kitchen, she reads, she does a lot of pretend like doctor. I just feel guilty whenever I have to clean, cook or do something and I'm leaving her to entertain herself.

I've recently broken her of the watching tv all the time habit, and I don't want to go back in to that. We still keep the tv on but we distract her with other things. Every once in a while she'll look up and sing along with a song...but doesn't watch tv for entertainment only.

So, basically I'll take any advice I can get on being a stay at home mom. I want to be prepared when November comes.

[musicmom]

Congrats on being a SAHM. I took mine everywhere. We hit museums, library activities, shopping, play dates, swimming, beach.
The tv is always on but it was only on Nickjr and they watched educational shows. My kids never sat around and watched tv I guess because it was just there. They still are not tv veggies (only Hannah Montana)
It was nice to crawl out of bed to those smiling cute faces and just lay in the middle of the floor and let them crawl all over you. As soon as they could sit up by themselves I had them on the computer playing games and learning.
I highly recommend reader rabbit toddler. They catch on very easy.
It's ok for a child to entertain themselves, that's just part of their development.
On a side note, be careful what you create as well. If you are non stop with them that's what they are going to get used to and it will be hard to catch a break when you need one. I can tell you this from experience.
You will love and charish being a stay at home mom. Tons of stuff to do.
Deployment would be aweful, I'm glad you're going to stay home. yea.

[AnKsMommy]

Everyone who knows me says I'm the type that would love it for a while then need something else to do. So thats why it's only going on for a few years at the most. Plus full time school too *online classes* hopefully.

I'm scared to take them both out in public lol. The park is fine, but anywhere else I'm scared that they are going to raise all kinds of problems. My oldest likes to run around and my baby isn't mobile yet.

I know that I should let he play by herself, and she does. But I feel guilty whenever I'm cleaning up the house and she just looks at me. Sometimes she will get her cleaning stuff and "help" me. Which I love. I just don't want her to feel ignored.

[musicmom]

When I went out I had my twin in the double stroller and I had my son on a wrist leash. I could care less what other people thought because I got to get out of the house and my baby had freedom and I didn't have to worry he would get out of my sight.
At three yrs old though she can sit in a stroller. A double umbrella stroller rocks. I got those at toys r us and they were very unexpensive and they laid back.
She's not going to feel ignored, it'll give her independance to explore. You will be just fine. You'll hate leaving them after all is said and done. lol

[AnKsMommy]

My parents had me on one of those wrist things when I was young. I saw pictures of me attached to my mom and I yelled at her. She said someday I would understand...I did whenever my dd turned 18 months lol. It's been go go go ever since.

I do plan on going to the park almost everyday. My youngest will hopefully be walking around that time so that'll be some good play time.

I like my space and "me" time so I hope my kids will learn to play by themselves sometimes.

[musicmom]

They will probably play well together. You are lucky they are both girls. If I ever have "me" time it's sporatic me time. If you can get them on the same nap schedule and eating schedule you'll find it way easier.

[AnKsMommy]

Sometimes they nap together sometimes they don't. Around the time my youngest starts solids I think it'll be easier to get them on the same schedule. They already play together. My oldest will love on her and kiss her and try to read her books. Sometimes I think that they talk to each other lol. My oldest will say something to her and she'll laugh. It's too cute!

[musicmom]

It'll be great.

[Kaytee]

I'm with music mom, you will love being home with them IF you do it right! Every mom I know that stayed home and really STAYED home, hated it! You need to get out!! Find a playgroup in your area. If there isn't one (check the libraries and a few on line places) then start one for yourself!!
If your oldest is 3, put her in 2 day a week pre-k. Then she would get the daycare time she loves so much, and you can spend a little time alone with the little one. Something the baby has always had to share with big sis!!!

[Shari Nielsen]

Get involved in a "mommy and me" class somewhere - the community center, a gymnastics place, the library, etc. and build relationships w/ other stay at home moms. The are in the same boat as you - wondering how to avoid cabin fever and maintain their sanity despite talking to toddlers all day long!
Plan activities/outings together - simple things such as meeting up at a playground or more complicated outings such as a trip to the zoo. This interaction with other children may replace your child's desire to go to daycare and allow you to observe her in a social setting (which I find very entertaining!).