SAHMs please come in...

Looking for some advice.... I recently became a SAHM.... My first week of staying at home will be next week & im quite nervous about it. This is a temporary thing as I will continue to look for a job, but for now I'm officially a SAHM!

I'm basically wondering what 'routine' if any you ladies have.... My older son is in kindergarten so he'll be in school, but I'll be home with my youngest who is 2. Can anyone fill me in on free things to do on the island week to week? Since we will only have one income coming in for a while I'd like to try to avoid signing up for any costly programs.

I'm really afraid of crawling the walls while I stay at home... I've never not worked so this is going to be very new for me. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

Re: SAHMs please come in...

You can see if your library has storytime. You can also sign up for 1 free demo class at Gymboree, Little Gym, music together, Kidville, etc. When the weather is nicer, there are so many different parks to visit.

Re: SAHMs please come in...

Do u mean a routine at home (like balancing chores and children), or taking them out?

There are many things u can try to do outside, check for events on the internet, u can actually find pretty cool things to do this way that are free. U can also join mommy meetup groups, some of them u don't have to pay anything to join and offer a variety of things to do. Also places like Not Just Art always offer demo classes, so u can check out a few without having to pay, we did a lot of this when my DS1 was little.

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Any day it's nice we go to park

Library here has fantastic free programs plus free pass to LICM among other places

Re: SAHMs please come in...

As far as free things, we are approaching the spring (also having a mild winter) which makes the park a great option. There's also the library... My ds and I have memberships at the LICM and the aquarium out in Riverhead. It's obviously not free, but it's a one time payment and then you can go as often as you want. We also have frequent play dates/lunch dates. We go to classes, but that can be $$ if you're looking to save.

We never climb the walls, we actually stay so busy that I appreciate days we stay in a lot and just hang. I suggest having "tricks up your sleeve" for days you aren't feeling great and need something to keep him occupied. I have a stack of puzzles I don't normally keep out, wooden stuff for my ds to paint...all stuff he gets excited about if I feel like low keying it.

You'll find eventually you'll just fall into a routine. Welcome to the club!

Message edited 1/30/2016 12:09:45 PM.

SAHMs please come in...

Mommy poppins is a great resource

SAHMs please come in...

We did a lot of time at the library, between the playroom and free classes and museum passes. Bounce in syosset also has toddler time on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, you get 2 hours of bouncing for only 15 dollars. We did that once every other month just to change things up

Re: SAHMs please come in...

Who watches the 2 yo while you are working? Honestly , I would ask that person what his schedule is like and stick with that. Don't deviate from it too much if you are going to be working again.

Check with your library for museum passes, entrance is free with those passes.

Message edited 1/30/2016 5:21:13 PM.

Re: SAHMs please come in...

It's a little harder this time of year bc I feel cooped up. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 7 month old. The older one is in school 3 days for 3 hours.

I drop off and pick up from school
Dd1 has dance class

I try to do a lot of play dates. Library classes are great and at no cost. Stuff with my meet up group just to get me out of the house.

Once it's nicer I love going for walks. Playgrounds.

SAHMs please come in...

im a SAHM to one son, who is 5 (he missed the cut=off for Kindergarten by about a month). i live in NJ... so i'm not help with local places. BUT i can say that you'll find a routine, and you'll find things to do this time of year is HARD!!!! with it being so cold out. and indoor play places are so germy ( i still take my son to them, but not my first choice!) so i try to do a lot of playdates with other SAHM that i met through his preschool, or library or wherever. library is great for lots of free activities! when the weather is warm, we're outside at playgrounds, walks, bike rides, etc. i know its $$-- but maybe you could swing one paid activity like swim lessons or a "gym" class or something... DS does swim lessons and its been SO good for him!!
our basic day to day routine is
7:30/7:45 DS gets up, has breakfast, watches a show or 2 while he's eating, gets dressed for preschool.
9- 11:30 or 12 (depending on the day) he's at preschool and thats when i clean, do errands, make phone calls, fold laundry, etc
12-2:30- he eats lunch, we either do a play date or play at home just the 2 of us...
2:30-3:30= quiet time!!! HAHA he doesn't necessarily nap anymore- but i have hime stay in his room for 45-an hour playing or "reading" or whatever. With him being an only child and me being home with him--- he is HORRIBLE about just playing by himself, using his imagination. i always have to be playing with him. he won't just sit and build with legos-- he wants to tell me what to make and have me do the work :-/ SOOO this basically forces him to play by himself for a little while. its good for him.
3:30- he has a snack, then we play until DH gets home around 5.
then its dinner, bath, playtime, etc until bedtime at about 8:30!

SAHMs please come in...

Like others said we do a lot of library classes and then play days with other families we met there. Your can also explore other libraries nearby that may have nice play areas. Also check Groupon, there are always deals for gymnastics classes, bounce places, etc. I wouldn't plan too much, the days go by fast in my experience and just feeding and cleaning up after them when they're actually home all day is a lot lol. We do get out somewhere everyday even if it's just an errand bc otherwise we all get stir crazy