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Original poster

SAHMs what will you do the first week your kids are back at school?!

91 replies

nc8765 · 21/08/2021 20:50

A little over 2 weeks left of what's been a pretty hardcore summer school holidays. We haven't been abroad and we've endured a really crappy UK summer.

The first day mine go back, after the school run, I'm going to come home, change back in to my pyjamas and have a nap.

The rest of the first week will follow a similar pattern but I may enjoy a cup of tea and read the newspaper or a book in peace and quiet. I don't want to talk to anyone, or listen to anything, I just want to enjoy the quiet.

Mine are still preschoolers so only at preschool till lunchtime but every minute counts!

Indulge me with what you'll be doing when the kids are back at school...!

OP posts:
Rizzoli123 · 21/08/2021 23:51

I will be getting my sewing out from the moment they leave until the moment they return

Paddingtonsmarmlade · 21/08/2021 23:56

I'm going to get a sticky bun and come home and make a pot of tea and relax in front of the tv in peace. Or it might be an audio book if I can't find something to watch.

Day 2 onwards will be tidy/organise and painting the kids bedroom.
I only have 3 kid free school days as youngest is starting school nursery and one of these I'll be working.

boomwhacker · 22/08/2021 00:02

@NautaOcts I'm with you. I'm a teacher with my own children. When they go back, I go back and I'm not looking forward to it at all. I work full time so very little respite at all during term time. I'm very envious of you all.

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TheChosenTwo · 22/08/2021 00:13

Me too @boomwhacker -
Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy I get to spend the time with my dc and only work term time in my role but my god it’s hard never ever actually having a couple of hours without them!
I said to dh I was going to retire at 40 Grin

CazM2012 · 22/08/2021 00:20

DH is here the mornings of the first week so we will do some coffee and breakfast dates. The second week will be all to myself and I can not wait. (But part of me is wondering if youngest DC who starts reception in September will actually settle and cope and wonder how long before I get a call to pick her up Sad )

Clocktopus · 22/08/2021 00:23

I've got an EHCP review meeting the first week back and three different hospital appointments between two of the DC (great timing on that one, first week back and off already!).

However the second week back at school I plan to do nothing. I'm going to come home from school run, drink a cup of tea in blessed silence, maybe clart about in my garden and start putting everything to bed for the upcoming autumn/winter, watch some TV, do the usual washing/cooking/cleaning but with no one undoing it five seconds later, and just generally relax. I love the DC but I feel like I'm completely on duty when they're here so while they're at school is my downtime to stop me burning out.

LostPencilSOS · 22/08/2021 00:38

Have a shit in absolute silence.

Read in absolute silence.

Eat my breakfast without someone eyeing it up even though they've just had the same thing 5 seconds ago.

Clean the house and have six whole hours of it staying clean instead of six seconds.

Not break up fights every 2 minutes. Not have to hand out death threats every 2 minutes.

Rebuild my shattered reputation with my poor, traumatised neighbours. (If at all possible)

Erm, what else. Let me think Grin

idontlikealdi · 22/08/2021 00:56

I'm not a sham but on gardening leave for 12 weeks. I'm going to rest my ears and have a nap.

WingingItSince1973 · 22/08/2021 01:28

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy

I am a sahm for 2 days a week and can't bloody wait to take my dog for reeeeeeally long walks without smalls moaning at me and not having to fish out snack after snack after snack for them. I'm going to do some french homework and watch crap telly.
Oh yes decent dog walks ha ha. My dgs lives with us and although he loved walks as we do dinosaur hunting on the way, he doesn't like the long ones with the dogs. I'm looking forward to walking them and not having to look our for a t rex or refence a brachiosaurus paddock 🤣
ImAddictedToMyPhone · 22/08/2021 03:22

Not a sahm mum but don't work the week so will get 5 days of time to myself. Grin
The first week, I will abandon all house woke and just chill in front of the TV, doing fuck all. Grin
The second week, I'll head to the gym 🤣🤣

ImAddictedToMyPhone · 22/08/2021 03:22

@ImAddictedToMyPhone

Not a sahm mum but don't work the week so will get 5 days of time to myself. Grin The first week, I will abandon all house woke and just chill in front of the TV, doing fuck all. Grin The second week, I'll head to the gym 🤣🤣
*work
PrimeraVez · 22/08/2021 03:47

I’m not a SAHM but will turn 39w with DC3 and start my maternity leave on the same day that that the elder two go back to school. DC2 is starting for the first time so doing staggered starts which messes things up a bit but still, I am SO excited!

Original poster
nc8765 · 22/08/2021 08:08

Yes to the long walks with the dog. Poor ddog has had to fit in and around various activities and it's never a peaceful walk with the DC either. I'm looking forward to catching up on all my fave podcasts on dog walks!

OP posts:
Dozer · 22/08/2021 08:11

So you mean SAHMs of DC in school or nursery/preschool.

I envy the weekday leisure time.

Original poster
nc8765 · 22/08/2021 08:13

@Dozer

So you mean SAHMs of DC in school or nursery/preschool.

I envy the weekday leisure time.

Yes, SAHMs of pre-school age+ Smile

Obviously no respite in those early years. That was torturous.

OP posts:
2RedShoes · 22/08/2021 08:15

Take DH out for lunch.

Paint the study.

DeadButDelicious · 22/08/2021 08:30

I am going to come home, get myself a really tasty breakfast, play animal crossing, have a nap and do a spot of crochet I think... but mostly sit in glorious silence AAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL day.

Once I've indulged that for a bit I'm going to enjoy going to town on my own, taking the dog out without having to set foot near a playground, cleaning the house without an audience (see also going to the loo and having a shower). It's going to be glorious. Truly glorious.

If I never hear the words 'can I have a snack' again as long as I live it will be too soon. Grin

stairgates · 22/08/2021 08:33

Start the christmas shopping :(

CurryLover55 · 22/08/2021 08:37

I do work part time but on my days off, I just want to go out! DD12 has spent a lot of time in her room so I can’t wait to enjoy local attractions & go to the beach when there are fewer visitors around. I have a free NT house/garden tour to claim, help over from last year which was the 125th Anniversary.

CurryLover55 · 22/08/2021 08:38

Held not help!

LynseyLoses · 22/08/2021 09:23

Yes, SAHMs of pre-school age+

Obviously no respite in those early years. That was torturous.

Yes, I remember the early days of two at home full time when mine were little! Very full on. We didn't have family help and DH did long hours in London. NOBODY envied me at that point I don't think 😂.

It's wonderful now and I still see my dcs a lot, but with breathing space to organise things for the family. I was a sort of accidental SAHM, as I was made redundant, so, for ages, I was agonising about how I could get back to work. But then we had a bereavement in my family having already lost my mum just before I had dc1. It meant we had some extra money and life felt short. The way I see it is that I don't need to work, so taking a job I don't need takes that job from someone else who really does need it. I'd also see my dcs a lot less and lose a huge chunk of money to childcare - it isn't all covered by free hours. Holiday clubs and after school club etc are pricey where we are. I know a lot of people prefer that and would rather be at work, but it is personal choice. We have enough saved and are both insured, so that if anything dreadful happened re divorce or death, we would both be ok financially. Not rich, but fine.

I could go back to work when dc2 starts school, but I may not until both DCs are at an age they don't need childcare.

Original poster
nc8765 · 22/08/2021 09:54

@LynseyLoses

Yes, SAHMs of pre-school age+

Obviously no respite in those early years. That was torturous.

Yes, I remember the early days of two at home full time when mine were little! Very full on. We didn't have family help and DH did long hours in London. NOBODY envied me at that point I don't think 😂.

It's wonderful now and I still see my dcs a lot, but with breathing space to organise things for the family. I was a sort of accidental SAHM, as I was made redundant, so, for ages, I was agonising about how I could get back to work. But then we had a bereavement in my family having already lost my mum just before I had dc1. It meant we had some extra money and life felt short. The way I see it is that I don't need to work, so taking a job I don't need takes that job from someone else who really does need it. I'd also see my dcs a lot less and lose a huge chunk of money to childcare - it isn't all covered by free hours. Holiday clubs and after school club etc are pricey where we are. I know a lot of people prefer that and would rather be at work, but it is personal choice. We have enough saved and are both insured, so that if anything dreadful happened re divorce or death, we would both be ok financially. Not rich, but fine.

I could go back to work when dc2 starts school, but I may not until both DCs are at an age they don't need childcare.

Same here. Had 2 under 2 at home 24/7, no family help, just me on my own with DH working long hours out of the home. I remember my mum friends who went back to work were saying working was like a holiday compared to being at home with babies and toddlers.

OP posts:
LynseyLoses · 22/08/2021 10:08

Yes, same 😂

I remembered work at that time and was dying to go back. My lovely friend who is very successful and makes a very good living has recently said she and her DP are going to take a salary hit and change their lifestyles completely so that one of them can be at home more. They even want to leave London, which they would have found unthinkable before. Think covid has changed people's perspectives a bit, so that, where it's possible, more people are thinking of going part time or having a parent SAH now.

It's great when you have the choice and can go into it with eyes open, whether you choose to work long hours or SAH. Neither choice is perfect, but it's nice if both are doable and you can choose as a couple, which you want to do.

BogRollBOGOF · 22/08/2021 10:36

My fitness classes will start back up and I'll have more time for long runs and swimming. I need to start HM training.

First day back I'll be helping DS's class with swimming. I'm looking forwards to that as their turn got delayed with Covid and I loved going with DS1's class and watching their progress.

I also need to reclaim the house from the forces of chaos and clear outgrown clutter to charity shops/ tip which is much overdue. I find it hard to concentrate with the DCs around.

Clocktopus · 22/08/2021 10:53

My youngest is off to full time school so this is first time since 2008 that I haven't had a little one at home with me while the older children were at school.

I have had several people tell me now is the time to have another baby. They can all get to fuck, this is my time now Grin