Accidentally became a housewife...

[fuckthemail]

Hello all.

For various health reasons I had to leave my job a few years ago. It took a while to recover and now I'm feeling far better. But in the meantime I've become quite a bored housewife!

At the moment it doesn't make sense for me to work. We have enough money and due to DS I need to be available to drive him to and from specialist school. I also want to be around with him after school and weekends etc. I love our family time

Basically I'm just not sure what to do with my time!

So far this is what my week looks like.

Daily, go to gym until 11am. I also prepare the evening meal before pick up, so it's all ready to go

Mondays food shop, baking
Wednesdays I meet a friend (different friends each week. Day may vary!)
Thursdays I do a hobby
Fridays I do a big clean up at home

Despite this I still have quite a lot of time. So much time on my hands is making me feel lethargic and basically just bored!

Any help please??

Volunteer?

If your DS is at a specialist school for disabilities then presumably you are his carer and you would still be a carer even during school hours, not a housewife. Or is it specialist for a talent?

When my DS was at a specialist autism school I used my time to study a few HE courses, and activities for wellbeing like creative arts, yoga, visiting exhibitions and seeing matinee films and plays. Tried volunteering but it felt too much like work.

Yes my DS is similar. That's exactly it with volunteering! As often I will have to look after him at short notice during school day etc so don't want to let anyone down. I love how flexible I can be, and I realise how lucky I am to be able to be this flexible, but it means day to day is very boring!

Get a dog

Start a side hustle like an etsy page

I wonder if you’d enjoy spending more time with other people. Walking groups are good for this, and some meet on weekdays. Or something like a book group, or a community choir - because they’re group activities, you don’t have to go every time they meet, you’re not letting anyone down. Community choirs are very accessible and you don’t need to be good at singing.

Or, would you enjoy stretching your brain and learning something new? The Open University does lots of short online courses, I think they’re called Open Learn.. Free, and you can do them when you want to.

Edited to amend: OpenLearn

I’d be bored if I went to the gym every weekday morning too tbh.

Find some friends, a volunteer position, do a craft, do a course. While I was a SAHM I must have done about 20
courses (I kept a spreadsheet 😄), mainly online. There are loads of good ones, I think it’s in Openlearn. Or more fun ones places like Domestika. I did a diploma at college too (1 day a week for a year).

Ooh or get an allotment? I’ve just taken on an allotment, it’s brilliant, healthy, social, satisfying, good for the kids, and fills your time.

Also walking in the woods etc? So good for your brain. Watercolours. Museums. Read. Literally so much you can do!

I recommend the following book: how to do everything and be happy by Peter Jones.

im watching this with interest as I also have a child at a specialist school. I would love a part time job but I have to do the school runs and the school is a half hour drive away.

I work but tbh I don’t get why you don’t have more to do- I could fill my day with keeping on top of my housework alone.

I do volunteering and am starting some courses with OpenLearn. We have a big garden which needs a lot of work so am doing some horticulture courses. I have just completed training to become a Homestart volunteer. I am very involved in church events and am also chair of the PTA.

Housework fills up a lot of time though and that is without cleaning. I put a lot more effort into cooking now I don’t work and that can fill quite a bit of my day to be honest as I make a cooked lunch for DH and I and a cooked dinner for all of us. The gardening fills up a lot of time too. Do you have a garden? Could you start growing fruit and veg?

You must be RIPPED

DH manages a charity shop. They would definitely take you on as a volunteer with the understanding they wouldn't rely on you for minimum numbers to stay open so when you can't go or have to leave it wouldn't be a problem for them. They have a few people on their rota on this basis for a number of reasons and they're glad of their help.

I was a house wife and bored out of my brain. Then we divorced and I had to start up my business and life is pretty chaotic now.

oh how I wish I could go back to pottering around the house and being able to go to school functions during the day. Honestly I miss it so much especially during the school holidays when I’m stuck in work and the kids are at family members ect. So much so I’m looking at selling my business and setting up an online one so I can work from home.

I know a lot of the school mums volunteer at varies food banks/clothes ect.,

Open University degree or Masters? Or further qualification that will benefit when you go back to work?
What did you do previously?

Is your son not entitled to school transport? That would open up longer hours for you, which might give you a bit more freedom to take on a part-time job or volunteering role.

And I sympathise, because I was in that position a few years ago. I was lucky enough to find a part-time job that I love, and my DP has gone part-time, so we split the school run, school emergencies, endless meetings and hospital appointments. I instantly felt as if I’d got my personality back.

I’m in a very similar position and do freelance work. I was working in a homebased role for a while but resigned from that for various reasons. I enjoy the freelancing when I do it and also volunteer as a charity trustee, but I’d love another job!

I don't think the OP is looking for another thing to be responsible for.

OU study. Can easily keep you busy for years.

Side hustle
College course or online studying
Local politics or charity work
Write a novel
Volunteer to support other carers
Teach a gym class (could do evenings when DH can cover if needs be)

Another vote for an allotment! You can pop in as often as you like, it'll get you fit, and you'll meet some brilliantly bonkers people.

Some kind of further education maybe?

Oh wow thank you all so much for all your replies. Some really lovely ideas.

Gardening is something I'm so scared by but I definitely have the time!

Courses sound interesting thank you. I bet I could find something is enjoy. Also I love the spreadsheet idea! It would be lovely to see what I've achieved mount up

Also writing a novel. Why not!

Group walks and book groups definitely. I've tried to find some before but will try again.

Woods and reading definitely. I'm (semi) fluent in German so it would be great to keep this up with a book

Thanks again all