To need some structure to the day

[growinglavender]

Does anyone else find it hard? Done nothing today. Just sometimes feel I can't do another day at home.

I get you op. But you need something planned for everyday. I don't have anyone to go with either but yesterday it was the hairdressers with DC then coffee then picnic with them at the playground

Last week one visit to children's activity centre and granparents on either side one day each.

Today there is a children's event on locally so might go to that. Dh is off tomorrow and Friday so I am taking much needed time for myself and getting hair done and we might all go to the zoo together. It is all quite expensive

I didn't have family close by. I would have loved to have been able to pop to my mum's most days and so on. But I found it incredibly lonely (despite good friends), and found that I spent all the time I wasn't out or playing with children doing housework that I hate.
Going to work meant at least having the commute to myself!

Yes the commute!

Wobbly doesn't but drive you mad having an entire day mapped around such dull stuff? It does me.

We have lots of slow paced days based round one 'activity' which can be an actual outing or class or walk to the shops or park. Leisurely breakfast that dd can help make; time to play with toys for a bit; no rush to get dressed; trip out; home for lunch; rest or quiet time; then in the garden or time to play with toys in the house - some with me and some time alone; make dinner and it's almost time for bed.

I don't live anywhere near family and moved to a different country when ds1 was 5 months old. First time in my life of not working, and I was really lonely. Baby groups / coffee mornings / etc with other English-speakers saved me. I made friends at these that are still strong now, ten years on.

Having had a working life timetable imposed on me for so long, i found it really hard to create a routine for days at home with kids. But we ended up with something like this....and adapted after ds 2 was born / children got older.

UP at stupid o'clock with baby - watch telly, read books, snooze on couch
By 10am, dressed and ready to go out some where
10-12 ish, at a baby group / coffee morning / soft play / walk in park / meet a friend / etc - I planned an event every day, always out of the house (unless I invited a friend over with their kids)
12-1pm. Lunchtime, either at home or out and about
1-3 nap time
4pm afternoon snack, telly / CBeebies on, do some housework / dinner prep,
6pm daddy home: hand him the baby and hide in the kitchen making dinner.

How old is/are your child(ren), Lavender? I find it impossible to do chores with my 18 month old around because he tries to 'help' then I spend my time trying to stop him sticking his hands in the toilet when I'm trying to clean it, for example.

So we go out A LOT. It's much easier in the summer as he's happy to run round the park which I find preferable to being at home where time can drag. Do you live in a big town? All the churches round here have baby/toddler groups, I think you could find one for each morning of the week. They do close over summer but I'm in a whatsapp group with some of the other mums so we meet up when he group is normally on. I don't find that so dull because you normally get some time to sit and chat while someone else watches a few of the kids playing together, then you take a turn watching whilst others chat...

Also, like someone else said, I'm back at work 3 days a week which means I don't have so much time to fill. If I had 5 days solo I would find it harder. Would you be able to do a couple of days or half days of childcare to give you a break?

Yes it does and I often get very fed up. I have got over it and try and go to the gym in the morning before dh gets up and leaves for work for an hour of me time.

Today I have tonnes of cleaning to do.. Get rid of limescale on the shower and other rubbish boring horrible jobs. Then I might go to the supermaket and treat myself to some fresh flowers .. I am hoping in a few years things will pick up again