To ask what other SAHP do to fill their time

[doyoumindmeasking]

I'm a SAHM and just wondered what other SAHP do to fill their days.

My children are at school 9-3. I do drop offs and pick ups, cooking, cleaning, shopping etc.

But in terms of other stuff not much. I'm going to try to pick up an exercise class 3 x a week.

It can get a bit dull.

I've tried a part time job but it's just not practical with my husbands work and age of our children.

Charity work, helping out with school activities, attending children's sports events, there is lots to do.

Work is the obvious answer here. If you don't want to/can afford not to then great, but if you're bored you could do a few hours, maybe volunteering?

Been a SAHM for 17 years.
I volunteer. I see friends. Explore hobby’s that I enjoy - currently cold water swimming. Exercise.
I arrange kids appointments. Deal with school meeting etc.
Find a hobby you enjoy.
i don’t live in the Uk so I’m learning the local language.
I find podcasts really help when I am bored - they keep me interested and I can do the mundane tasks along side them.
Remember - you still have a job. It’s unpaid and unappreciated but it has great value. You are raising the next generation of adults. Also it has allowed my DH to really progress in his career in a way that he would not have been able to if I was also working in paid employment.

I'm sorting the house out eg clearing clutter and doing minor renovation projects. I also use the time to do things in the week so they don't need doing at the weekend eg changing beds.

Also a carer for family member so lots of hospital appointments and meetings etc.

Also gym for me and swimming

I also used to help at a local playgroup until it closed due to covid.

I've signed up for the PTA which is a start.

In terms of working it's proven difficult due to all the half terms etc. and finding childcare so I can be available

Do you want to work? Many working parents cover school holidays and wrap around care whilst working.

They're great suggestions, thanks

I find it hard to feel like I'm adding value as it's unpaid work, I have to remind myself I am doing a job that's also important.

DHs work would really suffer if I took a permanent paid role

Freelance work. Though I get upset when I can't get any.

And sorting the house out which is basically a full time job. (We should have bought a smaller, newer house but there weren't any n the right area).

I would like a PT job but over realised that I'm good at doing one thing at a time.

I did some ad hoc work recently and even though it was only six hours a week everyone suffered.

Tbh while was nice and I did enjoy it but I don't want to be ironing at 8pm and rushing around to sort dinners etc. running here and there for pick ups

I'm going to step away as you're in a very privileged position that is not one I recognise: Good luck with whatever you decide.

Open University or some other kind of academic course?
Learning a new skill like a language class or a sport or something social? Volunteering - charity shops/food banks etc. Or care homes, or your kids school - library helper etc.
Retraining/doing something in the field you used to work in? When your children are older would you want to go back to work? If so then maybe something that could help with that.

Its hard to say what kind of thing without knowing specifically what kind of time you want to dedicate to it? I'm a working parent so obviously used to just using childcare and not having 6 hours a day to myself, but it's hard to suggest ideas for you if you genuinely feel that everyones life suffered for you working less than a day a week as I'm not sure how much time you'd feel you have available.

What does your husband do that means you working would massively impact him?

I work for a charity on a freelance basis from home. It’s a small set amount hours a week which I do whilst my DC are at school and I can do the hours as I suit so fits in with caring for my disabled DD and her appointments and things.

Sorry I've not given much detail which makes it difficult for others to respond. I'd be happy to volunteer but worried I wouldn't be flexible enough for their requirements.

I'd also love to learn a new skill, iI could probably do one morning a week.

I find the the amount of laundry and housekeeping very time consuming. I know this post will sound tone deaf, but I am honestly just interested in what other stay at homes do with themselves.

I appreciate many people juggle work and family. Our particular setup has made it difficult.
DH works away a lot and when he is here he's working very long hours. He spends any non working time with us and as much as he can to lighten my load.

You’re going to get some snark op.

I’m an on and off non working parent.

I do a fair amount of gardening, I share an allotment with some people, or I tidy up neglected council owned gardens.

I am on the PTA.

I cook.

I go in to school to help.

@Skyedart that sounds like a great arrangement. It's nice to hear those type of roles do exist. Anything I've seen has been lots of hours which I can't manage currently

OP how about volunteering at a parent and child group in a church - something that only actually runs once a week so you don't feel guilty for not being more available?

I nap occasionally! Watch TV...bake, shop, housework...I find the day flies by and I don't have much free time

Exercise
coffee with friends
errands - leisurely as opposed to hectic if I was working, I imagine
watercolours
crochet
reading
planning - Xmas, holidays etc
home improvements
online courses
volunteer - countless opportunities around here

Basically just revel in the calm that the luxury of time brings.

I'm a "trailing spouse" abroad so not possible to work at the moment. I go to the gym every day, I'm activate on the PTO, I cook most meals from scratch and prepare them during the day as evenings are often spent ferrying kids around, I walk a lot, I have also done my personal training qualifications (for personal use rather than work) and we have a dog so that's another added element. I also love coffees and walks with friends and the odd lunch from time to time!

I have one child at primary school and one at preschool. I'm studying for degree number 3. I do a range of voluntary work (pta, preschool, home start, community hub and a few other bits). Both my inlaws have serious health conditions so I help them out and I work on an ad hoc basis for the LA doing a similar job to the one I used to do pre children (I do maybe 10 to 20 hours a month).

I'm also teaching myself and dc2 my grandfather's mother tongue.

I was a sahm for 10 years. When the kids were home we had days out with friends and I was on the local toddler group committee and the Parish Council. When they started school I continued to meet friends, took up distance running, focused more on the gym and completely retrained so I could return to work. I’ve been in a great role in my new field for the past few years. Dh also has a demanding job but it’s much easier to juggle when the kids are in secondary school.

I am at home during the week as ds has adhd and is regularly in and out of school at short notice. I couldn’t commit to working during the week as I would be so unreliable. I work weekends (DH is home with the kids then) in the hope that maybe one day my career can be revived. DH is often overseas or in meetings and is a far higher earner than I would be. Plus childcare is basically nonexistent for SEN kids, so holidays would be impossible to manage.
I run a Brownie unit, as I can fit the planning in whenever and if DH isn’t around that night, ds can come with me and hide out with his iPad so he’s no bother.
All the household tasks. Decorating, Christmas shopping, arranging for tradesmen etc. We have an older house that always needs something doing.
Exercise, reading, crafts when I can.
Having home learning stuff ready to go as ds rarely gets sent anything valuable from school when he is off, it’s on me.
Sometimes I even watch a series on Netflix 😁

I’m a sahm to school aged children and i do the usual school runs/cleaning/laundry, I do 3 PT sessions a week, go hiking/walking when the weather is dry and meet with friends that are either sahm parents or part time. I have the odd day when I get bored if it’s raining or I have to wait in but it’s rare.

Can you find some people that would go for a walk with you and get some regular meet ups on the calendar?

Thanks all, I appreciate you all taking time to send responses.

It's heartening to know there's more available to me than cleaning for six hours, collecting the children and then just starting all over again the next day!