How can I enjoy parenting full time again?

[WalnutStreet]

I have a just 3 year old little girl and stay home with her full-time (have done ever since she was born). Before she was 2 we had a great routine going and apart from the obvious frustrating aspects of parenting like cranky days, the odd sickness and sleeplessness, I really enjoyed staying home with her and having her all day every day.

But for the past year or so my enjoyment has waned and I now really struggle to enjoy the days. The days drag and I find it hard to stay interested in playing with her, despite the many toys, crafts and books she has to entertain us. I find myself wanting to do my own thing in another room and leave her to play or watch TV alone more and more these days. It makes me feel guilty and sad for the days when we used to be so much closer and have plenty of fun packed days.

I am not ready to go back to work yet as childcare is just too expensive and the preschool hours too short to enable me to get any chunk of time to work. She does do 2 mornings at preschool and those mornings I LOVE!

Apart from the obvious finding playgroups and clubs to join (we do one or two a week), does anyone have any advice as to what I can do to 'pep up' our play, make our days more interesting and keep me stimulated at the same time please?! Or am I just not suited to being a stay at home Mum anymore?

Thanks for any advice anyone has.

Make sure you go out every day - park, library, swimming, give her the list and let her look for things in the supermarket, conked hunting, have friends over etc

did she used to have a nap during the day and now doesn't? maybe that makes a difference like no break for you? cos sometimes i feel like that on days when my 2 yr old ds will not nap @ all
but as the other poster said going out is the main thing that will help i think. if she does not nap @ all in the day now maybe just go out 2x per day if it gets too much and too boring @ home. personally im a big fan of toddler groups and that kind of thing because having another adult to talk to is nice, there is only so much conversation you can get out of children that age
will your dd be starting nursery every day soon as she is 3? cos then i suppose you should try and think of that she will be away to nursery soon and try to get the most of your time now and enjoy your time together. but definitely going out a lot makes the days drag less.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I do try to get out everyday as it really helps. Some days my daughter just doesn't want to and the battle isn't worth it.

Thankfully she does still take an afternoon nap which is glorious!

I will try to have more friends over for the days she is wanting to stay home, that is a great idea. I also love the idea of conkering and swimming - had completely forgotten that we can do that (I recently lived abroad in a country that had no public pools at all).

Thanks again.

I think you need more of a joint social life, and that your DD needs more activities. Can she do gym/ballet/singing on the days she doesn't go to pre-school? Can you have friends round for lunch/play/tea more often?