How to be the perfect SAHM

[Needstotidyup]

Ive quit my job and rather than stress about finding a new job straight away I'm going to be a SAHM? Any tips on how to save money, keep kids entertained and balance watching my soaps housework and play and educational stuff.
I don't want to do a crap job of being mum, but I need some inspiration and role models please.

Mumah thanks soooo much!!!!

You're very welcome! :) I meant to say also, I hope you have a lovely time being a SAHM. Whilst I miss the tea break chatter and having a wee in peace, I wouldn't swap it for the world.

Agree with pretty much everything people have said on here!

I'm definitely not a perfect SAHM but what works well for me is up, showered and dressed before DH leaves for work so I'm not in a mad hurry trying to get ready with DS swinging from my hair / trying to steal my make -up!

DS naps in the morning so prior to his nap is housework and jobs time, and activities at home eg colouring, baking etc. Naptime I do any jobs I couldn't do while DS was 'helping' eg phone calls, I also prepare the veg for the evening meal so I don't have to do it later, and make DS some lunch ready for when he wakes up. Rest of naptime is for me to do what I like eg catch up on tv programmes

Every afternoon we get out of the house for something. There's a couple of regular groups we attend, the other days may be swimming, meeting friends for lunch, or going to Sainsbury's for the weekly shop. DS usually has a saved portion of whatever mine and DH's tea was the previous night, as DH gets home too late for us all to eat together and it saves me cooking DS something separate.

Once DS is in bed I just have time for a quick tidy round and toys away, before DH gets home from work. We tend to chill out with a glass of wine brew together before I make tea, then he does dishes.

I love my days, I do think you have to be fairly motivated and routine-orientated to get on with being a SAHM - when I first started I would stay in pj's all day and accomplish hardly anything, but DS starts climbing the walls if he gets bored now he's older, it makes my life so much easier this way

My ds is only 17 ms so can't say I know it all by any means. Agree with anyone above who's explained to you in so many words that daytime TV really is not a part of the deal unless you're very very lucky. I get to read a bit of a book every three days or so, but apart from that I have almost no free time as it is spent cooking, cleaning, playing with my toddler/taking him out, and always has been from day one. I used to watch about 40 minutes of TV a day pre-baby, but now I average about an hour or two a week on the i-player, plus mumsnetting in the very wee hours to keep myself sane while he sleeps. I have also become a Radio 3 and 4 listener. In short, I am now very old!!!

It sounds very tough from this account, but by scheduling your days so that what you do is fun and stimulating for both of you (trips to libraries and museums as well as just parks, trips to parks with friends or dp so you can have conversations with other adults) you will find it a good lifestyle choice. It doesn't matter too much what time you choose as bedtime so long as you have a routine for going to bed and getting up and you get out of the house to different places as much as possible. Saving money is easier if you choose to be friends with other SAHMs who are on a budget. Find out about free playgroups and classes in your area. Don't waste money on stuff you don't need. Bring very basic packed lunches everywhere (sandwich, breadsticks, biscuits, grapes, drinks). Cook in batches and freeze.

Once they start playing on their own indoors you can do the ironing etc. in the same room, but you have to accept that you will have to keep stopping and starting to give them the attention they want for a while (though it's worth gradually teaching them that you have to get on with stuff and so do they). I don't mind playing with mine as you are helping to educate them by playing, reading and interacting with them, but I can really see that children who are encouraged to be independent thrive on that too (but I'd be careful about the kind of TV that's on and for how long myself). Keeping the house as clean as you'd like won't be possible unless you hire a cleaner or have a relative round all the time to help out, so let that one go.

Read "What Mothers Do" for when your newborn arrives, as it will make you feel a lot better about the chaos that suddenly takes over your life.

Rule Number 1: don't try to be perfect
Library is a good place to find out what's on if you are in the UK, at the moment they are doing the summer reading challenge, read 6 books in 6 weeks, you get stickers etc and there are usually activities organised that go with it.