Bored stay at home mum

[Caseyr0se]

Hiya everyone I've got a gorgeous 15 month old who i have five days a week (his dad has him 2 days) and i used to feel so fulfilled but recently im bored out of my mind, my partner works so im just at home alone all the time and it's becoming boring i often find myself spending too long staring at my phone just trying to fill time, obviously i play with my son but i cant play non stop for hours ! Im usually skint so doesn't give me the opportunity to do much and im also pregnant so i litterally can't go anywhere cos I'd need to bump my buggy up and down numerous sets of stairs just to get off of my road, i think i just need some metal stimulation to be honest but don't know what to try, any ideas?
Also when my son's at his dad's i litterally just look at my phone until my partner is home i obviously need to stop being on my phone so much but without it im so bored! Advice?

I also HATE watching TV i can very rarely get into it 😂 what can i do at home everyday to stimulate my mind and keep me a bit busier while my son is around

If it was me feeling this understimulated I would be heading back to work but I know you say you are pregnant so perhaps not an option for you!

Babies/toddlers can be boring to be around. I'm currently on maternity leave for soon to be DC2 and I find days with DC1 (18 months) quite long and tiring sometimes (hence why DC1 is in preschool three days a week). The rest of the time I divide into little chunks which helps the day go quicker.

We do lots of activities but they are free or very low cost, eg we have breakfast, then will take a ball to an outside area or playground (and have morning tea out, so a snack at the playground or as a treat, a coffee and cake at a Starbucks, Costa etc). We'll come home for lunch and a nap, then do a food shop in the afternoon as DC1 really enjoys that, or go to the local public pool for a swim in the baby area, or do something crafty like play-doh. Or I crank up some music and we have a dance party in the living room - something silly like that.

Every other week we'll do a soft play and/or a lunch out.

I'm sure there will be some free playgroups near you so you can have a bit of adult chat with other mums and dads (there's nothing like that near me unfortunately).

Then it's the teatime, bath, bed routine. I find that's the only real time we're sitting in and playing with DC1's toys. If I'm having a tired day there will be a lot more than that! And Peppa Pig will buy me 10-15 mins so I can put my feet up and have a little cuddle time.

Reading that back it sounds like a lot but I have a very active DC who needs running out, and I always enjoy the days when they're busier because like you I find being at home quite boring!

Is returning to work an option? For various reasons it was difficult for me to so I learned to sew. It's not the cheapest hobby but it's an escape.

Have you looked at your local councils website? Our one has a very large selection of adult learning opportunities which are quite cheap.

I think you need to structure your days and try and make some friends in a similar boat,

Do you have Mush in your area? It's a meet up for mums? Once you have friends you can do free activities like coffee at each other's houses, picnic in the park and get a bit of adult company!

I went to college to study when both of mine were tiny, something to focus on and keep the brain active. Plus you get breaks at college were you can buy a coffee AND drink it in peace 😎

I went one day a week/2 evenings a week.

My son is a lot younger than yours, and he is my first, so chances are his routine is nothing like yours, but I think the suggestion above of dividing the day into chunks is good. I have a bit of a routine going through the day/week that starts with breakfast/nap/washing/dressing/washing pots and then half the day is nearly gone somehow. Unlike you though I'm pretty mobile as I'm not pregnant and live in a fairly flat place with no steps.

One thing you could try, and it might help with the money situation is selling old things on eBay? Any good condition old clothes, baby items etc. You would have to be able to get to a post office once a week though, but this is something you could again put into your routine and help the week to pass, and you can be kept busy with taking photos and packing things up to send off?

Otherwise are you prepared for the baby? Have you got your hospital bag packed, clothes and cot bedding freshened up? Have you looked into any free baby groups that you could get to? There's an app called Hoop that is pretty good for finding activities for young kids in your area. I have a couple of regular things I go to religiously and on these days the time really flies and me and my son seem happier and more stimulated.

Otherwise to stimulate your mind, I suppose it depends on what sort of thing you are interested in? There are crafts you can do reasonably cheaply at home like sewing or knitting, you could take up drawing or making story books for your boy, you could even try to learn computer programming or mathematics online for free if you are that way inclined.

Are you getting out of the house at all? How are you doing shopping? Is there anyone you know with a car who you could ask for help from time to time to get out to the park/beach or whatever?

Sorry if all these suggestions are a bit rubbish. Hard to know what to suggest without knowing a bit more about you.

How are you going to cope with 2 at home full time? I had severe PND with my first and was a stay at home mum with very little money, I used to visit 2 baby/toddler groups a week, one based at a church was free. Couldn't drive so every day put baby in pram and went for a walk,visit local park can take baby on the equipment, used to end up talking to someone. Mental stimulation have you thought about home learning.

On your days without dc - once you've worked out a strategy to get off your phone - what about:
Meeting up with friends
Getting the bus somewhere far away you've not really explored and having a cup of tea in a cafe and read a book
Going to a free museum, find one and go to it
Join a group (our library has meet ups for knitting/book clubs/singing) May be awful but you could watch from afar first then join if it looks ok!

Days you do have your dc -
Playgroups
Library
Walk somewhere not too far so you don't need buggy. Like a cafe/Park

Sometimes it does feel like so much effort to do stuff when it involves heavy buggies and steps but once you've got even a small amount of routine you may find it easier to keep doing things.

I think you must get out of the house. It's good for your little one to get out and about in the fresh air too. Where are all these stairs? Can you leave the buggy at the bottom and get your little one to slowly walk down holding your hand, or bottom-shuffle down? Then you can go for walks, park, library, baby groups, shops etc. Ride on the bus is fun. You need to master this before no. 2 arrives. When you are on your own, can't you meet up with friends/family? Or join a class of some sort, or a knitting group, or book club etc