Being a SAHM is SOOOooo boring! What do you do to avoid losing the will to live?

[peanutbutterkid]

After 3.5 years I am well and truly BORED -- I am not cut out for this lark. But getting a job not really an option (not for a while, anyway).

Sooo... any tips to make SAHMdom less of a chore? I go to a few toddler groups, but truth is I'm quite bored of them, too.

I have 3 school age DC and a toddler.

mumsnet

Do a Masters? Write a novel? Tutor students in your own home?

I've been at home for 3 yrs now, too, and am coming to the end of the line with it. I hate toddler groups, btw

I'm starting a Masters (hopefully!) at the beginning of 2010. Is some sort of study an option for you?

Get out every single day. I have been at home for almost a year on maternity leave and it is a very different pace than I am used to but I am enjoying it. If I stayed in every day I would go loopy. We have no garden which is a real shame as I'd love to be able to open the doors and just be outside, but we do the quay at least once a week to get a decent walk and feed the ducks, dd loves to shop int he charity shops to see what interesting things she can find- we get lots of crafty bits and things that keep her occupied. If she has been very good, we have a mystery day- we get on a bus or train and go somewhere we've never been nefore. I think our location helps this as there's lots of places around here that are interesting that I have never been to Cook together, dd loves this and it makes being in the kitchen less of a chore. And the less time you spend int he house, the less mess there is to clean up at the end of the day

It is deathly boring isn't it ? An OU course ,volunteer somewhere ,start a vegetable garden >.

Don't start watching Jeremy Kyle ,drinking wine at 12pm and then getting maudlin over that song Lucy Jordan >>.

welcome to Mumsnet, the saviour of sanity! (imho) but then I've only been a SAHM for a year and a bit.

Volunteer work - PTA, Charity shops, CAB, some form of helping elderly etc within your community. Learn a language, OU courses, learn a musical instrument/pottery/art/cake decorating (insert activity of your choice). Get a bike with child seat, fab for excercise and getting out and about (toddlers love it).

I agree with getting out/volunteering etc.

I am in year 5 of being SAHM and am just cutting back on stuff so I can enjoy a bit of peace for the next year or so before I have to go out and find a proper job.

There are loads of things to do if you want to.

Gym ?

I too am an unwilling SAHM. My sanity-saving suggestions:

Is your toddler at playgroup or due at nursery soon? Sign up for a course which starts when he/she starts. It's great to challenge yourself. I did distance learning as I couldn't find a face-to-face course which fitted in well with nursery school times. I have just finished and I feel really proud of myself.

Find a local leisure centre/gym, with a creche. Just having an hour to yourself a day can be a truly wonderful thing and will do wonders for your mind and body. If your local leisure centre doesn't have a creche give them a kick up the behind - organising a campaign will make you feel great.

Do you like books? I am in a monthly bookclub and when I bump into those friends we talk about literature and not our kids.

Join a gym with a creche.

I'm studying for a degree which I can use when both DCs are at school full time. And I am starting voluntary work for two hours per week shortly. This makes SAHM life just bearable for me!

Radio 4, the Grundian and Mumsnet keep me sane. They constitute much of my adult company.

God, that is sad.

Absolutley agree - ge tout as much as poss. I hang around at friends' and they hang around here. The weather should hopefull yget better soon and parks keep them amused for hours while you leaf through a mag or chat.

It is boring, but then so is work!

Research family history?

Open University

Gin and pedicures.

Yes the gin and pedicure route also has much to recommend it

Allotment? (that's what I did) Also pottery evening classes, gymnastics, volunteering on various committees. The allotment was by the far the best one because my children could come too, it was mostly during the day- plenty of time out in the fresh air, it gave me the illusion of contributing to the family budget by saving on some vegetable purchases, and I gained a social group- OK, they were mostly veg obsessed old men, but they were fun and kind. (I still remember the time one of them found my daughter's Barbie's lacy bra on a path, and the look on his face as he returned it- priceless!)

Get an allotment, it's saved my sanity.

Homebrew is also good !

I found work boring and exciting in equal measure just as I do being a sahm.
I have grown out of toddler groups just as my dc have (just have 4 yr old twins at home now).
I started a book group when my eldest ds was 3 so 3 yrs ago and it's great.
I take them swimming and to country parks.
If you can afford it the national trust membership opens up lots of nice places that are starting to open after the winter now.
I'm doing the moonwalk in may so that means the 2 mornings they're at preschool I'm going to the gym and I'm walking with a friend at night.
My gym is a council one that's £15 a month including swimming and classes- look into the deals on offer. I take the kids swimming and it's free for all of us.
I volunteer at my eldest's school whilst the twins go out with their gparents once a week.
I see friends as much as possible.
I have done mystery shopping and consumer focus group stuff - just google it - it can be a laugh and often 20 minutes work earns me £10.

I am bored sometimes though so I'm looking at these ideas with interest.

Wine.

No, I study too. Although it's very frustrating not being able to make much progress.

I think the key is to think of stuff you can do now to lay foundations for when the DCs are at school.

I can't go back to my old job as it means late and long hours and it's not compatible with having a family. Nor do I want to work that way. So, I'm studying to be able to do a job that is more compatible with family life.

Lol Duchesse - I'm discovering that the veg-obsessed old men will build ANYTHING for a pot of home-made chutney. I'm angling for a sauna in the shed next .