mat leave has started am sooo depressed

[yummytummy]

hiya, was my last day at work today. everyone had done a lovely party for me with cake etc it was great. just feel really really depressed now work has finished though. sad i know but i really love my job and get so much out of it. really find it boring at home with kids. i am excited to meet new baby but am a bit worried about coping with two and ending up in the house most of the time.

the beg bit is so hard and most of my friends will be at work or have school age kids or older.

i am nrly 38 weeks so not long to go but am just panicking at the thought of no work for 9 months to a year.

is it just me? any ideas how to not get too bored and get some mental stimulation?

thanks

I love being on maternity leave, I like my job but I was delighted to finish last week. The important thing is to get out as much as possible, join at least one mother and toddler group, bring the kids to the park or playcentre a couple of times a week and plan your activities so your doing something every day, also try and meet friends and work collegues for coffee and a chat so you get lots of adult conversation.

Hope this is useful!

I've been a SAHM for the past 18 months following redundancy and feel like this most days . At least with my last pregnancy I knew I was going back to work and that there would be an end to it. This time I have no idea.

The way I cope with it is to approach my SAHM life in a similar way to work. I set myself "objectives" over a 3-month period, usually not very challenging, and review them on a regular basis. I'm also a list-maker and make daily/weekly lists. The satisfaction of seeing things ticked off my lists gives me a sense of achievement.

Obviously you won't be able to "achieve" much besides the (major) achievement aiding the survival of your DCs over the coming months, but even small achievements like going to a baby group or meeting someone for lunch should be recognised.

So, maybe think about how you organise yourself at work and what works for you, and bring some of this into your life at home?

Oh, and get an iPad! Apps for your DC1 will keep them occupied and give you some breathing space. And you can use it to watch TV/use MN at other times.

I'm sure you're not alone! A friend of mine has got 2 DCs and has decided to go back to work earlier than planned, as being at home with them all the time is driving her crazy.

I'm also apprehensive how being at home will be - I too love my job and am looking forward to finishing in a few weeks, but as it was only a temporary contract, I won't have anything to go back to... Which makes me slightly apprehensive, to say the least!

The suggestions by MrsBloomingTroll sound really good, I can see myself doing that!

I know this is a littel different but my Mum was a childminder and I know it was her job but its still looking after kids non stop, by yourself. She went out every morning, either to town or the park or to visit friends. She said it kept her sane aswell as exercising the kids and making the younger ones tired so they slept in the afternoon. She would then do different activites in the afternoon for the older ones like baking, drawing etc. But she always had a quiet time where they mostly watched tv for about an hour before they played.

Im going to be a SAHM I couldnt bare the thought of leaving my kids with some one who see's all their acheivements before me. But I think growing up in a house like I have I have learnt to fill the day with stuff, otherwise your pregnancy brain turns into baby/toddler brain and you deffintly need adult chats etc.

Im really looking forward to my maternity leave which starts in 5 weeks, cant wait til the little one is born and I can take long walks, and get back to my nature watching (conservation degree major).