So BORED! How do you amuse youself during Maternity Leave?

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

I've been on maternity leave for a grand total of 4 days, I'm 39+3 & used to being on the go all the time. I'm never bored during weekends etc as I potter around the house, meet up with friends etc. But everyone is in work!

I'm so incredibly bored. I don't really like watching TV and have read 2 books since maternity leave started. The house is clean as I am a neat freak, and all the baby stuff is ready. I always have a freezer full off food as I work 12 hour days so don't cook properly during the week.

I'm still quite mobile and can walk so getting about isn't a problem. I'm just not very good at pottering around I guess? I like a plan. Maybe today has felt especially confined as I had to wait for Virgin to install a phone line all day.

Any tips?! What do you wish you had done? Maybe I'm just a boring person!

Honestly just try to enjoy it. You will understand what I mean once the baby arrives. I had my DD 2.5 years ago and havn't had the sort of day you are describing since then. I have become my mother when she used to say 'please can we just have 5 minutes peace and quiet'...

Movie marathon!!!

Go to the cinema like a normal person with your partner.

Tbh I'm not sure what people "do". The first time I only had 1 day, the second time I had a toddler and was launching a business. I"m the type who's bored witless unless occupied.

Go to the cinema, get a manicure, go shopping to quaint little antique shops that aren't big enough to squeeze a pram round. Anything that you will struggle to do with a baby!! Meet friends for lunch that you haven't seen for ages (you can always meet them at their workplace).

Also, use it as a time to look for baby groups and classes you may want to attend - I went to my local surestart and got to know a few people there, went to bumps and babies coffee mornings etc.

I wrote a book.

Not much help to you I know but having been in your position 20 months ago I would say just try and enjoy your last few days/weeks of freedom to do exactly what you want when you want! I absolutely love spending my time with my DS but at 36 weeks pregnant and starting to get tired now I am lusting a little after the days I could spend lounging around/napping when heavily pregnant with DC1, I've no chance to sit down for even 5 minutes now!

I look back fondly on days spent watching box sets, meeting friends or family for lunch (not spent getting up and down and running after a toddler and getting indigestion) getting up when I wanted and napping during the day.. Enjoy these things, I know it feels boring (I was bored but couldn't really be bothered to do anything if that makes sense) but it really will fly by

Do nice things - pregnancy massage at a spa, watch a movie at the cinema, meet up with friends for lunch.
Do useful stuff - baby clubs, breastfeeding clubs both good to go to in late pg. Buy and wrap Christmas/birthday gifts for next 6 months. File tax return. Read any parenting books of interest to you this one is supposed to be very reassuring.
Above all, SLEEP!

Sorry bizarre error on the link! this one!

I would cook and fill up the freezer with yummy meals - it is so lovely to just get something out each day rather than cook from scratch.

Have a lie in. Every day. :o

If you can get about easily, then I would gorge myself on museums, art galleries and other cultural pursuits that will be less accessible with baby.

Learn a crafty hobby like knitting or sewing?

Some of these will not be relevant to you but here is my list of what I plan to do when my ML starts (assuming I'm not too huge and tired)

• Batch cook & fill up freezer
• See friends who are also on ML or work part time
• Go see my gran
• Lots of sleep
• Get my hair done, bikini wax (in case of c section), maybe a manicure
• Go to the sling library (it is only open on weekdays so I can't go until I stop work)
• Read books about how babies work!
• Christmas cards and presents (I am due in December)
• Look up any coffee mornings/meets that I may want to join post baby, I'm unlikely to have the time to do the research once I've had it

I'm coming to the end of my second week and I'm enjoying doing nothing.

Catching up with tons of TV I never get to watch normally (I work long hours too); meeting up with other friends/family who aren't at work, MW appointments, booked hair/nails/bikini wax for next week, pottering round the shops for last minute things (nursing bras and baking equipment today) without dealing with the Saturday crowds, sorting iPod playlists for hospital, reading trashy magazines, tweeting incessantly, coming on Mumsnet, having lie-ins, talking to my mum on the phone.

I baked cakes in the morning and ate them in the afternoon.

Dial - what a great idea! I've been off almost 3 weeks and the actual 'maternity' hasn't even started yet, not really bored but feel like I have a loss of purpose (how I'd describe it) and cake making sounds like a total winner!

Glad to be of help!
On the flip side, it's more weight to shift afterwards....

I used to go for a really long, slow walk with my iPod and sing at the top of my voice. I think I thought baby couldn't hear the music through the headphones so I would give him a taster!

You will never ever be bored like that again so make the most of it and enjoy it. Some great suggestions above. Have fun x

yoga and swimming. Pampering yourself.
any friends through antenatal or NCT you could meet for a coffee? Believe me, you'll be glad of them after...

Thanks ladies for the fab advice, I knew you'd have some good ideas. I'm going to pick 2 things to do each day to give my day a bit of structure and spent the rest of the time snoozing and lounging around.

Tomorrow I'll pop to the shops for some window shopping and get some box sets and then go and see about buying a new car which I have been meaning to do for ages but felt like I needed DP with me. Then in the afternoon I shall watch trash tele and eat kit kats!