Does anyone find time to pursue projects while on mat leave like learn a language?

[xtinak]

I'm a ftm on mat leave for the next few months. Dd is about 6 weeks and we got off to a bit of a tricky start so I've not been out much or doing a lot. However dh is now back at work and I'm at the stage of trying to schedule in some activities for us like baby yoga etc to keep sane and have some structure and obvs for dd's benefit. But I'm a bit worried that I'll go mad doing this kind of thing. I feel like I might be happier if I had some things of my own to work towards over this period as well. For example I thought maybe I could finally read some of the books I've stockpiled, learn a language or practice the piano. I'm looking for some advice from anyone who has managed - or not managed - to do something like this on mat leave. Feel free to tell me I'm crazy and should abandon this notion.

I had twins so the short answer is “no”.

I did take up a sporting hobby once they stopped breastfeeding at 18 months though.

Good on you if you do but personally I've had to shelve all those plans. DD is nearly 5 months and I thought I'd be able to finish my online course, start writing again, sell things online and sort the house out. Nope! During the sleepy newborn days I was just too tired. Now she doesn't nap as much during the day, requires a lot more entertaining and going out and we generally have more on. I'm sure there will be people who have managed great things during their mat leave but I won't be one of them. Saying that, the house is always clean, the washing is always up to date, DDs nursery is organised and we always have decent food to eat.

I also had twins so it was a no from me. I was desperate to get back to work tbh to engage my academic brain again.

This probably wouldn't work for the piano practice(!) but from when DD started napping in her cot around 8 months until she dropped her second nap at 18 months, I would dedicate the first nap to chores, keeping on top of housework, etc and then the later naps were my time to either exercise or read. Sometimes I would only get 30 mins, but it helped keep me sane!

I'm a ftm on mat leave

What’s a ftm?

I barely managed to get the housework done when I was on maternity leave, to be honest!

Are you looking for things to do when the baby is awake with you, when the baby sleeps or are you needing childcare for the times when you do them?

I did read books like I always have done-I just did it when I was feeding.

To learn a language or something, I would have needed chunks of time on my own, which I didn’t have on maternity leave.

Nope. Barely managed to keep up with housework!

Nope. Barely managed to stay on top of the housework! Now ds is 7 I'm learning a language though...

No, I don’t think I managed to do anything much beyond look after the baby. Later in my maternity I did research my family tree, but this wasn’t the same as learning a new skill. I also read quite a bit whilst breastfeeding. I imagine if you were at all house proud this would take up your time. The baby might like listening to you play the piano though?

nope. For the first year of dd’s life I considered ‘both dressed by 1pm’ to be a success criteria.

FTM is first time Mum

Nothing serious but making a fair bit of progress with app based learning of languages (Duolinguo and memrise) and other stuff one handed during feeds. Since I'm stuck on the sofa for a while feeding it's either time wasting games or slightly more useful games...

Memrise app isn't free but £20 for unlimited language courses for a year seems worth it.

Also playing with Khan academy for maths and physics revision (considering teacher training)

Fuck no for me. If my 3rd born had been first, May be. But my first born was just a horror.

No, I can barely manage the housework and my baby is more of a toddler now! Although I did manage to get a fair bit of reading done on my Kindle, while cuddling my baby to sleep in the dark.

But you can find ways to do more interesting things with your baby in tow. In my area there are lots of groups with something interesting for the parents to do, i.e. the activity is more for the grown ups than the babies: cinema showings, exercise classes, museum talks, choirs (often with a keyboard accompanist), craft groups, and bilingual family support groups (possibly a place to practice a new language).

If you can't find anything, just ask on your local facebook group if anyone wants to meet for a weekly coffee and practice French or something.

I barely managed to get dress most days with my first, my crazy sister however did a masters degree on her maternity leave!

@randomsabreuse

Noooo, don’t do it! I really really wish someone had told me that.

With my first I managed to set up a little arts and crafts business and sell things online. Not sure how I did it now! That baby is now a toddler and believe me when I say it’s almost impossible to get anything done! I also have a second baby now too so hobbies and interests (and housework tasks) are well and truly out the window!

I managed to expand my general knowledge by watching many episodes of Pointless whilst breastfeeding my first child. I consider that a huge achievement.

Interestingly, I did more things when DC2 came along, despite having two children to look after. I think it’s easy to be a bit shell shocked with the first - and there’s so much baby stuff to learn.

Things like piano and reading should be manageable if you set easy targets to begin with.