Fun??

I read, get my nails done, do my make up, take walks, play games on my phone. I’m always with my child. I don’t have anyone to look after him so I just bring him on walks with me.

I exercise, that’s changes my whole mood and helps me feel better instantly. Reading, shopping (even just window shopping) grabbing coffee, going to eat somewhere you enjoy, journaling, bathing while watching a movie on my phone.

I’ve always done everything with my daughter(almost 8). I never had anyone to watch her other than my husband so we’ve always done stuff together. Shopping, nails, coffee dates, movies, travel, date nights ect. She’s always been with us. Now we have our baby boy and it’ll be the same. If I need a mental break then my husband will watch them while I go out for some me time or just chill in the bath and watch a movie or read a book.

Its a hard stage but even just some self care free up a hour where u can do something to help u relax. Have a long bath get nails done go for a coffee a walk exercise. Sometimes I like watching my fav TV show

It’s important to find joy in things you do with your kids and for your home - I find joy in bubble dance parties with my kids, making my baby laugh (right now she’s digging peekaboo, me pretending to eat her tummy, and me pretending to be upset when she knocks down towers I build), and lying on the playroom floor and watching my baby and toddler play. Once they go to bed, I enjoy folding laundry while watching a show. It gets better when you’re able to slow down and find joy in the little things. It also definitely gets easier as they get older and require less help all the time. It also sounds like you’re feeling burnt out - can someone watch the kids so you can have a morning or an afternoon to yourself?

@Rebecca I think I do feel burn out… my husband’s the only one who can watch them. I should lean on him more when he’s available. I just feel like I don’t want to burden him. Guess I need to get over it 😅

It’s not a burden and it’s not babysitting when they are his kids. It’s just parenting. Take your time to yourself.

My husband and I have to negotiate every single day to make sure we both get what we need. Sometimes he needs free time, sometimes I need free time, sometimes we need to spend time together as a family, often neither of us get free time and one is watching the kids while the other does chores. Communicating daily is the only way we know what the other needs

I do my nails, cut/dye my hair, go window shopping take the kids out, meetups and brunches w other sahm, and at the end of the week on a Friday night I go salsa/bachata dancing. That’s my true me time as I get my socialising/exercising/break in the one night. He knows Friday nights is for me so he plans around that- we both each get a hobby day and a friend catch-up per week. His hobby is bowling on Tuesdays and sometimes golf/fishing on Sundays. He looks after the kids twice a week usually.

I find even an hour to myself out of the house alone is life changing. Maybe you can figure out a time every week that you can get out to do something you like. And maybe let go of your to-do list around the house a bit and do more things with your kiddos that you find fun.