I have lots of questions!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2004
I have lots of questions!!!
6
Fri, 05-06-2005 - 3:04pm

My DH and I are working toward having me SAH in a little over one year (451 days to be exact!) and I have a lot of questions for you ladies. Please don't be offended by any of these questions, but I am a planner by nature and like to do a lot of research when I throw myself into a new "project."

First - do you get up at the same time as your DH so you can make him breakfast? Do you get dressed as soon as you get up? I'm concerned that if I don't get in the shower right away like I do when I get up for working outside the home, I will end up in pajamas all day!! Do you wear, um, stylish clothes or do you usually wear jeans and sweats? I'm worried about turning into a frump!! Also, for those of you who used to work prior to staying at home, did you gain weight? I'm thinking I'll either lose weight because I'll have time to workout while Ryan is at pre-school, or I'll gain weight because I'll have a refrigerator there all day!! What do you do when you get bored or when the kids are at school? I'm afraid I will get bored and when I'm bored, I shop; however we will be suddenly living on ONE income and I'm concerned my boredom shopping will put us in the poor house!!!

Do you usually have a home cooked meal waiting for your hubby? Have your cooking skills improved? I'm not much of a cook but I'm hoping SAH will inspire me to learn - plus, we are going to be poor so we won't be able to eat out so we'll all starve if I don't learn to cook!

How did you meet other SAH mommies?? I don't know a soul in our neighborhood and my son will go to a private Christian School across town so he won't necessary have kids from his school in our neighborhood. I have this vision of myself roaming the streets of our neighborhood in search of a grown up to talk to!

Do you ever get depressed because you no longer have $$$ for vacations, home improvements, etc. I really want to SAH but I'm so scared that I will be really depressed about not having money for the things I am used to.

Please feel free to share and words of wisdom and/or things that helped you out when you first started SAH.

Thanks,
Kristi

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2003
Fri, 05-06-2005 - 5:24pm

ok, let me see what I can come up with...

"do you get up at the same time as your DH so you can make him breakfast?" - I personally do not. Dh leaves the house at 4:45am, and there is no way I'm doing that lol. We also dont eat breakfast.

"Do you get dressed as soon as you get up?" - I do not. I wear sweatpant, shorts, jeans ect. If we go out, or have people over, I dress up.

"Also, for those of you who used to work prior to staying at home, did you gain weight?"- I lost weight actually. It's a lot of work running a home and chasing kids. I was also to be outside and be more active, as oppsed to when I was working, and sitting at a desk all day. I also find I have more energy now as well.

"What do you do when you get bored or when the kids are at school?" - my dd is almost 2, so she's not school aged, I havent gotten there yet. But its rare to be bored, there is so much to do.

"Do you usually have a home cooked meal waiting for your hubby?" - again, I'm not the best person to advise on this matter lol. I hate cooking and dh loves it. He cooks most of our meals. I do the prep work in the daytime though, like the cleaning, chopping, preping, so when dh gets home there isnt a whole lot to do.


"How did you meet other SAH mommies??" - we actually just moved to a new city, and I dont know anyone here. Thankfully, our neighbour is my age, and is a sahm, her little boys is my dd's age. I know that most cities have mommy & me type groups.

"Do you ever get depressed because you no longer have $$$ for vacations, home improvements, etc." - I cant deny that going from 2 incomes to 1 is not easy. We made huge adjustments to our lifestyle to accommodate me staying home. This was very important to myself and dh. We cut back on alot of things to save $$$. However, when I became a sahm, we were renting. We were able to save enough $ for a downayment on a home. We still go for mini vacations, and have fun.


Deciding to become a sahm is a very personal decision. One that only you and your dh can decide. True, I have given up my career, which I loved, and have sacrificed materialistic things, but it is a decsion I will never regret. I love the enjoyment I get from my family, more than I loved having a paycheck. It's not for everyone, but its worked out well for us. Good luck on your decision.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Fri, 05-06-2005 - 7:08pm
I'm new at staying home. My son is only 4 1/2 months, so I think it'll be a little different from your situation. I get up when my son gets up...my dh usually doesn't eat breakfast. Some days I stay in my pjs (lol) But I try to get a shower in by noon. I usually wear jeans and sweats...but that is because I'm working towards getting into my prepreg. clothes and I don't want to buy new ones.
Weight....I really have to watch what I'm doing all day, if I get bored, I may eat...so I try not to do that. We really don't keep chips and stuff around, so I'm safe that way. Right now I'm trying my hardest to lose weight.
I haven't met any SAHM yet. My son has health issues so I am pretty much stuck at home until he gets a little stronger.
Supper, My husband coaches so some nights I'm on my own for supper. Other nights I try to have something ready. If son is crabby, then my husband will either make supper for us or take Mitchell while I make supper.
If I've learned 1 thing, it is...I don't have as much time to do things than I thought I would. But again, my situation is a little differnent w/new baby with health probs. I enjoy being home with him though. I would think that if your kids were in school, you could get more done. You'll probably meet other SAHM through the pre-school. Maybe check into if your town has a SAHM play time at the park or a local gym. I know our town has one...our church even has one.
Good luck!!
Katie
QV
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2003
Fri, 05-06-2005 - 11:13pm

All right:) My dh works midnights so our lifestyle is different than the 9-5 household:)


I get up at about 8, shower and eat by 10. Lindsey naps by 10:30 so I clean up a bit put a load of laundry in etc.


I do stick to the normal jeans t-shirt, since I am not working my clothing budget went down the drain:)


I have lost at least 27 pounds since staying home I am under less stress and have time for walking or going to the gym, 8 more pounds and I will have lost 70 pounds since the day I left the hospital:)


I joined a play group that is how I met other moms:)


Sometime I wish we had more money for that nice 2nd car but then I think....would I rather have a volvo or stay home...easy decision for me:)

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Avatar for me_n_my_gals
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 05-07-2005 - 8:11am

Hi Kristi! Well, let me tell you a little about my "routine". Yes, I get up with dh, who gets up at 4:30a.m. every day. BUT, I do not get up to make him breakfast - I get up so I have a little time to myself before the girls get up. Drink my coffee, catch up on some reading, watch the news, etc. Then, at 6 a.m. I take my shower and get ready. The girls are up at 6:40 to get ready for school. By 7:50 they are out the door. THEN, I take my time and eat my breakfast. To keep myself from eating too much and gaining weight, I keep healthy things around that I really enjoy. I cut up veggies once a week and keep them in fridge, I also buy some favorite crackers, cheeses, yogurt, etc. Then, if I do get the urge to have a snack, I just grab something like that. Also, I have a neighbor friend who has 3 young children, and every night after the kiddos are in bed, we go roller blading!! Yes, I cook almost every day, but I enjoy it. The things I do to keep busy: I volunteer at my dd's schools - all the time!! You meet lots of other parents that way. Just get involved. I also do alot for our church, and have activities to keep me busy there, too. I work at my dd's school every day, also. I am their playground monitor (this is a paid position, so I get a little cash out of the deal, too - not to mention, I have the same schedule as the kids). As far as how I dress, I don't get "dressed up", however, I do make sure to do my hair and makeup every day, and I usually wear nice jeans and nice shirts (not old t-shirts, etc.) I found that I got alot more accomplished when I felt good about the way I looked every day (I used to work for 12 years, until 2nd dd was 8 mos. old, then I quit). I have truly enjoyed being home, and I plan to keep it this way for as long as dh and I can handle it. One income is tough - but it can be done. As a matter of fact, we just built a new house, and even tho our mortgage payments went up, we are still managing and are happy. So, anyway, I hope that we can all be of some help to you. Good luck and keep in touch.

Wendy, mom to Katie (8 1/2) and Molly (5 1/2)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Sun, 05-08-2005 - 10:58am

First ?
Well, my husband is home only 21 days and then gone for that, so we really dont have much of a routine for when he is home. We do what we would do if he was gone or home. The kids lives rule the mornings

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2003
Sun, 05-08-2005 - 8:02pm

do you get up at the same time as your DH so you can make him breakfast?


bwahahahahaha! No.


 ~*~ Lauri ~*~

Proud Momma to Austin (9), Brandon (8),
Dylan (5) and Makenna (2½)