Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Just wondering....
Ok, I need to know how many of you "play" with your kids all day long. I mean, I take my kids to the park, ride bikes, color (occasionally), read stories (at night) and things like that, but I will admit I hardly "play" with my kids all day long. It's pretty rare that I sit and play a *board* game, I find it difficult to do crafts because they end up in more of a mess and disaster than is worth the clean up and I definitely don't entertain them. Sometimes I feel like the TV does a better job than I do. I am willing to admit this, because most people I know barely let their kids watch any TV. And I think this is a great rule, but it just doesn't work for me. Madeline has a friend lots of the time and she goes to preschool, so she stays busy, but when she is home, she tends to be "bored." So my question to you all is what do you do with your kids all day long? I'm finding life to be a little on the "boring" side right about now. You know, a little mundane? I know I'm due for a vacation, but that's not happening, so I need to know what you do. When I lived in Vegas, there was a playgroup that I would take Maddie to 3+ times a week. It was fabulous because it got us out of the house, but I don't have that luxury anymore and so we spent lots of time at home. I need to get out every once in a while....*sigh* Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids, I LOVE staying home with them and I wouldn't change it for the world. I just want to be a "really great mom" and I'm at a loss. Any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. Anyone else in this situation? And cleaning my house just isn't an option right now...
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9 comments:
Every kid gets bored. Chase is actually really good about that stuff-he spends a LOT of time outside-backyard? That's what I do...send him outside. I'm no help :) You are a great mom and not the only one.
I struggle with this too and often feel like a bad mom. My kids are really good with entertaining themselves. They come up with ideas on their own and have never said they were bored or acted like it. I think that is why I have kind of taken advantage of it. I hope you get some good ideas, cause I could use some as well.
Yep it's spring break here right now and my kids are going crazy. I would organize a playgroup. If not possible then schedule playdates. That seems to save me. But no I do not Play all day. I do not have that luxury nor patience.
Well count me in on letting me my kids watch tv. My kids entertain themselves really well, and although we don't watch tv all day, it is on from time to time throughout the day. A lot of the time it is on, but no one is watching it, but if I turn it off the boys get mad. I guess they like the noise, I don't know. I am not good at playing either, I mean I will, if they ask me to join in, but I am not good at it. Sorry I am no help, but you are not alone or the only one who doesn't do this. You are a great Mom!
I would go to your local library and ask for any tourist flyers. I am sure within 30 minutes of you there are several "random" tourists sites you could visit. Make it an all day trip with the kids and pack a lunch, find a park, take some pictures to blog later. :) Getting out of the house ALWAYS helps my "mundane" days fly by!
Don't feel bad girl, I go through boring bouts too. I'll admit, it's nice once you have one in school and another in preschool just to break up the day. While they're gone Chloe and I go to the gym so she gets some kind of interaction and so she's ready for a nap. When we all get home we have lunch and then I let the kids watch a little tv or play video games. We usually have a little quiet time where they have to color, read or do school work. We have a little time where they help with household chores. And hopefully by then it is dinner and bath time! But, I am not super good at keeping my schedule (especially when I was as far along as you) There were many days spent on the couch listening to Dora! I wish you were here, we are all having a park play date tomorrow. Hope this helped a bit!
We have so many toys for all ages of development. Sometimes I bust out a toy or activity they have forgotten about. Or a toy that a younger child is finally developmentally ready for. It is more fun for them if I play too. Force yourself. I know you don't like board games but there really are a lot of skills they develope by playing games. Unfortunately your girls are not old enough to play them on their own yet so in the mean time it's all you. They like to see me crawling through the tunnel or see me play Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots. They love hide and go seek or to play with the walkie talkies...real ones. I read to them during the day because at night I just want them in bed. I recently let my 7 year old look through a kids cookbook. He chose something he wanted to make for dinner. He helped with the list and the shopping. We made it together and since he was with me in the kitchen he wasn't doing his usual wrestling with little brother and driving me crazy. (That all happened during clean up.) Now the 4 year old wants to pick a food to make another day. I hope this helps. Don't feel bad. We all go through it. I just take one day at a time and try to make it to 8:00 pm.
You are getting some great ideas. I am with ya. I don't do a lot of playing. but i did decide when they ask, make time- it seems like if I play for 5 min its satisfying to them. Or I get them started on something- like a great barbie set up or a car city.. And my kids love projects... but there are some less messy ones that are simple. Like stamps- the melissa and Doug brand make great kid sets. so my advice is to get them started, and then slip away.
Hi Jilene-
This is your old not-so-great-of-a-roommate Jennifer. I thought I'd do a search to see if any of my old roommates also have blogs and here I am. It's fun to see what people are up to these days. Congrats on baby #3. You can check out my blog by clicking on "Website" in my profile.
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