Bored, Lonely, Trapped SAHM.. Help!?

Question

I have a 13 month old daughter and I am a sahm. I am going through the worst time right now because I live in a very hot part of Arizona. I can't take her outside to play, it's far too hot. I can only do errands in the early morning or at night. I can't afford the gas money to leave the house a lot, and she HATES her carseat. She even gets upset when I take her to the mall in her stroller. If she can't walk around she is a grumpy little girl. Doing anything just becomes miserable. If it wasn't so hot I'd walk to the park with her and it would take up a good part of the day.

I don't even know what to do inside the house. I only let her watch 1 or 2 t.v shows and then it's like horrible silence through out the house. I am just bored, lonely and I feel guilty that we're both stuck inside. When I do take her out it's a battle of listening to her whine the whole time.

Just looking for advice. Today is extra hard for some reason..

Answer 1

Let her color and draw.

Answer 2

Honey, what you need is something for BOTH of you. Look into joining a moms' club in your area. They usually offer age-specific playgroups (which are GREAT for socializing for moms and the kids) as well as social outings and moms' nights out. We lived in Austin, TX while my first daughter was very young and playing outside in the summer was not an option (aside from being hot there were scorpions and fire ants to contend with in the lawn). The mothers' group saved my sanity!!

Aside from that, I know she hates the carseat but a library is a wonderful thing and they usually offer story times and checking out books is free. Alternatively try Borders/Barnes & Noble in your area for story times.

If you can't get to a pool try playing in the tub. When my girls were that age they LOVED playing in the bath tub (still do, actually!) which can take up a good half an hour or longer chomping away at the day.

Best of luck to you!!

Answer 3

Try www.momsclub.org

This group saved my life and now I'm a very active member.  It was hard for me to meet new moms, but they have all been there too so they know what you going through.

Answer 4

I feel your pain.  We live in Queen Creek AZ.  Parks are not an option.  Driving is not an option with gas prices this high(and all the cool stuff like moms groups and indoor playlands and what not are in the metro) so its just me, and two three year olds all day long.  Here is what we try to do to be sane.

(ok I presume you have no backyard.  if so buy a ten dollar pool and have a baby pool party)

We have certain TV shows we watch together: Cyou(sp??its on pbs) she might not like it though, so try baby einstien instead.  Thats what they were into at that age.  The other one is usually the pick of the day disney movie.  The rest of the time we do these activities, not in any order, but as they come up and fit into everyones mood:

Clay play.  Wax paper the heck out of your table, a chair, and part of the kitchen floor, and go to town.  Show her everything you can about clay.  How it sticks to everything, how to roll clay balls, make a snake, a flower, and with any luck she will pick it up and be off with the idea.  

Coloring

Finger paint the bathroom tub

pretend cooking lessons:  pots, pans, tuperware, and spoons, add water and a little flour(depends on how much you want to clean up when your done) and viola!  You've made a great pretend meal.

turn the living room furniture set into a jugle, full of tunnels(blankets over the tables) animals(stuffed of course) at every turn, and for fun, add a treat she likes to each area she can access, when she finds it she will love it.  if she is walking well enough to sort of joggle across a room, play fetch.  Seriously.  If you could have been a fly on the wall in my house last summer you may have thought my kids were indeed doggies.  

paper airplanes.

Treat you both to a movie with sound effects that will keep her interested, and a plot to distract you, make a really nice big bowl of something(ice cream, pop corn, M&M's) and relax.  

Try to meet someone close by with little ones and get to be freinds with them.  share the misery of the heat inside with good company.  

if all else fails, and your at your wits end, never mind the mess, make up a game with items that are normally off limits.  Its distracting to her, this new thing you are both doing, and anyway, its liberating to dump all the clean cloths in the middle of your clean living room and have a cloths ball fight.  

See my options are a little odd but I can't come up with new stuff either sometimes, so we just make it all up as we go along, and hope for the best.  And cooler temps.  Today its supposed to be 107, humid, and my guys want to fly a kite(no thanks!!)

Answer 5

How about doing projects with her. This is a fun one....get black paper and chalk and let her draw, my daughter loved that! Or other fun projects, I am sure if your search you can find some that are age appropriate. A cold sprinkler to jum through in the yard would be something she could do without over heating, get your suit on and play too!

I wish I could help more, we live where summer is tolerable...it's 78 degrees and sunny today, it's perfect. Sorry, it's soooo hot where you live! But look at it this way...when January rolls around you will have many activies to do with your daughter outside and it will be -20 degrees here and I will be going nuts and you can give me suggestions on what to do in the house! LOL!

Answer 6

If you have space, maybe a little play pool outside in the shade with some waterproof sunscreen would be fun.  I also agree with the first answerer, a little indoor play date would be a good idea as well.

Sorry you are feeling alone.  I know how hot AZ can get and it is absolutely miserable, so I feel your pain.  Just try to make it through the summer.  Hopefully temperatures will get a little better soon.  God, I would just move...lol!  All the best to you :)

Answer 7

gets her some stuff like play doh finger paint coloring books buy some kids cds you can play while she is playing so she can dance and stuffin really just keep her busy blocks make her play in her room a little bit by her self she might whine but she will get use to it

Answer 8

I'm not a sahm, but I live in central Florida so I know what you're talking about with the heat (everyday is 92 degrees or more and muggy as all h**l).  I take my daughter to the park early in the morning on the weekends while the weather is still fairly cool and let her run herself ragged on the playground (well as much running as a 14 month old can do).  

I take her to the mall also and let her walk around the less crowded sections of the mall until she gets tired and wants to sit in her stroller.  Why don't you arrange play dates or attend a mommy and me class/group.  My friend is a sahm and she joined a group that arranges play dates and activities during the day.  I'm sure they have something like that in your area.

Answer 9

Children need to burn up energy..try and putting on some music for children and dance with her! Have fun.

http://store.mp3tunes.com/album_details....

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/music-li...

http://www.cookiemag.com/entertainment/r...

Answer 10

do you have a little tiny pool or a sprinkler? babies really like that. you can just let them play in it when there is too much heat...and it is also good if they are bored. you could also try engaging her with activities like removing pots and pans from the cabinet and banging them or let her help you do the dishes. they like that too.If you do not have a pool or sprinkler let the child play in the tub or shower with some toys. Drawing is a good activity and it is good for them.Have the child help you construct something like a play fort with pillows and blankets and chairs.Maybe you could start a playgroup at your house if there is other mother's with kids you know.I am sorry...I know it is rough hun, I have been there...you will get through it.

Answer 11

I have this problem to as being a SAHM for my 21 month old and my 5 year old and doing daycare. My kids love playdough, making cookies, fingerpaints, coloring, painting. I know that she is young but watch her little face light up as she gets to do those things.

Answer 12

Do you know of any other friends that might be in situation. You could call them and invite them over for a play date.