Mommy's with small kids. How do you relax?

Question

How do you relax? When hubby is gone and it is just you and the kids and no one to help with them.

Looking for new ways to help unwind so I can be a better mommy. With out leaving the kids (4yrs & 8months) with someone else for a while. DH works nights so I am alone with them most of the time.

Answer 1

Usually give them a bath in the evening after dinner, then we get ready for bed and read a story or play on the floor w/blocks.

during the day i try to time my 2 yr olds naps w/my 9 1/2 month old's nap. and then i watch some TV or read, or take a nap w/them all snuggled up together.

we go for long walks at the duck pond and feed the ducks then walk over the the park and go swing and slide.

set up an art station and let them finger paint in ratty old shirts, or use sidewalk chalk and decorate the driveway.

buy a huge thing of bubbles at the toy store or walmart and have a bubble day in the front yard.

set up the baby pool and other outdoor toys in the yard.

there are other things that i would consider "relaxed" that other ppl probably wouldn't. I'm used to parenting alone. my husband deploys overseas A LOT and so i have to play both mommy and daddy. it's things like this that i consider relaxing. being home w/my kids, having fun.

Answer 2

I am a mother of three young kids (3, 2 and 1) and my husband is currently deployed.  What I do is I do things for myself when the kids nap.  If the oldest won't nap, then he's allowed to lay on the couch and watch a movie.  While they are all sleeping (or whatever) I hop in the tub.  I get on the internet.  I call my best friend.  I write letters to my husband.  Just whatever I feel like doing at that moment.  I use to try to hurry and clean while they were sleeping, but I've stopped doing that.  There's always time to clean, but there's not always time for me to do things that I like to do, so I take the chance when I can.

Answer 3

A play yard (or pack-n-play) and Baby Einstein.

Answer 4

this site

Answer 5

You don't :)  

Ha, I only have a 3 year old daughter and she doesn't stop from the second she wakes up until the second her head hits that pillow.  

1 thing that does work for me though is sitting my daughter down in bed with me and putting on a Disney movie.  Maybe with a snack, cheerios or something that both kids can eat.  Also, coloring entertains her pretty well.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Swimming in baby pool in yard or at municipal pool.  Sprinklers.  Ice cream sandwiches on the porch.  Movie night (ok, maybe not for the infant).  Play dates with children whose parents you like (lots of those).  Play dates at the beach.  Looking for fireflies.  I know it's hard not to lose your patience.  Really, what you may want to do is set up a schedule for your 4 year old so he's more or less self-sufficient for some portion of the day (preferably when the baby is napping).  Like, he gets his own breakfast and gets himself dressed and teeth brushed.  Or you have 30 minutes where it's playtime by himself for him when you read the paper or whatever it is you want to do.  I know he'll put up a fight at first, but like anything, he'll get used to it and will be learning a valuable skill in how to keep himself busy.

Answer 7

Two nights ago, my husband was staying with his mother in the hospital (she's fine now) and I was home all day and night with the kids (11, 8, 6, 3, and 1). We swam and swam all day. Then I went out for a walk with them at dusk. We got some ice cream (that was a special treat dinner) from the ice cream man. We put the baby to bed. Then we went into the pool in the dark (special treat for them). When we went inside, the older 2 went upstairs to bed, but my 6 and 3 year old daughter had a sleepover downstairs. Just throw some PJ's on, blow-up and air mattress, and watch a movie with popcorn. It was a great, tiring night. Honestly, that is how I wind down. Spending special time with them. No screaming and fighting.

I also like my mommy time though. Some days when all h**l breaks loose, I tell everyone that mommy is getting a headache and everyone needs to play with there quiet toys in their room. My infant goes into her crib. Then I spend a little time to myself, folding laundry, cleaning, or cooking in peace. It's surprisingly still relaxing.

Another thing is to put them all down for bed/nap. Then take a hot bubble bath or read a book. Or, go to the bathroom without kids crying or screaming to come in. Just quiet is always good for me.