Planning to Be a SAHM

Dear Tiki,

Take your children to the storytimes at the Euless and Grapevine public libraries on a regular basis. You will meet other mothers there with children the same age as yours. Be friendly and get to know them. Your childen will enjoy the programs and also seeing the same kids each week at the library. It is free! Then, spend some time before or after the programs in the children's section of the library checking out books and tapes for your kids. Your children will grow to love these special outings with Mom. You will emjoy getting out of the house with them. If YOU need a break though, there are many good Mother's Day Out programs run by area churches to check in to.

Restoration Church in Euless has a T/Th 9-2p.m. Parents Day Program www.restorationdfw.org

http://www.restorationdfw.org/site/index.php?option=com_c...

2 days a week or just 1 day a week

find a playgroup in your area- try meetup.com! I found our playgroup (for Grand Prairie) there and we have activities to go to almost every day of the week (you choose to attend whatever you want). Cost is only $5 a year for our group- then you pay for whatever activity you want to do if there is a cost (like zoo entrance...) we do lots of in home playdates, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, zoo, aquarium, parties for each holiday, libraries, music classes... fun! My 21 month old is usually ready for nap afterward, and I feel connected with the outside world.

I love going to Pardise Pond at First Baptist Grapevine. This is a giant playroom that is $1/person (even infants). Check the church website for open play times. I am a teacher so I haven't been in a while!

Not much advice since I made this leap when my boys were older than that, but I wanted to say "congratulations!" I wish I had left the corporate world a long time ago. The years go by so fast and it's wonderful that you will have that precious time with your little ones.

I know Grapevine library has a story time on Wednesdays during the summer; not sure about the rest of the year. Colleyville library as well. Check the Star-Telegram and local paper for weekly events. Children's Courtyard on Glade and 121 has a part-time option.

Good luck! I hope you find full-time SAHM status as fulfilling as I have.

BTW, if you're interested in earning some pocket money of your own, email me. I found a great, reputable company with a very no-pressure compensation plan that has helped fill my need to still have a paycheck of my own while having time to be PTA President, Cub Scouts Den Leader and Full-time Mom.

Blessings,

____@____.com

Hi T.:

I belong to the Coppell/Valley Ranch Early Childhood PTA. It's a great group of moms who stay home with their children. We have several groups you can join specific to your childs ages, also, we have outings once a month or so for everyone. Fun things like the Arboratum, Pumpkin Patch, Dentists office, Dallas World Aquarium, Pump it Up, etc.

The best part of all is that you are not required to attend anything. You join the groups, you will get email reminders of what and where, and you show up if it fits into your schedule.

We have a great group of moms who also used to be a part of the corporate world. Lots of smart ladies. And it also gives you a chance to talk to other grown ups during the day!

I believe the annual membership is $20. We also have a few fundraisers during the year to help with some charities, such as Baylor House for Children. I head up the Cancer Closet. Members donate small items for the children at Childrens Medical Center. After the children get chemo or radiation, they get to pick a gift from the Cancer Closet. I can't tell you how special it is to me to be able to help in this small way.

Our website is www.cvrecpta.org

Hope to see you at the next general meeting!

Hi T. -I made that transition and although at times I need some adult conversation (which is why getting involved in local moms groups and playgroups is a good idea - it is for the moms more than the kids!) it has been great. You might want to check out www.burbmom.net where we post about things to do with your kids in the DFW area daily. There is also an online social network for moms to connect.

Woodland Heights Baptist Church has a Mothers Day Out program called Creative Beginnings. It is Tues and Thurs from 9 til 2:30 during the school year, for 155.00 per month. I am pleased with the program. They are located on Central Dr. near Cheek Sparger.

Hi T., I live in Euless, and I would highly recommend you get involved with the HEB MOMS Club or the Grapevine/Colleyville MOMS Club. You'll be eligible for one or the other depending on which city you live in (the International MOMS Club is very strict about city boundaries - check www.momsclub.org to find out which club you would fit into, or PM me with your info and I can point you in the right direction), and both are large and very active. We have monthly meetings, bi-weekly playgroups, park days, field trips, and a monthly moms' night out. There's also a great MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at First Baptist Euless. It's really more focused on the needs of the moms, but they have activities during the monthly meeting for the kids, and usually they have at least one activity a month for moms and kids together (at least they did last year; I'm not in it this year). Aside from that, Euless has preschool and toddler story times on Wednesday mornings, Hurst has story times for preschoolers on Tues and Thurs and for toddlers on Mon and Thurs (I think - it's been awhile since we've been there), and Grapevine has story times on Fridays, I think - and puppet shows once a month. My boys (ages 4 and 2) are also involved in Kindermusik, which is great for social interaction. Hope all this helps!

Check out your local MOMS Club. You'll find tons of resources and support. You can get your children involved in a playgroup, take part in activities, etc. Getting to know other SAHMs has been a life saver for me (and my friends). It's low cost -- membership's about $20 and many activities, such as playgrouops, are free.

That is so awesome! You are going to love being a SAHM! I made that transition shortly after my daughter was born after working in the corporate world for ten years. It is wonderful, but there are transition challenges. I enrolled my then 1 year old, in a Gymboree Play Program and it was a great experience for both of us. We were able to form a playgroup with several of the friends we met there. We attended in Lewisville, but I am sure you can find one in the Grapevine area. Also, if you get the "itch" to work part time or have something to "dabble" in (I ended up needing that :) ), I have a great business opportunity for you to take a look at. Good Luck with everything!! C.

Try www.meetup.com for a playgroup. I am not in your area, but try things like Little Gym, Kindermusik, Gymboree, and your local libraries. Pick up the Dallas Child magazine to give you other ideas. Congratulations, being a SAHM is a lot of hard work and sacrifice but so worth it if you can do it!