What Do You Stay at Home Moms/wifes Do??

Updated on April 04, 2012
J.C. asks from Mabank, TX
24 answers

hello ladys i'm about to go crazy from sitting in the house so much...i clean do laundry cook what else is there to do i dont have little one's anymore to keep me busy:( we moved closer to my husband job so we have nobody up here im not sure how to go about meeting new friends:/ its causing me and my husband problems bc he works all day so there for he dont care to do much during the week...we aint rich so i cant shop much...i would love to get a job but i dont have a ged:( i feel lost in this small town nobody to talk to are nothing to do:(

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K.B.

answers from Detroit on

Umm, how about you get your GED, then think about a part-time job and some classes at a community college? Think about setting some goals for yourself and start working toward them.

14 moms found this helpful
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A.A.

answers from Tulsa on

If you're bored and have too much time on your hands it sounds like a perfect time to get your GED. That will open up a world of opportunities, either for work or for going on with your education. Good luck!

6 moms found this helpful
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B.R.

answers from Madison on

Well I am going for my bachlors and I have three kids under 7 years of age...you could go for your GED

6 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

For starters go get your GED...

Go volunteer in your community.. the schools and hospitals always need good volunteers. Be prepared to have a solid background check.

Get a part time job

Be a part of the community, be involved, help your community grow.

Do something to enrich yourself, set goals, go to school....learn. WIthout sounding completey snarky... take some English classes on writing, sentence structure, proper grammar.... LOTS of things to do.

Change your attitude from from negative to positive... it makes a world of difference.

5 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hello
I second what others have written below.. AND as someone whom at age 19 got their GED.. there is no time like the present.. Most community colleges offer the GED prep courses and if not there, many adult learning centers.. There are definitely some resources out there that can assist you and at a low rate. Why not give that a try? one, it could boost your confidence and two, you might meet other like minded adults who are also studying for it. From my experience, there was a wide variety of ages taking the test...
Give it a try and see how it goes.. You ll be glad you did.. I know when I finally got it done, I felt so much better about myself. I accomplished something that many of my biological family members had not..

5 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

You could really benefit from finishing your education and getting your GED. Not that you need a GED for all jobs (like the service industry) but with your GED you could gain quite a few skills that will help you get into the workforce into a better job that could provide you with decent income and benefits as well as a way to spend your time. Many GED programs include some sort of career counseling and job placement services.

And I don't say this to be cruel but you could really improve your grammar and writing skills. Even if you don't pursue your GED, I bet you could find some free on-line resources to work on skills like writing. I know that when we're on-line we tend to write casually, but if your posts here are at all a reflection of where your writing skills are, improving those skills will help you a lot as you pursue your education and possibly look for jobs. Again, I hope that doesn't sound mean but much of the way that we interact with the world today is via writing so in some situations, it's important that you present yourself as best you can.

What are your plans for retirement? If your kids are teenagers or young adults then retirement will be here sooner than you think (even 25 years away isn't that long). Even if you don't need the income, you may want to consider working towards a job that has some kind of retirement savings benefits so that you can build a nice little nest egg for those golden years. My company administers retirement plans and we have many plan participants who are women who went to work after raising their families who put as much as they legally can into their retirement accounts each year. Many of these women are low wage earners whose husbands' salaries cover their bills while theirs is a way to sock away more for retirement. Use your time wisely!

4 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Go get your GED! You can also audit community college courses on anything you're interested in -you have to pay for them, but it's not like full college tuition -it's simply for your own information and enjoyment.

See what volunteer opportunities are available -hospitals, nursing homes, homeless charities, animal rescues and charities -they're all always needing an extra pair of hands, and it's also a great way to meet others in your community!

4 moms found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Youngstown on

Can you volunteer at your kids school or a hospital or local library?

4 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Charleston on

Take the time while you have it to study and get your GED. Volunteer in your community - everywhere is looking for good people to volunteer - schools, churches, nursing homes, etc... Make an effort to get out there and just do it. Good luck!

4 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Kansas City on

Go get your GED, then go get a job. That way you will have something to do, and everyone will be happy.

3 moms found this helpful
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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

Is your glass half full or half empty? There is sooooo much to do in this world. Some ideas:

work on yourself; education, read, learn to sew, make crafts to sell
volunteer in your community
get a job

3 moms found this helpful

M.Q.

answers from Detroit on

I agree w/the others! Getting your GED sounds like a great idea as well as great advice.

3 moms found this helpful
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R.Y.

answers from New York on

The library is free and usually has lots of info about community activities including GED programs. Also it is always nice to have one or more non-controversial hobbies (gardening, crafts, cooking, whatever). It is a good ice breaker in most situations. Volunteer or join a club that fits your interests.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

Do you like elderly people? How about being a caregiver or a companion? If you like kids, you could always look at getting into babysitting or being a nanny.

What do I do? Answer: ALOT. Aside from the usual cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and planning the weekly menu, I do the painting, redecorating, maintenance, yard work, clean the cars, balance the budget, take care of my elderly mother's responsibilities because she can't anymore, and somewhere in there, I make an effort to raise my kids. My breaks are usually spent on this website which I enjoy or I'm talking to my best friend. My days fly. Somedays, I feel totally whipped . Just when I think I can sit down, something needs to be done or someone needs me for something. I am never bored. If I ever think for a minute that I'm bored, than there is something that needs to be done that I have neglected not to do.

2 moms found this helpful

G.T.

answers from Redding on

I think I'd be studying for the GED and then go take it, and then go take some courses at a local community college.

2 moms found this helpful

N.P.

answers from San Francisco on

I have a zillion hobbies and interests and could keep myself occupied all day. I love to read, tinker with computers and research things (ask a question and then fall down the rabbit hole online). There's always a good show to be found online that I haven't seen before or something to do in the yard. I have a half written book that I flush out every so often and add a few more pages to. I like to paint and if I had access to a kiln I would take sculpting back up in a heartbeat. I like to pretend I'm living back in the 1900's and hand write letters to friends using a quill and ink. (Not the dippable quills though, I make a horrible mess with those, they make quill pens out of metal now that you can fill up with ink. Much nicer!) I have a pet that can take up many satisfying hours caring for.

Find something that sparks your interest and follow it down the yellow brick road. You'll entertain yourself for years. But yea, like the others said, the GED would be a wonderful project that would keep you occupied for a while and would give you much satisfaction from completing.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Raleigh on

Don't feel bad, I feel the same way! I just graduated college and I am looking for a work from home job, and haven't had any luck yet, plus my background ain't too great either. I am not sure about 'how' to meet new people either.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi! You answered your own question! Spend your free time working on your education:) Many people don't go back because they don't have the time. You have all the time in the world. I'm not sure how to start. Maybe contact a local community college. You could get your GED and then move on to the community college. Go for it!!!!

1 mom found this helpful

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

My kids are little and I'm not very social aside from seeing adults at kid-related events, but here is a list of things I do-or wish I could do but I don't have enough time. Exercise every day. Paint. Write. Write and Illustrate a book. Learn a new language. Get an online degree. Read a million books. Watch a million movies. Purge trouble spots in my house and organize. Volunteer in my community. Get a job for extra income.

What I really do is housework, kid stuff, exercise and a tiny bit of painting or writing. After dinner I read to the kids, baths, etc before watching an hour of Law and Order or reading one or two pages of a book in bed and passing out.

If I were you I'd get a ged and take it from there! If you want to work, that's the best way to make friends, keep busy, and get money. If the ged is holding you back-fix that first!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Atlanta on

I think getting your GED would be a great way to spend your time. If you're not interested, though, how about some volunteer work? I am a SAHM with children too young to be in school, but I made friends through my volunteer work with the animal rescue I work with, and I was doing good work at the same time.

Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

We joined a Meet Up. I freelance and now have a steady gig but didn't used to. The Meet Up got us out, gave me new friends, etc. Since you seem like you have time for YOU, what do you like to do? Books you want to read? Adventures you want to take? Maybe call up the local HS and ask them what adult education programs they know about and get that GED or diploma. My MIL got her diploma years after having children so it's not too late.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

A former coworker was in the same place you are. Her youngest was a senior in high school and she was just bored. She had not worked in over 10 years so had a big gap. She started spending a couple hours every day studying for the GED. Then when she felt she was ready, took the test. Then she started looking online for things that interested her and studied up on them. She spent hours in the library. She told me once she decided that since her girls were in school for 8 hours a day, she could do it too. Her early hours were taking care of the house and then 3 or 4 hours of "school" at the library or on the computer. there is a website that was put together by a guy that deicded it is not fair for some people to not have access to learning. It has a ton of subjects and I plan to visit it often, and have my kids go on as well. This might give you a little insight to what you want to do with your time. you never know. When you learn something new, it can lead you to friendships. Don't under value what you have to offer.
www.khanacademy.org/

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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

Let's see I've been a stay at home mom for more or less over 8 years. In that time I've found that I do the typical house cleaning and care of children. However, I've also found that I keep myself busy with reading books, and am currently trying to further my education as well, just filed the fafsa yesterday. I have a son with autism so on weeks such as this, spring break, I work on all of his therapies and new ways to incorporate typical things into his day.

Definitely look into getting your GED, I'm sure there are programs in your area that can help you out. As far as getting a job goes try to find a work-study program that will work with you while getting your GED. I only have a high school diploma and I've been out of school and the workforce for 10 and 5 years respectively. I wish you the best.

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Definitely go to school!

I think I will always be in school for something - I just can't see myself not getting too bored otherwise. And trust me, I've got plenty to do outside of school. But that is a great step to take to better your future and show your little one that nothing is out of reach :).

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