Both Kids in School. Now What?

Do what ever you want. Believe me, the day will go by fast. Before you know it, they are coming home and you got nothing done that you planned for the day. LOL

I volunteer in my son's school... love it!
Make dates with any other available SAHMs you are friends with.
Take time for you. Down time. Thinking time.
Volunteer in other areas if it moves you. There are plenty of things which need doing. I know a woman who had her doctorate in brain science and is volunteering at a research lab... her degree, she said, was a little dusty but she's thinking that volunteering will expose her to knew techniques and ideas.

I'm also doing a little side learning on my own, for my own edification-- if that is something which feels fulfilling, go for it. Independent study rocks. :)

I started working doing all types of things that fit into the school schedule.
I also volunteered up at the school.

get a job. train for a marathon. redecorate the house. read everything that's been languishing on your TBR list. volunteer at a retirement home. start a vegetable garden. foster a kitten. take classes at the community college. start a business. clean up trash along the highway. become a master gardener. teach a class. put all your photos in albums. declutter the basement. start canning. become a nature photographer. study a new religion. get a new hobby. take riding lessons. start computer gaming (okay, maybe not that........)
:) khairete
S.

Go back to work? If not that, volunteer at the school, your church, charitable organizations...

Unless your house is as neat as a pin and super-organized, start going room-to-room and go through everything to get rid of what you don't need and organize what's left. It will make you feel great to get all that done. It should take several weeks. Then you'll be ready for the next project...

I volunteered so much that they hired me as a substitute teacher and I'm now on my 14th year of substituting!!!

On top if that, I work with hubby building our company and I am CFO.

My days are full!

I personally would volunteer at the animal shelter like I did before becoming a mom. But not before relaxing, having some fun, then cleaning, organizing stuff in my home, in that order. volunteering in the classroom is great to meet the classmates and get to know the teachers.

But Considering your last question, I would get a job and start saving money. I work part time and it's great.

Bored to tears?? Really??

Just think of it. You will have uninterrupted hours each day to get things done. That sounds like paradise to so many moms who have to go to work to keep a roof over their kids' heads and food in their mouths.

I have been home full time since our oldest was born, 14 years ago. All 3 of our kids are in full day school. I can honestly say I have NEVER had a day that I was bored to tears...or even just slightly bored.

There is so much to do each day. Or even when there is a lot to do, I still take time to do stuff for me. Sit in the sun with a book and a cup of hot tea, or go for a walk with a friend, or go visit a friend who just had surgery.

I make sure that the household stuff is done so when those kids hit the door at 3 pm then I am available to help them with schoolwork, trek them around to extra curriculars or just be mentally and emotionally equipped to support them after their loooong day of school drama. Then when my husband is home we can simply have family time.

I get into a routine each week and have a list of my short term chores and long term chores. I volunteer at all three school in some form or another. I volunteer at church. I visit friends each week. I coordinate get togethers with ladies with the intent of creating a support network in my neighborhood/community. I keep in touch with family members by sending emails with pictures. There is shopping, meal planning and birthdays to plan. There are doctor appointment for our family and furry family members.

Soooo much to do...so little time even while being home full time. Enjoy the time. Don't feel obligated to fill every second of the day.

And...there are some days when I do nothing besides go exercise with a girlfriend and then spend some time on Mamapedia while eating a big bowl of scrumptious strawberry Greek yogurt and talk about how busy some of my days are :)

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid? When you finished school? If you need to, go back to school and then pursue a career. I don't know how old you are, but you likely have 20-30 working years ahead of you. Find a career you love and do it.

I went back to work.

I started working part time! And continued to volunteer at school and in Girl Scouts.

When my kids were both in school full time I thought I would have too much time on my hands. I had a part time job, went back to school, volunteered at the school, served on a committee at church etc. I didn't have time to do my housework!

Congratulations!! This is huge!!! We are done with elementary school here at our house!! My oldest is in high school now...yikes!!!

Volunteer at the school.

Go back to school yourself. Get certified or a degree in something that interests you...

I went back to work. I got a part time job...which led to my current job and I get to work from home....

Everything Suz T said, or....

Do nothing at all!

Imagine that!

:)

If you want to remain available for school vacations and in case of illnesses, then volunteer instead of getting a job. Volunteering can be in the schools (but not in your child's classroom - generally not allowed and hardly ever a good idea), but it can also be in any other community function. Decide what interests you: political campaigns need lots of help between now and November, literacy programs need help with new Americans, nursing homes and senior centers need people to come in and lead a sing-along or help do a large crossword puzzle up on a screen, churches and non-profits needs all kinds of things such as office help and newsletters (on line), animal shelters need lots of help welcoming and walking abandoned and surrendered pets looking for their forever homes.

Look into volunteering in an area where you had experience previously, or try something entirely new. You might work yourself into a job offer at some point but you will have more opportunities if you don't tell them you're looking for a job, just looking to make a difference.

I've been a member of a women's chorus that meets every week for 90 minutes and which performs concerts in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, taking music to those who cannot get out to take advantage of cultural opportunities in the greater community. It's specifically set up to cater to people with limited time and who have kids in school. I'm sure there are plenty of similar opportunities in your neck of the woods.

Take this time to do something for YOU. That's the advantage of not doing something in the schools - this can really be YOUR time, something many moms don't get enough of!

I'm chair person for our high school post prom committee. (Lots of work)
I am also co-chair of another organization I belong to.
I also am involved with an Art Goes to School group in our district.
Lastly, I am actually making money by doing something that started out as simply a hobby. (I am a self taught mosaic artist and have my work in a gallery and take commissions so I spend a lot of time making art and preparing for local juried art shows)

Good luck...it is really an amazing opportunity to be a SAHM with kids in school.😊. Enjoy your time.

When my older kids all went to preschool, I was laid off a month later. I volunteered at school, had some time to myself---never got that before--and enjoyed a clean house while it lasted. Which was about an hour after they got home. I did get stir crazy after a few months though.

Volunteer--kids' school, church, hospital, library, nursing home, Meals on Wheels. It doesn't have to be everyday. Even just a couple of days a week.

I work full-time, so I don't have this issue, but I can tell you what happens when I take a week off and stay at home. Even with the kids in school, I'm insanely busy. Cleaning the house, grocery shopping, running errands, taking care of things I can't do when I'm at work (banking, MVA, etc). I was able to get up a little later, enjoy some time with my kids before school...but I was busy. Taking care of kids and a house is a lot of work.

So I suggest you just see how things go. If you find yourself bored, Suz T gave a lot of great options :).

Maybe go back to school yourself? I have considered going back to get new skills or complete my Master's. You can always learn new things.

Go back to work or volunteer.

I feel ya! My youngest just started preschool. He only goes two days a week for now, but I'm already asking myself what should I do?
So far, I've taken the time to clean like crazy which is hard to do when they're all home. Next year he'll go a lot more so I'll really need to figure it out.
But I agree w/ some other answers. Volunteer, or pick up a part time job. Animal shelters, nursing homes are both great places to give your time to. Start up your own side business. I've been trying to come up with something that I could make on the side for some extra $$ but I'm not the craftiest person.
Take this time to spend on you, and doing things you like. Being a SAHM you can really lose yourself. I'm in the same boat! Good luck, and relax while you can :)

Volunteer!! I'm sure your school could use you! I volunteer in my kids' classrooms and help with PTO stuff. They can keep you plenty busy!

My kids are 11 and 14 and I stay home. I do the house stuff, watch all my favorite shows on the DVR, do my hobbies, meet with other SAHM's at my house every wed (we call ourselves Chatty Chicks or Crafty Chicks, if we have crafts to work on for our churches holiday boutique that's coming up), I volunteer at our churches food pantry on Friday mornings, I help out our churches office manager with whatever needs done, meet friends for coffee or lunch whenever we can, and on occasion go shopping with friends.

I actually last week just decided I was going to work full time. Then over the weekend my van started overheating so we just sold it to the mechanic this afternoon because it basically needs a new engine and it's not worth the repairs. So now I'm really stuck at home. lol

My kids are 12 and 15 and I am a stay at home mom. I do laundry, clean house, shop, handle the bills/finances, home repairs, estimates for projects, yard work, cooking, car maintenance (taking it to the shop, etc). Organize parties, handle correspondence - with teachers, etc. Walk the dog. De-skunk the dog - anything that comes up, I handle. There is never enough time. I have started working part time - sewing for a small business owner. But I am very busy. Your time will start to fill in.