Help.. Going Nuts..... :)

Hi A., Have you considered a home based business? I work from home sharing Usborne Books and learning games with families and schools. I started when my second child was born and I left a full time job. It's been a great thing for us to have the second income and I love the *complete* control I have over my schedule so I can be with my kids when I need to. Plus I am part of a team of moms who support each other in this business. We are colleagues and friends too. :) And I really like knowing that I'm promoting literacy and learning for kids in my community too. If you'd like to know more visit my website at www.FindTheDuck.com. Or zip me an email, I'll be happy to help.
C.

I would suggest joining moms club. It gives you places to go and you meet lots of people. And yes you do need time to adjust, also when the weather gets warmer, youll be able to go on walks and to the park, also great ways to meet other moms in the area. Hang in there and get a good book.

Hey, I definitely feel you on this. I'm still in school and still feel bored at home and missing my husband a lot--"get out and make friends" is definitely easier said than done. (he is a homicide detective, so I don't see him too much either). I don't know what your financial constraints are, but perhaps enrolling at a gym with childcare and taking some sort of classes (yoga, dance, etc.) will help you meet people, and give you something fun to do. Being active gives you energy and helps to stay positive. A part-time job isn't a bad idea, but if it's not something you need to do but want to, get one somewhere fun that you would really want to be so that it doesn't add to your stress.
One more thing that could be a possibility (not sure if this works for you) but perhaps a hobby? Some like scrapbooking, gardening, cooking, sewing, art (paint/draw), for me it's photography.
Just a few thoughts, I hope some of it was helpful!

Best wishes!
L. L.

Hi A.,
I was exactly in your shoes three years ago. I left my job and moved across the country. My advice is to get out there and meet people. Find local play groups and moms clubs so you can at least have some adult convesation during the day. If you like to excercise, think about joining the YMCA. They have child care and sponsor several family events throughout the year. Things will get better when the weather turns warm. Then you will be outside more. If you neighborhood has a pool, use it. You will meet lots of other moms and kids.

As much as I love and appreciate staying at home, I missed work and having somthing of my own and using my brain. After about 6 months at home I started a business in direct sales. It was perfect because I could work when I wanted (nap time and evenings) and it gave me the outlet I needed to get out with women and be me. The few hours away each week rejuvinates me and gets me excited to spend the day with my daughters.

It goes by fast! Enjoy your daughter!

We have moved quite a bit over the years and I think I have a good understanding of how you are feeling. I think it would help you to have some contact with other people. Even the Internet, with its wonderful ability to connect people virtually, is not a substitute for human contact. Have you checked volunteermatch.org? I ask this because there are often volunteer positions that are more flexible with time commitments than a part-time job would be and this would help you avoid day care if that is your concern. There is a Y in Vickery Village in Cumming (this may be too much of a drive for you but perhaps there is a similar program in Canton - we just moved here 6 months ago so I am not an expert on the area!) that has child care. You could get some exercise which will help your mood and meet some other moms who probably feel a lot like you do right now. Hope this helps, S.

We moved here from NY about a year and a half ago. My sone was only 5 weeks! Now he is about 18 months. I needed something to do and someone had given me a sample of Arbonne's anti-aging skin care line. I felt like I could use some pampering, so I gave the sample a really fair try, using it for 4 days. I fell in love with the products and about a month later decided to become a wholesale buyer/independent consultant. I've been working from home, very part time for about a year now and I've moved up to District Manager. I've met a ton of new people that I would never have otherwise met, and I'm having fun! Did I mention that I'm also making some money??? It has been very fulfilling for me and I would be happy to share with you more. Call me at ###-###-####! Hope to hear from you!
D. S

Hey there,

I feel ya sister, I feel ya.

Well, in my humble opinion, there are those moms who thrive as completely at-home parents who want nothing to do with ant sort of part-time identities outside of being parents, and I applaud and respect their choice to do so. And I ADORE my two little girls, 4-year old Mia and 9-month old Corinne. Not a moment goes by where one or both of them don't just crack me up with something ... maybe a look, a comment, or whatever. I love this part of being a mommy, as well as how capable I feel working one out of a tantrum or the other out of a meltdown. My husband would agree.

Having said this, I also am not one of the aforementioned women who can stay at home all day long, without having an identity for myself. For me, this means a part-time job at CPK and returning to school in the Fall to become an ASL interpreter.

I TOTALLY get where you are at A.. And, please don't guilt yourself for feeling like you do. Having just moved to the area (by the way, I live in Holly Springs ... right in your 'hood'), it is unavoidable that you would feel like you do. You are no less an excellent mom than all the other moms out there.

I rely on a small amount of outside care for my girls to cover the period when I leave for work and Poppa gets home. Don't have a choice. We moved to Georgia from the West Coast, and don't have other workable options. And my gals do just fine. And frankly, aside from enabling us to manage extra-curricular activities for our family, as well as getting my hair highlited without feeling guilty about the cost, ain't such a bad thing.

Daycare or not, part-time job or not, you don't need to guilt-trip yourself over needing outside activities.

Welcome to the area, A.. And best of luck.

E./

Hey A.,
What about joining a playgroup so that both your daughter and you could interact with others in your area? My husband and I moved here almost three years ago when I was pregnant with our first child, and the only people I knew here were his family and friends. When our son was born, I chose to be a SAHM and didn't really know any women with small children. I joined our local MOMS Club, and have met a lot of great women and my son loves his weekly playgroup. We attend different events each month, too. To find your local chapter, check out www.momsclub.com.
Another thing that has helped me meet other moms is walking around my neighborhood with my son (and now my daughter, too). It turns out that we have a neighborhood Bunko game each month, another way I've made friends.
Good luck!

I second joining The Mom's Club. My kids have aged out of it now, but when they were little it was great. Your chapter can hook you up with a playgroup and that will help you meet some friends, get you out of the house on a somewhat regular basis. And the chapter itself will have functions like holiday parties for the kids, ice cream socials, etc. Give it a try!

When I moved to Acworth about 5 years ago, I joined a moms club. Check out momsclub.org They have many activities and events, like park days, mom's nights, and playgroups. Joining this group helped me out when I first moved to town. Check it out. I made a lot of great friends! Give yourself time to adjust....I have 4 kids ranging from 3 months to 6 years and we all have our days, but staying at home is the best thing in the world!

Hi-I am K. A. and have two children Andrew 7 and Olivia 4. I have some ideas that worked for me...I found a church that had a Moms Morning Out or Parents Morning Out that freed up at least one day a week for me...So, I was able to have 'me' time. Whether it was fellowship with other women at a church bible study or finding a neighborhood play-date, if you can't get into a Morning Out Program...I actually, ended up joining the preschool that both of my kids attended and attend, respectively; and have enjoyed the friendships and fellowship of the women I work with. It is a blessing!

God Bless
K. A.

There are several opportunities for you to take advantage of. One I would suggest is start volunteering at kids consignment sales. You can find all the sales listed at The Bargain Watcher.com. By signing up to volunteer you get too great opportunities. One you get to shop early, and the other, you are guaranteed to meet other mothers of small children to socialize with!

Another thing you might want to consider is volunteering for a non-profit organization, such as Girl Scouts, and become a leader or co-leader of a troop. This will give you another opportunity to meet ladies your same age with children. ie. another opportunity to socialize!

These two options should get you out of the house!

Good luck!

Wow! It was like reading my story. You are definitely not alone. I too live in Canton and have had a very hard time meeting people since I moved here. If you would like to meet some time just drop me a line and I would be happy to meet up for coffee or even a play group. I have a 13 year old and a 16 mo old daughter and am expecting another in July.
Suggestions for you in the Canton area are to try the YMCA on Riverside Parkway (Exit 20) they have free child care and tons of classes and fun ways to meet people and also to join a moms group. I have joined two but there doesn't seem to be any in Canton so I drive quite a distance to both. However, they have helped considerably in helping me deal with being home. Every stay at home mom goes a little crazy sometimes. Don't worry you are perfectly normal. Good luck and give me a call and need some friends who are local and not an hour away!

M.

A., I moved to Canton Ga, after living in OC Calif. My mantra for the first 6 months was I HATE GA! Then i decided to get involved. I got involved at the school, our neighborhood is vry large and they offer Mom and me play groups as well as co-op baby sitting. Just goign to the neighborhood park, i met moms, But i got involved in a service league the Womens center for abused women. There are so mnay activites to do. Send me a personl message and I will give you my number to call. I have friends who have little ones. My baby is 10 now.

A.
If you enjoy staying home with your daughter, then don't change that...why not join a ladies group? Most churches have a MOPS or Mommy and Me programs. You'll be able to get out, make friends and you little girl will get interaction with other kids as well. There's also story hour at most libraries/bookstores.
I've moved many times and each time I struggle with the same feelings you're having. If you're going to learn to like where you live...then you have to make the effort.

Oh my goodness, finally someone just like me. I have hated to say anything on here about stay -at-home moms b/c when you do the ones that dont stay home give you such a hard time about how lucky you are. My daughter is 14 mo. and I have been home since she was born. I would not trade it for the world but it is very trying on me! My husband works Mon-Fri then does side work on the weekends. I do have to make myself get out of the house and do things w/ my daughter but it stinks being by myself and not having hubby their all the time. I go thur phases of this being hard then it gets better. I have to remind myself how good I have it, and that helps sometimes. I dont want to be some freaky internet person but if you ever wanted to meet at McDonalds or something I would love to. It really helps to talk to someone thats going thru the same things! I live in Waleska so its not far to Canton. L.