I’m in a kind of a bind. I have been working full time since I was 18 and for the past 2-3 years part time, never stayed at home. We moved to a new place 2 months ago and don’t know anyone here.
I am having a hard time settling into this role of being at home all day long with no where to go, no job (hubby doesn’t want me working because we don’t wanna leave Jr. at a daycare). I have no drive and no motivation whatsoever.
I’m not really crazy about ironing, cooking, vacuuming and all the housework (I actually don’t enjoy doing them, I do them coz they need to be done but I know girls who absolutely love doing housework). I am not a TV person or a window shopper either , I would rather be out working and meeting ppl and earning some moolah but can’t do that leaving Jr. with a stranger.
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
I'm like you in that I don't enjoy the homemaking stuff much. I will do it occasionally in spurts, but doing it with a child made me feel more stressed out. I'm beginning to realize I kind of make it worse because I think I can't possibly do things with her, but really I can. I do love TV tho.
Look for playgroups and mommy groups. They sound cheesy and stupid, but you will be surprised how many women are going through what you are and can help you have a more positive outlook. Also find ways to do what you like to do with your child. Now that he's a toddler, I think you'll be able to do a lot more together. I'm definitely finding that with my daughter.
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
^ no.5 above is exactly what i would suggest. Now that im working full time i think what i wouldnt give to have some time to take up a meaningful and/or creative hobby. Discover what im good at etc. Im sure hubby wouldnt mind looking after your little one, one evening a week. Check out your local college, theres always such fun things going on! And finally, i think its really nice that you have the opportunity to spend time with jr. Their preschool years are the cutest!
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
I had the same issue...although I'm only off for a year I really miss work. I think I miss seeing other adults. I love to read so I've been really enjoying catching up and joined a book club. Also I met a few moms in my area and we've been getting together once a week to hang out
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
A book club is a great idea.
BTW I used to teach high school and I was an administrator. This year I started teaching evening classes a few times a week at the local community college. Bunny is home with Papa and I get a few hours of professional atmosphere. It's been good for us.
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
I was going to open a thread this morning.. today was my first day of maternity leave and it SUCKED!!! I thought I would really enjoy being at home but it was the most boring day ever.. I usually enjoy a day off or two but knowing that I will be home for another 6-8 weeks and no emails to reply back or no work to do.. I didnt enjoy my day! For me it's short term so I guess it will be okay!
Personally I dont enjoy cooking, cleaning etc either.. neither am I cooking at almost 39 weeks pregnancy when my mom is taking care of the kitchen all along!! I thought I may enjoy going to the mall but that didnt happen eitehr because I really couldnt bring myself to believe that I will enjoy window shopping,,, I go to the mall only when I need to buy stuff!!!
I am thinking of going to the library tomorrow to get some books and movies... I never had time to read or watch Harry Potter so probably now I will :D
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
when i got married, i had to move from the west to the middle east with my husband, so it was a huge change for me. i had been working full time before marriage and studying part time at university so i didn't really do much housework at home, and my mother didn't expect much from me either : ) after i got married and moved to the middle east, i couldn't jump into the work field immediately because i had not completed my degree yet, so no one would give me a job. i was living with my inlaws and my MIL would do a lot of stuff around the house because she's still very young and she gets bored easily, so tehre wasn't much for me to do . i would get bored and depressed at home. there weren't a lot of people we knew over there, and the neighbourhood was pretty crappy too.
then on my husbands insistence i decided to take up an old hobby of mine which is painting. i made a few calligraphic paintings and posted them online, and got a tremendous response from friends and family. that prompted me to take painting seriously.
. so now I'm in the process of completing a set of paintings reflecting middle eastern and arab culture. I've contacted a local art gallery and hopefully i will have my very own exhibition soon (Inshallah). its not really about making money, I'm just doing what i used to love doing, and it makes me very happy. I'm graduating soon and will start looking for jobs now, but I'm going to keep painting on the side . : )
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
^ That's so nice to hear....maybe im too skeptical but it seems like most husbands/parents/in laws frown upon "hobbies"
Not really..when I moved to Pakistan after marriage I had nothing to do all day long so I asked my husband if I could join this center in Karachi to learn flower making, baking etc and his only hesitation was traveling to the city in taxi or bus so he asked me to learn driving first so I could go thre by myself..by the time I learned to release clutch on a manual car, we decided to move back to the us!! I m sure if I were to live there, I would have learned something to cook or bake :D
Re: Transition from Career person to a full time homemaker
you guys are an awesome bunch, I love cooking (but for short periods of time and hate hate the cleaning up afterwards) I had initially wanted to give cooking classes at home like teaching how to make parathas, rotee but that would mean I would not be going out. So that went out the door.
I think I might look at teaching evening classes and maybe even take an evening class or two myself for things like sewing or painting.
