Last week I had a taster of whats to come, I had a day at home with my girls while my wife went off to work.
We managed to get a lot done, got them washed, fed and dressed, tidied up the kitchen, spent some time gardening and baked a cake - all before lunch.
I think the one thing it showed me was the fact that I'm going to have to plan my days. I think having something to do or aim for each day will be quite important otherwise we'll end up doing loads one day then nothing the next, sending us all mad. We'll also need a mix of indoor and outdoor things to do and they all need to be fairly low budget.
I'm planning on going to a couple of local play groups a week as time with other children is important to the girls as well as time for me to meet more local people and socialise with adults.
I'm also planning for us to do quite a bit of gardening and outside time (no surprises there) as the girls love being out in the sunshine. I can be in the veg garden while they play in the sand pit, I'm planing on building them a Wendy house if I ever find the time so they'll be able to play in that as well.
And baking either cakes or bread a few times a week as a great way to feel useful together and make my wife's lunch box a bit more tasty!
As well as this lots of time playing, building forts, eating pretend food my daughter has prepared and playing with dollies will all feature quite highly (and the housework).
What other things do you think will be essential to weeks looking after children and being the homemaker?
plan some treasure hunts indoors for rainy days, and try and put together a rainy day box that only comes out on those days, once with my grandchildren we built a massive dome in the kitchen out of newspaper, i found it on the internet a few years ago. will have a look to see if I can find it again. messy play is fun for little ones as well there is plenty of recipes online for making play dough, a another good sunny day activity is magic painting outside, give them a paintbrush and a bucket of water and get them to paint pictures on the slabs walls and fences and sse how it magicaly dissapears, story time can be fitted in as a regular pastime, I would havent all day every day structured they need time to unleash there own imagination.
ReplyDeleteShe loves messy play and the play dough is a regular thing although I've never made my own ao maybe we'll look at trying that. I was thinking of getting a large sheet of ply and painting it with blackboard paint so they can dra huge pictures with chalk. The newspaper thing sounds like fun.
DeleteLiving on a smallholding you will always have things to do with your children. Running free being the most important. You are right that they do need to mix with other children though (and you with other adults!). If you have one nearby, the library is invaluable. Dusting, and washing up are activities little ones enjoy and I see that they are already helping you with the cooking. Seems to me you have got it pretty well stitched up
ReplyDeleteThere's no worries about hem not running free! We've plenty of space for that and with the additions of the hedges and fences it means they can run about a bit more without me having to worry so much.
DeleteWe already use the library in the village (we're lucky to have one so close) and the park is right next to it so it will make for a nice (and cheap ) afternoon out.
I hope we don't have a wet summer like 2012 Kev. Which days are the playgroups so that I can plan my carpentry jobs at Burnt House Farm (in exchange for babysitting)? Love Mum xxx
ReplyDeleteNot sure which I'll be going to yet - I'll give you a ring!
DeleteOh yes, library. Daily reads from books. And don't forget to give the girls free time - else you could over-organize them. Kids today don't seem to have enough time to find out who they are. Same with you, Kev. Let yourself have free time too.
ReplyDeleteI'm always having a two year old land on my lap with a book in her hands! And with my organisation skills there's no worries of me organising them too much! we'll have plenty of time to just be and to just sit and watch the world.
DeletePlaydough is easy, I'll fish out my recipe.
ReplyDeleteA quiet time after lunch is always nice , every body needs a bit of P & Q.
We had a big blackboard painted piece of wood - even big kids like a big blackboard. You don't always have to be 'doing' or have every day planned.
I doubt I'll plan everyday but it will be nice to have a few aims for the week. And quiet time will be nice but can be difficult with my two!
DeleteIn your new home maker role,I'd also advise that if there is something on your daily' to do' list that you don't get done,then don't beat yourself up. I schedule chores every day except one, per week...that's my spillover day,in case I have to go to an appointment during the week,or something unlisted crops up.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
Jane x
So long as the kids come first I'm not too bothered if something doesn't happen on the list. I used to be master of the list but don't really write many anymore as something always comes up!
DeleteKev, sounds like you've got it all sorted out. You'll have a ball and your girls will, too:)
ReplyDeleteI think you've got a better handle on it that most! Kids do learn more by observing our example than by what we tell them and it sounds like you're off to a good start. I can tell you from experience that the time is precious and goes by all to quickly. Don't forget to treasure each moment.
ReplyDelete