DC's "classes" are killing me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an active nineteen-month-old boy and am a SAHM. I have him at two library story times, a Music Together class and a Mommy & Me each week. He loves them all and does need the socialization with other kids (he's our first and has no siblings at home yet). The problem is - the classes are physically exhausting to me! In each class the parent participates and sits on the floor (no back support) and even in story time I have to engage him and cajole him to stay seated (talking quietly about the book - "Oh, look at that - the butterfly loves the flower...") That on top of playing with him, reading to him and walking him all over town - I'm tired! I don't do any real housework during the day, it is all him. When he is napping I do his laundry and make a few things in the kitchen for his meals (steamed veggies and such) so I do get a good 30 to 40 minutes to rest - but that is it for the entire 10 hour day without DH.

Is there any activity where I can just sit and watch? And if not, how to I strengthen my back so that sitting on the floor without back support doesn't kill me?

Mom of 12 and 10 y.o. here. OP, please, please listen to me. When he naps, you nap. Just lie down and close your eyes, even if you don't fall asleep. Don't make the room all dark; leave the drapes open. It might take a while to get used to napping. Just do it.

All that other crap can wait and WILL wait. And you CAN do it with him awake. It just might take longer because he will "help" you.

I swear, this is the first thing that comes to mind when I think "if I did it again, what would I do differently"

[Anonymous]

Is OP a troll? A SAHM complaining that hanging with her kid is too exhausting? This can't be real... Has to be some teen or snarky WOHM trying to reinforce the SAHM martyr trope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is OP a troll? A SAHM complaining that hanging with her kid is too exhausting? This can't be real... Has to be some teen or snarky WOHM trying to reinforce the SAHM martyr trope.

She even says she doesn't do much housework -- how obvious can you be, stop trolling people.

[Anonymous]

A nineteen month old just doesn't need that much socialization with other kids. It really isn't that important at that age. Doing things with just you that you enjoy will make him happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is OP a troll? A SAHM complaining that hanging with her kid is too exhausting? This can't be real... Has to be some teen or snarky WOHM trying to reinforce the SAHM martyr trope.

Nope. Not a troll. Just a woman with a sore and aching back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an active nineteen-month-old boy and am a SAHM. I have him at two library story times, a Music Together class and a Mommy & Me each week. He loves them all and does need the socialization with other kids (he's our first and has no siblings at home yet). The problem is - the classes are physically exhausting to me! In each class the parent participates and sits on the floor (no back support) and even in story time I have to engage him and cajole him to stay seated (talking quietly about the book - "Oh, look at that - the butterfly loves the flower...") That on top of playing with him, reading to him and walking him all over town - I'm tired! I don't do any real housework during the day, it is all him. When he is napping I do his laundry and make a few things in the kitchen for his meals (steamed veggies and such) so I do get a good 30 to 40 minutes to rest - but that is it for the entire 10 hour day without DH.

Is there any activity where I can just sit and watch? And if not, how to I strengthen my back so that sitting on the floor without back support doesn't kill me?

Mom of 12 and 10 y.o. here. OP, please, please listen to me. When he naps, you nap. Just lie down and close your eyes, even if you don't fall asleep. Don't make the room all dark; leave the drapes open. It might take a while to get used to napping. Just do it.

All that other crap can wait and WILL wait. And you CAN do it with him awake. It just might take longer because he will "help" you.

I swear, this is the first thing that comes to mind when I think "if I did it again, what would I do differently"

I finally caved and followed the "nap when they nap" advice...it was absolute heaven! When my son had 2 naps per day, I slept for one and did my own thing (usually yoga) during the other. When he got to one nap/day, I sleot with him and had the energy back to go to yoga classes a few times/week. So, yes -- sleep! And yoga -- great for mind, energy, and your poor aching back! My son is 4.5 now and I often desperately miss those napping days

[Anonymous]

I get why moms of newborns need naps. But SAHMs of toddlers - really?? Two story times and two paid classes are exhausting you? I'm not calling troll, but this seems like a very tolerance for activity, OP. Have you had a physical exam to see if you're anemic or if you have some other medical condition that is causing you to feel so drained by such a modest schedule?

And PS, if your child has to be cajoled and engaged by you constantly in order to listen to the stories during story time, he's probably still too young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get why moms of newborns need naps. But SAHMs of toddlers - really?? Two story times and two paid classes are exhausting you? I'm not calling troll, but this seems like a very tolerance for activity, OP. Have you had a physical exam to see if you're anemic or if you have some other medical condition that is causing you to feel so drained by such a modest schedule?

And PS, if your child has to be cajoled and engaged by you constantly in order to listen to the stories during story time, he's probably still too young.

I didn't do much classes, but I found the toddler months physically exhausting. My kids were little engines on legs, constantly going, getting into everything. Very hard, physically. They slowed down as they got older.

[Anonymous]

Don't understand the advice to drop the activities. It's only 4 things--prob 1 hr each--in a 5 day week. doesn't sound like too much and it's nice to have structure in your day.

Op. Pilates is great for your back. I never have back issues now that I do it regularly. If you're tired maybe see the doctor or take some multivitamins or make sure youre getting enough sleep. The schedule you describe shouldn't be tiring for a healthy woman in her 30s or 40s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an active nineteen-month-old boy and am a SAHM. I have him at two library story times, a Music Together class and a Mommy & Me each week. He loves them all and does need the socialization with other kids (he's our first and has no siblings at home yet). The problem is - the classes are physically exhausting to me! In each class the parent participates and sits on the floor (no back support) and even in story time I have to engage him and cajole him to stay seated (talking quietly about the book - "Oh, look at that - the butterfly loves the flower...") That on top of playing with him, reading to him and walking him all over town - I'm tired! I don't do any real housework during the day, it is all him. When he is napping I do his laundry and make a few things in the kitchen for his meals (steamed veggies and such) so I do get a good 30 to 40 minutes to rest - but that is it for the entire 10 hour day without DH.

Is there any activity where I can just sit and watch? And if not, how to I strengthen my back so that sitting on the floor without back support doesn't kill me?

Mom of 12 and 10 y.o. here. OP, please, please listen to me. When he naps, you nap. Just lie down and close your eyes, even if you don't fall asleep. Don't make the room all dark; leave the drapes open. It might take a while to get used to napping. Just do it.

All that other crap can wait and WILL wait. And you CAN do it with him awake. It just might take longer because he will "help" you.

I swear, this is the first thing that comes to mind when I think "if I did it again, what would I do differently"

I finally caved and followed the "nap when they nap" advice...it was absolute heaven! When my son had 2 naps per day, I slept for one and did my own thing (usually yoga) during the other. When he got to one nap/day, I sleot with him and had the energy back to go to yoga classes a few times/week. So, yes -- sleep! And yoga -- great for mind, energy, and your poor aching back! My son is 4.5 now and I often desperately miss those napping days

+1. I didn't usually nap when mine napped but did make a point to stretch out on the sofa with a cup of coffee and a book.

For the core/back issue, I'd say drop a couple current activities and replace with a mom/baby exercise class like yoga or stroller strides. With my toddler our morning routine was typically exercise class 2-3 days per week, one music class, one playgroup. I didn't take him to story time at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't do much classes, but I found the toddler months physically exhausting. My kids were little engines on legs, constantly going, getting into everything. Very hard, physically. They slowed down as they got older.

It's all hard, I get that - I have 2 crazy active boys. But I can't imagine needing a daily nap simply because I took my 19m old to one activity each day. If that's too much for the OP to handle, that's a little unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get why moms of newborns need naps. But SAHMs of toddlers - really?? Two story times and two paid classes are exhausting you? I'm not calling troll, but this seems like a very tolerance for activity, OP. Have you had a physical exam to see if you're anemic or if you have some other medical condition that is causing you to feel so drained by such a modest schedule?

And PS, if your child has to be cajoled and engaged by you constantly in order to listen to the stories during story time, he's probably still too young.

I didn't do much classes, but I found the toddler months physically exhausting. My kids were little engines on legs, constantly going, getting into everything. Very hard, physically. They slowed down as they got older.

Word.

The newborn days were a breeze in comparison...when they just laid still and weren't on a constant suicide mission.

[Anonymous]

He's 19 months, this schedule is over the top. Do some things to help your back for sure but there is no need for all of these classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't do much classes, but I found the toddler months physically exhausting. My kids were little engines on legs, constantly going, getting into everything. Very hard, physically. They slowed down as they got older.

It's all hard, I get that - I have 2 crazy active boys. But I can't imagine needing a daily nap simply because I took my 19m old to one activity each day. If that's too much for the OP to handle, that's a little unusual.

She also mentions she walks a lot. and I'm sure there are playground trips in the mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't do much classes, but I found the toddler months physically exhausting. My kids were little engines on legs, constantly going, getting into everything. Very hard, physically. They slowed down as they got older.

It's all hard, I get that - I have 2 crazy active boys. But I can't imagine needing a daily nap simply because I took my 19m old to one activity each day. If that's too much for the OP to handle, that's a little unusual.

OP here and we walk everywhere - sometimes two miles each way for his activities. And we do errands by foot (stroller) and go to the park and play/run every afternoon. I am healthy. Great if you have more energy that I do but I can't imagine I am "unusual" with my achy back!