What do you do to pass the time till everyone comes home?

Right now my wife is at work and I'm home taking care of our 10 week old son, while the other 3 boys are off to school.

I don't know any other stay at home dads so if anyone has any ideas on how to pass the time let me hear them.

My wife is/was.

She's contemplating going back to work ...again... now that the kids are older.

It didn't seem like she had any problem with things to do to "pass the time". It's a monumental task keeping the house and our lives running they way we like it.

I have been since Oct with a 4 nearly 5 yr old boy. Its fun but can be frustrating at times. I pretty much clean the house and work on projects around the house since I have a little time now.

Find a stay at home mom to waste time with? Lol jk!! I did a lot of reading...

I never really understood what was so 'monumental' or hard about being a stay at home parent. And yes, I've done it before.

I sort of feel like a stay-at-home mom since I started taking care of my parents.

Sometimes it gets hard and I wonder if I can still, rightfully, do it. For example, today my stepfather caught the oven on fire just a little bit ago. No major damage, but I took off the knobs so it is inaccessible to them now.
And a few weeks ago, my mother left the kitchen faucet on full blast and flooded the sink, counter and onto the floor. Again, no major damage.

In the meantime, and in spite of some down=times, I'm loving each day I get to do what I can for them, and wouldn't trade what I'm doing for the world!

CenterBHSFan wrote: I sort of feel like a stay-at-home mom since I started taking care of my parents.

Sometimes it gets hard and I wonder if I can still, rightfully, do it. For example, today my stepfather caught the oven on fire just a little bit ago. No major damage, but I took off the knobs so it is inaccessible to them now.
And a few weeks ago, my mother left the kitchen faucet on full blast and flooded the sink, counter and onto the floor. Again, no major damage.

In the meantime, and in spite of some down=times, I'm loving each day I get to do what I can for them, and wouldn't trade what I'm doing for the world!

First off, Heel, gotta give you props with staying at home with the kids. I would not want to do that.

Secondly, CenterBHS, it sounds as if your parents have semi-dymentia problems? I am sure you do an excellent job of taking care of them, but has it ever come up in discussion with your family to have them placed in a professinal care home?

With what you are describing, it seems as if they may need around the clock supervision. Doesn't seem fair to you. JMO

I give all the respect in the world to stay at home parents. Especially if you have multiple children under the age of 5.

As far as passing time, you need to learn how to play PS3 or Xbox 360

CenterBHSFan - My mom lives with us. She's 82 and yes, it does get frustrating! She took care of me and my 3 other siblings...it's the least I can do. We moved her in with us for financial reasons. She was having a hard time paying her mortage and paying for her meds. My goal was to alleviate the stress of those decisions. I took her to an estate planner and he told us to let her house go in to forclosure. This was 3 years ago when the housing market was starting to sink. It was sad and hard, but, we let it go. Her blood pressure and health in general improved and she paid off all of her bills.

She wanted to pay us rent when she moved in...ARE YOU KIDDING ME? So since she is a wonderful cook, she decided she would do the cooking. I didn't argue with that! With that being said, it is frustrating and it is like taking care of a little kid sometimes. Some of the realatives get upset with me because I don't do everything for her. I work full time, so no, I don't. I do take her to ALL of her doctor appointments though. I have her medical power of attorney so I need to be there. She's diabetic, has kidney problems because of it, is blind in one eye and doesn't hear that well, ( she thinks she hears fine...WHAT, I CAN"T HEAR YOU OVER THE BLARING TV!!!!) She does have hearing aids, but doesn't wear them all of the time. I'm glad she's here, but it's overwhelming sometimes.

She is the oldest of 10! Just because she lives with me does not mean you can't come and take her out for lunch or dinner!

Mom and I have talked about what she wants me to do if and when she gets to the point that she can't take care of herself. We both know that I am not a 24/7 caregiver and I can't afford to quit my job. Sorry for the long post, but, most people don't understand ...

As for staying home with kids, I did and don't regret a second of it!

d-crew,

My stepfather is 83, yesterday was a dialysis day, and that usually wipes him out. He's diabetic and sometimes the dialysis messes with his sugar also. He fell asleep after putting a piece of cod in the oven to broil (I was at the store), and when I came home, I saw flames in the oven and smelled a little smoke - not enough yet to set off smoke alarm. He does forget sometimes, but I really think that yesterday was just a combination of things. I'll have to wait and see how things go. But as of right now, he can't use the stove because I took the knobs off. And, LOL, he's not too happy with that.
My mother is the one who can get sidetracked real easily and can forget things. But I think that problem with be taken care of once she's off a certain prescription.
Between the two of them, they take 23 prescriptions a day.
Anyhow, my stepfather/mother know that I'll help them out in anyway I can until I cannot no longer. When that day comes, they know the gameplan and whole-heartedly understand my position. My stepfather has even told me what assisted care community he wants to go to when that time comes. Right now, we have an aid (love that woman, she's soooo good to him) that comes in 3x a week to help him shower and she takes care of his legs/feet from the diabetes/cellulitis.
...............................

Salmom,

So many things in your post that I can relate to!
I also have to deal with:
- medical power of attorney
- family thinking I should do more/thinking I do too much (haha)

she thinks she hears fine...WHAT, I CAN"T HEAR YOU OVER THE BLARING TV!!!!

lmao! My stepfather's hearing is almost completely gone now and I call their tv "The Cinemax". The insurance won't cover or help pay for hearing aids (not life threatening) so I got him one of those things that looks like a blue tooth. He won't wear it though, he says it gets on his nerves LOL!

And you're right, not too many people understand

Yup....need to have a sense of humor! The siblings are always telling me what I need to do ...well, you guys should come stay awhile!

I took mom with me last summer to visit my daughter, sol and 2 1/2 year old granddaughter. We rented one of those "Go-Go" scooter things when we went to Sedona. Now they all think I should get her one. You know, in case she wants to go outside. HA, she sits in "her" chair and watch's tv/falls asleep all day. And she wonders why she can't sleep at night! ")

dcrew,

Thanks for the respect. I told my wife that i would take on this role because I am not able to work due to my disability.

I am not looking forward to next week when I will have all 4 boys home thanks to someone's wonderful idea of Christmas break lol.

Salmom wrote: CenterBHSFan - My mom lives with us. She's 82 and yes, it does get frustrating! She took care of me and my 3 other siblings...it's the least I can do. We moved her in with us for financial reasons. She was having a hard time paying her mortage and paying for her meds. My goal was to alleviate the stress of those decisions. I took her to an estate planner and he told us to let her house go in to forclosure. This was 3 years ago when the housing market was starting to sink. It was sad and hard, but, we let it go. Her blood pressure and health in general improved and she paid off all of her bills.

She wanted to pay us rent when she moved in...ARE YOU KIDDING ME? So since she is a wonderful cook, she decided she would do the cooking. I didn't argue with that! With that being said, it is frustrating and it is like taking care of a little kid sometimes. Some of the realatives get upset with me because I don't do everything for her. I work full time, so no, I don't. I do take her to ALL of her doctor appointments though. I have her medical power of attorney so I need to be there. She's diabetic, has kidney problems because of it, is blind in one eye and doesn't hear that well, ( she thinks she hears fine...WHAT, I CAN"T HEAR YOU OVER THE BLARING TV!!!!) She does have hearing aids, but doesn't wear them all of the time. I'm glad she's here, but it's overwhelming sometimes.

She is the oldest of 10! Just because she lives with me does not mean you can't come and take her out for lunch or dinner!

Mom and I have talked about what she wants me to do if and when she gets to the point that she can't take care of herself. We both know that I am not a 24/7 caregiver and I can't afford to quit my job. Sorry for the long post, but, most people don't understand ...

As for staying home with kids, I did and don't regret a second of it!

CenterBHSFan wrote: d-crew,

My stepfather is 83, yesterday was a dialysis day, and that usually wipes him out. He's diabetic and sometimes the dialysis messes with his sugar also. He fell asleep after putting a piece of cod in the oven to broil (I was at the store), and when I came home, I saw flames in the oven and smelled a little smoke - not enough yet to set off smoke alarm. He does forget sometimes, but I really think that yesterday was just a combination of things. I'll have to wait and see how things go. But as of right now, he can't use the stove because I took the knobs off. And, LOL, he's not too happy with that.
My mother is the one who can get sidetracked real easily and can forget things. But I think that problem with be taken care of once she's off a certain prescription.
Between the two of them, they take 23 prescriptions a day.
Anyhow, my stepfather/mother know that I'll help them out in anyway I can until I cannot no longer. When that day comes, they know the gameplan and whole-heartedly understand my position. My stepfather has even told me what assisted care community he wants to go to when that time comes. Right now, we have an aid (love that woman, she's soooo good to him) that comes in 3x a week to help him shower and she takes care of his legs/feet from the diabetes/cellulitis.
...............................

Salmom,

So many things in your post that I can relate to!
I also have to deal with:
- medical power of attorney
- family thinking I should do more/thinking I do too much (haha)

she thinks she hears fine...WHAT, I CAN"T HEAR YOU OVER THE BLARING TV!!!!

lmao! My stepfather's hearing is almost completely gone now and I call their tv "The Cinemax". The insurance won't cover or help pay for hearing aids (not life threatening) so I got him one of those things that looks like a blue tooth. He won't wear it though, he says it gets on his nerves LOL!

And you're right, not too many people understand

well, I get it. Kudos to you and anyone who takes on the care of a parent(s).

OUgrad wrote: well, I get it. Kudos to you and anyone who takes on the care of a parent(s).

I get it too, I give you two (CenterBHSFan & Salmom) a lot of credit for what you are doing, not an easy task!

Did I mention that my daughter is living with us as she finishes her Master's in School Counciling? 3 generations of women in the house makes for some interesting times! The best part though is that said daughter has got to spend time with "Mimi"!

Salmom wrote: Did I mention that my daughter is living with us as she finishes her Master's in School Counciling? 3 generations of women in the house makes for some interesting times! The best part though is that said daughter has got to spend time with "Mimi"!

My Mom goes by Mimi, too I had never heard of any other kids calling their grandma that before reading this.