I have to admit—I am new to the stay-at-home mom thing. And here is my confession: I thought stay-at-home moms had it easy. I mean, a whole seven days to just play. How hard is that? It isn’t like having deadlines for presentations, stressing over work due and clothes that need to be washed when you get home. You’re home you can wash those clothes.
I honestly thought being a stay-at-home mom would be a breeze after working full-time. I could take care of the kids, my house would be spotless, and I would finally get to pursue my dream of writing. Then I woke up. Reality was like a two-by-four hitting me square in the face.
The kids are a constant. If you are not feeding them, entertaining them, cleaning them, etc., they are nightmares. Yes, I said that about my sweet, innocent children. As for the house being spotless-you are always home and kids are the messiest creatures alive! Who has time to clean when you are supposed to be taking care of them? I tried to do laundry but my 18-month-old pushes the basket of clothes around while I am trying to hang them up. I finally give up after running down the hallway to retrieve it for the fifteenth time.
Writing? What is that? Every time I sit at the computer, my five-year-old is standing there asking, “Is what you are doing important, because I need you to spend time with me." Or worse, my daughter takes books and hits me in the head.
Now, after venting for three paragraphs, the point of the article. Rainy days scare me! At least on the other days, I can escape the messy house and the endless chores and sneak to the park. But on rainy days, all three of us are trapped in one house for the entire day. Ugh! So here are some tips to help you survive a rainy day with your kids. I will be doing these all day today!
Make a rain stick
Rain sticks are an easy craft for any age. Just grab a paper towel roll or any other cardboard roll. Have the kids decorate, depending on their age. They can draw pictures of animals from the rainforest. They can stick stickers, etc. You can do a complete lesson on how real rain sticks are made out of cactus and are used to call the rain spirits in other countries. You can do a lesson on how rain was formed. The Internet has a wealth of resources. Once the roll is decorated, close one end and add crinkled up aluminum foil and some of the following: beans, dried popcorn or rice. Enclose the other end and turn the stick up and down.
Dance! Dance! Dance!
Turn up the radio and dance. You can do age specific music or if it’s a really tough day, put your music on and just dance with your kids. It helps you let out some steam and everyone gets exercise. Plus, they can use the rain stick you just made as an instrument. Or you can make some shakers. Buy some plastic Easter eggs, add dried beans and poof! You have an instrument suitable for any age preschooler.
Spring Clean
You’re stuck in the house all day anyway why not get those chores done. Get your whole family involved. My 18-month-old loves doing what I do. She has a toy vacuum and follows right along. My five-year-old is a master dishwasher. He is really just putting them in the dishwasher anyway so you know they will be clean. Plus, they are both able to put up their own toys. It cuts your time in half. Make it a fun activity. Tell them it is a surprise for daddy.
Bake! Bake! Bake!
Speaking of daddy: bake cookies or cake to surprise the man in your life when he comes home. The kids love helping cook and sneaking licks of raw cookie dough. Yes, it creates one more mess, but hey that is why they are there right-to help clean up?
Ok, I know this will probably only last until noon. But, if you are lucky, your kids will go down for a nap and you can retreat to a bubble bath or … what was that I dreamed of doing again? Oh, writing!
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