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Avatar universal

Gave my two weeks notice.... Anyone else quit to be a SAHM?

Hi ladies.... After much thought, Ive decided I shouldnt wait til April 1st (33wks) but rather just quit when I can to get DD on a new schedual and focus spending time with her before her baby brother enters our lives =)

Still many many things to get done and do. WHERE DO I START????

I have to go thru all of our clothes/BEllas toys..... get rid of things we dont need use.... I need some good organizing ideas/tips bc we have a small place as it is. Are the under-bed storage bins good? Can I put a toy box in the living room? (Thats where she plays anyways)..... too much in my pregnant brain right now. I kept putting it all off, and before I know it Im 30 wk (almost).... It scares me I have only march and april and then (anytime in) MAY! ahhh

ANY mommies have advice or input of how to get started PLEASE advise. It will be greatly appriciated.
18 Responses
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Avatar universal
lol... you just made me laugh! My DD sounds just like your DS2.!!!!! Seriously THAT IS EXACTLY what it takes to get her to pick something up or anything else for that matter, always have to repeat myself!
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
DD14 has ALWAYS been a neat child.  The kind who would put one thing away before taking something else out.  

DD7 and DS6 not so much.  They will do it...but it usually takes me telling them several times and staying on them.  Most of their stuff stays in their rooms though.

DS2 will put toys away if you really stay on him and direct him "get the truck" which has to be repeated many times...then showing him where it goes and telling him to put it up another five times.  Repeate for each toy!

It really depends on the kid...some learn at an earlier age..like DD14, she's been doing that since she was old enough to play with toys.  Other kids it takes longer...like the rest of mine LOL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you! I think I will put up a bookshelf for her books, and a few storage bins for toys!

I have one kid and a million toys, I CANT EVEN imagine having toys for five kiddos! Do they at least help pick up their toys? If not, at what age do they learn to pick up after themselves?
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
That's great!! I quit my job Nov09 and have been enjoying it ever since.  

As for storage/toys in living room.  I keep all my little ones toys in the living room since that's where I have them with me most of the day.  I have a set of the sorter bins (not ikea-from walmart) and we use those for small things like cars, plastic/rubber figurines, balls, etc.  I also have 2 of those LARGE blue tubs with the rope handles.  I got them from Big Lots for $5 each.  They are GREAT for misc stuff. and with the handles you can tote them with you as you are picking up toys.  I also use book shelves.  Old Milk crates ziptied together and stacked on top of each other make great storage bins for books, bigger cars/trucks, stuffed animals, baby dolls etc.

With 5 kids we have a LOT of toys.  I'm CONSTANTLY going thru and getting rid of things.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you both! =) Joy thats a very good point, Ill have to find a hobby to do while im a SAHM. Im sure ill wish i was still working a few days a week, but as humans I guess were never exactly "happy" with anything. lol. :) thanks to you both!
Helpful - 0
559862 tn?1311516637
Congrats on becoming a SAHM! I won't forever be one but at least till my DD is 5 and DS is 3(well, thats the plan for now!)! Its so rewarding to watch them grow up, every little change! I wouldn't have it any other way. It can definitely be hard at times but worth every minute! :)
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Avatar universal
Being a SAHM is great! But I did find myself getting bored eventually so I began making jewelry on the side. Finding something that is exclusively for YOU is very important. But your little ones are going to benefit greatly and you may find yourselves saving more money than you realized.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you can quit earlier, you should do it. Unless of course if you have everything up already and done for baby. Its great to stay home with them. They are a lot of work, but also so rewarding. I couldnt imagine working while i had a newborn. It doesnt add up for me.
Helpful - 0
1510919 tn?1298825067
I went ahead and let my job know a few weeks ago that i decided i wont be back after baby is born. this is my first so i dont want to miss any moments! :) plus i dont really trust ANYONE is my or DHs family to watch her plus none of them are very reliable. I'm tryin to work up to my due date (may 2) but ive been put on bed rest once already for my high blood pressure so we'll see how it goes
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank You!!! I was planning on stopping by at walmart today. I cant STAND the amount of toys DD has! The whole morning I'm running around the house picking them up to bring to DD room... The under bed storage sounds great! Im going to invest in a few of those bins for sure!!! I just cant wait to get this all done, its hard to leave it the way it is when IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. But not until I quit bc I cant stand to leave a project "not" finished.

We do have a table in the living room, and Im buying a basket for the toys to put under that.

I also have LOTS of huge toys. I mean the ones that usually dont move, they look cute and nice, but take up WAY TOO MUCH space. ESP when DD wants to bring them into the kitchen and i trip over them. lol.  

WE have a 4 piece sofa, a 3 seat, 2 seat, 1 seat and also a big ottoman, But the ottoman isnt hollow :( ... I want more space and Im going to put the 1 seat and ottoman away in storage. Also i have to get the bookshelf out of DD room and either into living room or get rid of it all together.

SO very happy I have the opportunity to be a SAHM, I feel blessed to be able to do this.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There are lots of fun DIY websites that offer tips for small spaces. The point is to use as much space as you have without cluttering. Under the bed storage is definitely a great idea! I keep some under my bed (out-of-season clothes mostly since we don't really have a closet in our old house).

We keep a basket of toys in our family room. I just have one of those wicker baskets you get in the craft section of Walmart (where all their baskets are) and it was under $10. Just watch for wicker pieces that can break off if a child is rough with it.

Another idea for toy storage in the family room is a hollow ottoman with a removable top. My ultimate fave storage item is a bookcase. I find all of mine at antique stores or thrift stores. I found really cool ones for only $15 not long ago but alas I didn't buy them (kicking myself for that one).

I love decorating. I bet you could find some fun, inexpensive things online.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I quit 8 months ago 2 weeks after i found out i was prego. Oh and storage bins under the bed containers are awesome!! Walmart and kmart are good places to start love kmarts layaway!
Helpful - 0
470885 tn?1326329037
I don't have much advice on storage....just wanted to wish you all the best!

All the power to you for taking the step and becoming a SAHM!  I have so much admiration for SAHMs.....because I know that I COULD NOT do it myself!  Between my two boys, I had 2 years off of work on maternity leave, and by the end I was going crazy and ready to go back.  I've been back for a month now and am LOVING it!!  Adult conversation throughout the day....feeling challenged - and baby G loves his daycare and has adjusted really well.
Helpful - 0
676143 tn?1312941771
Ooh, that's great you get to quit sooner!  I read your post the other day about the problems with your DD's naps with your mom.  Glad you get to get her straightened out with that before the next baby comes along.

For organizing, the IKEA bins mentioned are a great idea - I have a friend that uses them and they really like them.  I use A LOT of under-bed storage containers for everything.  I don't think they actually say "under bed" (though some are marketed that way with fancy wheels and all), they're just the shallow long clear plastic bins from wal-mart.  We are in a new house, and we have more square feet but A LOT less storage space (severely lacking closets) so I try to hide stuff any place I can, and make use of every inch of storage space that we do have.  

I wouldn't see why you couldn't have a toy box in the living room - seems logical since that's where she plays.  It doesn't even have to be a "Toy box", it could be any container - like the coffee tables or ottomans with storage in them - that looks nicer in the living room, if you are worried about that.

Oh, and if you're getting rid of baby girl stuff, you could always take it to a local resale/consignment place and get some of your money back - then you will have extra money for baby boy's diapers!  :-)  They had one of those places practically on every corner where I used to live in Texas, but I haven't seen any here in Louisiana yet.  One of the popular places was called Kid to Kid.

Good luck to you - Don't stress too much - I am sure everything will be just fine!  :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you Chantal! I was looking at Ikeas website actually and i agree they have really neat storage bins!!!

And my DD will do much better behavior wise when im off and spend the day with her. She seems uber fussy on days i work, and that is driving me bonkers i cant stand to see my kiddo unhappy :( When im off on the weekends shes amazing! and does so well. I think her benefit is greater then just working up til my due date.
Helpful - 0
280369 tn?1316702041
I'm always trying to figure out storage ideas, especially for toys! I have this organizing bin from Ikea and I love it! It's wood and you put colorful plastic bins in it that can hold almost every toy possible. It's in our living room. It hides the toys really well, but looks nice.
I also have those long not-so-deep bins for misc. things and they slip under a bed very easily.
That's great you are able to quit earlier than expected. It will be good to get into a routine now, so you will be more prepared once the baby arrives. I love being a SAHM. I wouldn't trade it for the world!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
bumpety bump BUMP!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
OH AND MY LAST DAY AT WORK IS MARCH 18th! whoop whoop!
Helpful - 0
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