I have two boys; one is 5 and one is 1 1/2. I work part time whenever i can work around my husbands 3-11 pm work schedule (he has to watch the kids) My oldest will start kindergarten this August (the day after my first day or NS!) and i am wondering what all the nursing student parents did to be able to study during the day with the kiddos around but still give them something semi-productive to do so that they aren't just being baby sat by the t.v. I really don't want to resort to this but remembering how hard it was for my pre-reqs to get any time in (the baby was VERY clingy, he followed me around and screamed at me about all day-everyday but it is a little better now that he is old enough to play with the older one) i feel like i am heading for a disaster of a headache trying to stay up late nights after putting the kids to bed and only then having a chance to get anything done.
We have a nice area where we live and are fortunate enough to be surrounded by family(mostly older family who are not in any condition to watch two young kids) on a hill with four houses total, but there is no designated areas where i can sit and read while watching him because it is down-hill either way you go and we are also surrounded by woods in the back and the street in the front so when he takes off he could be anywhere in a matter of seconds where i cannot find him.
I would really appreciate some advice as to what to do for them to occupy them so i can get some work done here and there when nursing school starts next month!
What is a healthy routine for them so that they aren't completely neglected for the next two years!?
BTW, i find out on the 13th of August during orientation if i will go to school in the morning or afternoon which could significantly change things.....If i go to school in the mornings i will be home in time for my husband to go to work(still no way to study with help of sitter) and if i have afternoon school i will have to get a daycare position for the baby and can study before school everyday while the hubby is home. I KNOW there are so many single parents out there who have done it and succeeded without homes burning down, loss of limbs from children being unattended in a room for short periods of time, children resenting them for neglecting them for two years, etc. so i know it's possible!
Was your newborn pretty happy all around? When both of my kids were born they were intensely colicky. I just recently got my kids on a schedule/routine and I think these two weeks are the longest patch of time that my 1.5 year old has constantly been happy and not screaming out of frustration at me. It feels amazing but I also feel like no matter how good of a mother I am and how much of my heart and soul I've given and would never stop giving to my babies, I messed up. Why didn't I do this 5 years ago?
I am learning to ease up on myself because it's no use to bash myself about it now and things are better so no use in dwelling!!
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
My son is going to be 14 months when he starts daycare & it was a must to get him into a daycare. My husband works in the oil field so he is gone for 2 weeks at a time & all of our family works so there is no family to watch our son when I'm in class. Thankfully we found a great daycare & he starts on 8/18!
Since your second child is 1.5 years old I would look for a baby sitter or daycare. I was against it at first but now that he's as old as he is, I'm really excited for him (& me)!
melrey1988
24 Posts
Was your newborn pretty happy all around? When both of my kids were born they were intensely colicky. I just recently got my kids on a schedule/routine and I think these two weeks are the longest patch of time that my 1.5 year old has constantly been happy and not screaming out of frustration at me. It feels amazing but I also feel like no matter how good of a mother I am and how much of my heart and soul I've given and would never stop giving to my babies, I messed up. Why didn't I do this 5 years ago?
I am learning to ease up on myself because it's no use to bash myself about it now and things are better so no use in dwelling!!