I’ve been wanting to write about the mundane stuff that’s been going on here lately. But HELLO it’s mundane for a reason. But, you know, I like to keep track of this crap so when Madeline is older she can look back and be like, “wow. My mom was really bored.” No, Maddie. Not bored. Hopped up on twelve Diet Cokes. There is a difference.
I had all these grand plans to get my house nice and orderly now that I’m the stay at home parent. Every night I think, “tomorrow I am going to tackle the pile of unpacked suitcases!” But then I get no sleep, because Maddie is teething hard. Lather, rinse, repeat.
On a related note, lack of sleep also relates to my own personal cleanliness.
I need someone to explain something to me. How do stay at home parents not go into crazy debt? Not because of the whole single-income thing, but because of the shopping-out-of-boredom thing? Every day I have to try to resist going to the mall. Let me explain the PROS of going to the mall. I shower (usually), I get out of the house, Maddie & I get fresh air, I interact with adults, people tell me my child is cute. And okay, fine, I get pretty new things. The graph below can explain the CONS.
Thank goodness I still have some gift cards!
Finally, I am on an unoriginal New Year’s diet. It is not going well.
mmmmmmm, cooking sugars.
thanks to Crappy Graphs for the graph-making tool.
Anissa@hope4peyton says:
Is it wrong that because we got denied our mortgage for too much debt (that pesky old house we still own) that I eel the need to comfort shop and perhaps charge a llama on my american express….or a dozen martinis?
Anissa@hope4peytons last blog post..Should I cut her ear off NOW?
cindy w says:
Not spending money is pretty hard for us too. When the weather sucks and you need to get out of the house, it’s easiest solution is to go to a climate-controlled store. We usually hit the supermarket, since it’s easier to avoid over-spending there than at the mall. The bakery ladies give Catie a free cookie, one fancy grocery store gives her a free balloon, she loves it. Seriously, she squeals “SHOPPING!!!” every time I ask her if she wants to go. She is SO my kid.
cindy ws last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
Bailey says:
I understand the SAHM debt. There are a lot of cute shops in our neighborhood so when my daughter and I go for walks, I’m always tempted to buy things.
Baileys last blog post..Hello
nanette says:
Hilarious!
I also understand the SAHM debt, but it was via online shopping during the first couple months of my maternity leave when it was hard to get out of the house easily. Deal-a-day sites like Mamabargains and Babysteals were ESPECIALLY enticing.
nanettes last blog post..Toot, toot! Ah, beep, beep!
Lisa says:
Ah yes, that SAHM shopping dilemma. It seems that every day I end up in a store everyday! I try to steer clear of the mall and Babies R Us as I am not able to avoid overspending at either of those locations. If I stick with the grocery store or Target I do a little better.
My husband has a spreadsheet stuck to the fridge right now. We have to write our purchases on it everyday. It is supposed to help us curb out spending habits. I think it is up there so at the end of the month he can say “See I told you it was all your fault we have no money!”.
Lisas last blog post..Is Your Child Ready to Stay Home Alone?
ali says:
i spent SO much money when i was a stay at home mom. that’s about 90% of the reason that i went back to work!
alis last blog post..mortification. and some winners. and some snowIndy
Nicole says:
I find that going to the gym really kills three err, four birds with one stone.
1) You get to work-out
2) you get a break from your kids
3) you get out of the house and spend no money (except on membersip)
4) Your kids get to socialize with other kids
Try this…I have been staying home for four years…and have three kids under five. Its the only way I stay sane, and I accomplished a life long goal of running a marathon in October.
Kristabella says:
I didn’t have that problem when I was unemployed. When I’m bored, there is bad TV on SoapNet.
I love the graphs!
Kristabellas last blog post..This Is The Kind Of Post You Get When My Brain Is Frozen
preTzel says:
When I was a SAHM I just didn’t shop. It wasn’t because I couldn’t afford it but because I loathe shopping. I am a woman that can’t stand being in a place with other people touching the same stuff they have and breathing in their germs. My poor hands are so chapped and dry from washing constantly at work because of germs. I miss my germ – free SAHM days.
And hey – why did you steal my diet plan???
BTW – who got booted from BL lastnight? I was channel surfing and missed it.
preTzels last blog post..BRRR, Bad Luck, Blown Lights, and Blow Jobs
Sharon says:
These graphs are the story of my life!
Headless Mom says:
Holy crap Heather, you just described my life.
That’s why I chose blogging-keeps me in the house, not spending money, and if I’m typing I can’t eat. Diet in my laptop!
Earth Day says:
Wow this is really impact full, really these minute details of every day life potrayed beautifully.
Earth Days last blog post..Re-usable grocery bags
Rebecca says:
When I had my first child I had exactly that problem. With two kids I had to change the plan. We go to playcentre which is a NZ thing but maybe you have a parent co-ordinated playgroup or something in your area. You get out of the house. your kids have fun things to do with other kids so they don’t need to be by your side so much. You meet other parents who are stay at homers too.
Cutting up a credit card helps too. And you feel fantastic once it’s paid off and not there tempting you.