Hi everyone!

As a SAHM, what do you find are some of the most challenging things you face in raising your kids full-time? I have a 9-month old daughter, and we have a second daughter on the way in Nov. My husband and I are desiring to place our daughter in day care; at least part-time, so she'll get social interaction with other babies around her age.

~Amanda

I think everything is a challenge. Especially when you have more than one. However, the most challenging is getting the children the social interaction that they need. When you sah this is lacking most of the time. Other challenges are simple things like making sure they don't get behind for their age, and making sure that quality time has been spent with them, and then other things like, making sure house chores are complete. Managing the time to fit everything in itself is a challenge. :)

Hi, Amanda,

I think that your daughter will get the most out of being home with you, even if you have a newborn. I have a 2 year-old daughter and a son who is one month. The first month with two children full-time has been challenging, and there have been some really tough spots, but I try to think of everything as a teaching moment. Your children will gain normal social interaction by being with you in the community. There is plenty of time to be part of a large group of children once they are in school, but now is the only chance they will have to get this much one-one-one time. Also this is your chance to do the most to influence their emotional and personality development, much of which occurs by age three.

I am a SAHM of  3 kids, Hayleigh is 4, Jordan is 3, and Noah is 13 moths. I think the most challnging part of SAH is getting the house work done. I get so frustrated b/c it takes me a half of a day to clean up what the mess up in like a half an hour. Sometimes I feel like I'm so focused on cleaning that I miss out on playing and spending quality time with my kids. I can't stand a messy house though. Sometimes I try to just forget about the housework and just focus on the kids but I don't enjoy it b/c I feel like my house is filthy!! AHHHH if I could only find a balance or an extra few hundred bucks to hire a maid! LOL

It's all challenging! But if you feel like you want to consider daycare for your older child when your newborn arrives, then don't allow yourself to be guilted into keeping her home.  Do what works for your own family.  We all have different needs and priorities, and I personally found it more challenging to go from one to two children than from zero to one or from two to three, so help can definitely be useful.  But if you just feel like your child needs social interaction, then remember all those pioneer families who didn't have any society for miles around, and whose children grew up to help build the country.  Make the choices that work best for your family as a whole.  My oldest, who is fairly reserved, didn't enjoy preschool (even though it was a co-op preschool that I participated in almost as much as she did), but my boys both love school and have really thrived in a social environment. Take your child's needs into account -- pushing a shy child into a group environment won't change his/her personality, but giving a social child the opportunity to see a little more of the world could be a wonderful experience for the whole family.

Best of luck with your new baby!

I have a 2y son and a 7month old daughter. i agree the first couple months carn be challeneging but in time you will get a routine down.

I also do reg in-home childcare in tualatin-sherwood, If you would like to try part time childcare please let me know. i would love to watch your daughter even if its just a couple hours.

hope things work out for you.. good luck.

tiffany