What to do while dd is at school? | Autism PDD

My ds is in school but my two girls are now in preschool. Both schools are
coop schools which means I have to volunteer most of my time while they
are in school at either school. But about once every two weeks I get two
hours by myself. It took me a while to figure out what to do. Sometimes
I go grocery shopping by myself - feels so decadent to do that without
two or three kids in tow. Or I take a walk. Or I do b-day shopping. Or go
to the doctor. Or just go to the bathroom without little one following me.
Even the most mundane things feel like luxuries, that's for sure. Have a
blast!!

I will soon find out! My dd starts pre-school in 2 weeks and she will be gone for 2 hours twice a week. Those two hours will fly by I know! It's not really enough to get any major shopping done, but I can run a few errands, clean, etc.

But, the most important thing is that my ds will be gone for over 6 hours a day in all-day kindergarten! I will be able to do LOTS of things as it is much easier to do errands/shopping/cleaning with just my dd around! And I will give lots of time and attention to her that she has been lacking all summer with ds home and needing lots of my attention. She's been a trooper, but we need to re-connect a little!

I'm looking forward to going shopping without my kids fighting and being able to stay in a store for more than 15 minutes! I think dd and I will make a few trips to the Disney Store as well (VERY difficult to do with both kids, let me tell you!). And, I'll be able to do some Christmas shopping. I also plan on volunteering in my ds' classroom every other week while dd is at pre-school. My neighbor and I will babysit each other's kids and go have lunch with our kids every other week as well.

My other goal is to un-pack all of our totes. Oh, and also organize all the pictures from the last 5 years (I was organized about ds' first year and then everything went kaplooey!).

I work Mon thru Thursday while Quinn is in school and Fridays off. I love my fridays, but the time does evaporate. I'm taking 1 course this semester starting this friday evening so during the day on fridays I will probably drop him off at school and go right to the gym, do errands or sutdy and have atleast one hour to relax.

This may sound like a DUMB question...

Those of you who are stay at home parents & whose children have gone off
to preschool...what do you do with your free time?? I can't remember when
my last dental visit was, I'm due for a physical etc. So, I know to do that &
exercise...then I honestly don't know what to do! I thought it'd be fun for
y'all to share what you found to do with your free time. Emma starts school
next week--I'll have 3 hours a day to myself!!!

Last year was my first time that my son went to school and ihad 3 hours also. I used it to catch up on household thing, and cooking cleaning,, dcotors visits. somedays i would just go for a walk or lay on the couch and ctach on tv. This year he will go in the afternoon so i will prepare my meal for at night and hopefully get alot of x-mas shopping done and just hang out.. You have got to be kidding.

I am not a stay at home Dad but on Fridays I am off and my Wife works. I take him to the school bus and go home and read the newspaper with a nice cup of coffee. We usually go somewhere together after school.

My son is 16 and I've been a sahm since he was 5. The time EVAPORATES! I launch in to my household routine IMMEDIATELY when the bus leaves. I also go to Jazzercise twice a week. Those two things are written in stone. I try to get all appointments done while DS is in school. I keep up with my son's paperwork and make all school contacts. When he was little, I tried to get all my work done during 4 days of the week and I'd "play" on one. Enjoy!

I would exercise during that time once I get it. Right now I work out after 8 which is fine, but it would be nice to be able to do it earlier in the day. I am having the same problem. I have been a stay at home mom for a bit over 2 years or so, but Zoe went into the 2nd grade and Skylar started PPCD (both on Monday). That afternoon my grandpa moved in with us, and he is driving me absolutely batty. I have really got to find my self to do while the kids are in school.
Skylar gets out at 2 and Zoe at 3, so i spend from 7am-2pm on this computer. I really need a hobby or something to keep my mind busy. I think that is one of he reasons that my grandpa is making me nuts.

sleep

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I am so used to getting up between 5:30-6 am (do it even on summer vacation and ALL weekends). Skylar is accustomed to having his adhd meds by 6-6:30am (been this way since January of this year, that it is a habit that is impossible to break with him. Routine when it comes to autism and he is HFA is so so very important. And the fact that I have add myself and take my meds in the mornings, the same time he does makes it impossible to go back to bed. But trust me, the last few days, all I have wanted to do these last few days is lock myself in my room and not come out until its time to get the kids off of the bus. My grandfather moved in with us this past Monday (same day that the kids started school) and ever since has driven me absolutely NUTS. Before he moved in, even before the kids when to school, things were so routine, and the days were manageable, Now, by 10 am he makes me want to choke him.

But I am far from being a violent person.

Now that I think about it, this was supposed to be a simple reply to a post and has quickly turned into a rant. And I am so sorry. Maybe I will start a thread on it tomorrow, and can get some input from you guys on how I should handle this. You will have to know the entire story first, so until tomorrow.Hope you ladies and gentlemen and wonderful children have a great weekend!

I have long talks with my mom and sisters on the phone, clean house, laundry, grocery shopping...and sometimes go to thrift stores to search for treasures:)

I also am a ebay addict...love to look at the reborn dolls for hours:) I have made about a dozen but after giving them as gifts to everyone I know I kinda stopped..never got good enough to sell them..but I do love them for some reason~very much an escape for me:)

My oldest is back in school full time for the first time in a year and a half (hopefully that will last) and my little one just started full day preschool. For the first time ever I have time to get my hair done, go shopping, watch tv, meet friends for lunch, CLEAN AND DO LAUNDRY, sleep, yadda yadda yadda......

And what did I do? I signed up for three courses at the local college to continue towards my degree

Now all I do is schedule the boys appts and school meetings around MY classes and then try to figure out the logistics of getting everybody where they need to be on time (I'm still working on that one). My house is still dirty, my hair is crap, I have nothing to wear that fits me (weight gain), I haven't watched Oprah or The View in years and I'm pretty sure the friends I still have after the last two and a half years of dealing with me perseverating on autism and bipolar disorder are under the impression we moved to Mars.

Oh well.... I really think I thrive on the chaos.

I don't know how to relax anymore either! That's OK though, I ALWAYS have something to do and an object in motion stays in motion right? Sometimes I try too hard to constantly engage Jessie and play with her when we're together, so when she goes to school I have everything else to catch up on. Cleaning, cooking, running errands, exercising, etc, etc, etc...... Thing is, I also work PT for my uncle in a boring little shop so I DO have plenty of time to "rest" there and catch up on my reading.

Seriously, I try to get any chores or errands out of the way first thing in the morning. There's always a load of laundry to be done, or school lunches for the next day to pack, or some type of prep work I could be doing for dinner, or grocery shopping, or a dr. appt., or something. Most days, I do the chores first, and relax afterwards. But some days, I just RELAX! LOL!

Those 3 hours totally disappear into thin air, if you're not careful!
It's nice to be able to make appts for yourself and such, but the best use is
really exercise and rest. cut yourself a little break, you deserve it after these
past 3 years. Take time for yourself, read a book. my favorite: breakfast
dates with girlfriends!!!

I study now, when J is in school, cuz I'm in school too--but truly, I
reccomend NOT being ambitious or productive--just self care and refueling
your own spirit.

Congrats, Mommy, you deserve a little downtime just for you!

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read have a good time

Things have a way of coming up. (workmen in the house, childs illness,
appointments for yr asd child, some school volunteer work for yr school age
children)

Make appointments for yourself to excercise, organize yr house, try to
precook dinners if you can, catch up with some of yr friends. (during the
school year, I take a bi-weekly yoga class with one friend and have coffee
with her or another friend every other week. Take a break from the
computer. Enjoy what little time you have for yourself.

Unfortunetly I don't know about this yet b/c I still have my two younger ones at home. I'm lucky if they happen to take a nap at the same time, then I'll take a loong shower or just relax and watch something other than PBS or Cartoon Network til my older son gets home. Enjoy those 3 hrs. b/c they sure fly by soo fast!

When the little one goes to school I will Paint.

God bless,Linda