I have a big research paper due and I need time to just write, ya know? Well I tried the babysitter route with A's sister and that went horribly. Since I was there (I don't want her driving with just Chloe, but thought I could shut myself in a room without them and we have swings and stuff) she acted like she didn't have to watch Chloe and did other stuff which made me have to get up constantly to supervise and play with/change Chloe. I mean I am her mom and don't mind that- but I had counted on that time to work and I thought I had arranged for it too but I guess I hadn't.
How do you keep your kids distracted for awhile, I'm not talking a long time- just a few half hours at a time so I can actually collect my thoughts and write?
i don't! honestly.
i wait until tavin goes to bed until i do anything because it's IMPOSSIBLE to do anything while he's awake.
sorry i don't have any suggestions, mama. for me it gets harder as he gets older and sleeps less and is more and more mobile.
good luck, i know it's tough.
could you drop her off with someone, instead of having them come to your house?
Or if you get a babysitter again, take the opportunity to leave and go to the library to write your paper.
If you don't have the chance to, then wait for the babe to fall asleep. It's really the only time to get -anything- done!
It sounds awful, but put her in front of the t.v. Get a Baby Einstein video or something like that.
I tried to give my SIL another shot at helping me, but today was even worse. I got more done than I thought I would but still have some left to do. This is really getting on my nerves and honestly I don't think I'll ever have her watch Chloe by herself if she can't even keep an eye on her longer than 10 mins.
I tried popping in a Blue's Clues tape, and it worked for like 10 mins but she got bored. I turned on PBS and Caiilou (sp?) was on and she watched that for another 10 but wanted my paper and pen more. I set her up with crayons in hopes she'd like her own paper, but mine was still better and she wanted to eat the crayons. She's nursing to sleep right now and I hope I can get it done.
Thanks for all the suggestions, I guess this is why procrastination sucks especially when you're a mama. I'm glad I had a couple days to work on it or else I would have been screwed.
can she walk yet? i'm not sure what the weather is like there (if it's cold yet, i mean) but maybe you could take her to the park and let her play with the sand and rocks and run around and you could sit on the bench w/your book or papers...
Does your baby like pack and plays? I found those have helped when I needed to get shit done.
Nope not walking, which is worrying me b/c she's almost 14 months. She can stand and walks holding onto stuff but won't stand alone.. but that's a different issue.
I did the swing thing eariler this year (and it really helped), but now it's getting pretty nippy out. I don't know how we're going to survive the winter.
She screams in pack n plays (we hardly used ours b/c of that), but thanks for the suggestion.
My only solution so far has been to do work whenever I can b/c I never know when I'll be able to work on it again :D I'm also using any car rides to do work (if I'm not driving of course).
Can you talk to the sitter and explane to her your frustration?
Or, maybe find another sitter?
I, try, and put Zoe in front of a movie- and it usually doesn't work, but it's worth a try!
One thing my bro suggested which has worked wonderfully is to get her in the habit of going to sleep early. Like at 7:30 or 8 every night. Then you can get work done for a couple of hours and still get some sleep yourself.
The other thing I used to do when Tay was young was work in 15 minute intervals. I'd watch the clock, work for 15, play with her for 5 or 10, then work, then play. It seemed to help, but I might have started that when she was about 2.