Stay at home moms how do you stay away from depression?

[shorty8480able]

im a stay at home mom can't afford  daycare for he little ones, i get bored quick
i dont have any hobbies but would like one ,dont have any special skill
i found myself been sad most of the time.

[Sohcahtoa]

Are your kids old enough to pretty much take car of themselves with minimal supervision?  (ie, they won't draw on the walls when you're not looking, etc.)  If so, try World of Warcraft.  If you can't afford to buy the game and pay the $15 to play it, try Runescape.  Its the same general kind of game (MMORPG - Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), but its free, and will even run from within your web browser, so you don't have to install anything!

Runescape is actually the most successful MMORPG in the world, but World of Warcraft is #2.  WoW would probably be #1 if it was free, though.

[halokitty]

When you can afford it but a gaming console. I have an xbox 360 and I play a game called Halo 3 online against other people. Its fun, passes time and something your whole family will like. You can pass hours playing and not even realize it. Just an idea

[halokitty]

Or you can play one of those role playing games and sit at the computer for hours mining lol

[hicaniplay]

Not a mom, so take these suggestions with a grain of salt.

Can you garden? Flowers, vegetables, herbs.
They can relate into other areas, if you're looking to maybe sell something as well. Besides food or herb satchels, you can press or dry flowers for decoration or scrap-booking, and there's a retired grandmother down the street from me who uses her little yard to grow all different types of irises and sell their bulbs in the spring. Of course, she doesn't have to deal with kids getting to them.

Can you keep pets? I remember as a kid we lived in the country, my mom did woodworking, had a little shop, and bred fancy pigeons for the fair.
You could always start smaller, breeding guppies or something?
Or not breeding at all - a pet just might make you feel better when your down; I know petting my cat always helps me.

What about artwork?
Have you ever heard of ATCs? It stands for "Artist Trading Cards", and you don't have to really be an artist. You don't even have to paint or draw - it can be sewing or collages or anything really, just so long as it ends up being around the size of a card (2.5 by 3.5 inches).
You make them, then trade them - either in person or trade them through the mail. There's forums dedicated to it
Collecting counts as a hobby, and you get the added bonus of making things other people will appreciate and "ooh" and "aah" over!
Kids can also participate and get cards made by other kids!
You can also try selling the cards you make. On ebay or etsy.

[samrhett2]

I know it must be tough.  Be sure that you are suffering from just the stay at home mommy blues and not the clinical depression blues.  There is a difference.  If you find yourself feeling like this for several weeks, I would talk to your doctor about it.  What concerns me is that you are looking for things to do to make you happy. I am actually surprised you have time to do anything.   lol. 

[mommagoes]

i always worked when my son was little so i feel very fortunate that i am able to stay home with my daughter. to avoid getting bored, i stick to a schedule of cleaning, cooking, and playing with my princess. and to avoid any blues/depression, twice a week when my husband gets home from work, he takes both kids out so i can be all alone and do whatever i want. and then every other saturday i get more me time by going out to lunch and shopping with my sister

[brendy1990]

i have been a stay at home mom for years, i love decorating my house so i am always changing furniture around, painting , i even laid tile down.. but it makes me feel good that i did it and it looks good,, also gardening , and like someone else said ,make sure you get a little you time,  weather its going to go visit good friends, or going to go get your nails done.

[mrisha]

Are you into scrapbooking?  That can be a great hobby to keep away the boredom.  It can be done for different occassions and given to family and friends as gifts.  If not scrapbooking find whatever else you may enjoy and do it.  Sometimes boredom can lead to depression and that is not good for you or your family.

[angel379227]

I could give you many suggestions, but none that are within the realm of PG. You can fill in the blanks though.

[klvcaudillo]

I can appreciate you being honest about your possible depression.  Money and lack of interests can cause many people to "give up" feelings.  Depending on where you live you and the weather, I take my kids out for a walk and talk about the cats and dogs in their yard, or what is their favorite lawn decorations.  I do projects with my oldest. and all you need are some crayons and paper.  My girls love to dance so some days I turn off the TV and we put on any kinda music and just dance away.  When my girls were infants I would slow dance with them and I would sing the songs to them.  I'm really poor too so I try to think of things that I can do that don't cost much.  If you do internet searches on activities for toddlers, infants, or whatever age they are you can get some tips.  I even search Seaseme Street and they have videos you can watch with them with Elmo and all the different characters.  GOOD LUCK.

[SinnerMerc]

Stay-in-the-kitchen Moms are great, too.

[cloudsoup]

Stay-in-the-kitchen Moms are great, too.

that's a good idea. try some new recipes!
baking goodies is something the kids can participate
in too. surprise dad with his favorite cookies? or come
up with your very own unique recipes. you can find
old cookbooks at goodwill for a buck or two!

like someone else said, redecorating is a fun hobby.
paint the kid's room, or the bathroom, and re-arrange
furniture. take your time on it -- don't let it become
overwhelming. it will definitely take up a good week of
time and you will have felt like you accomplished something
in the end. plus, a new look to an old room always makes
for a nice change and that sounds like something you need
if your routines are boring you to death 

[SinnerMerc]

Stay-in-the-kitchen Moms are great, too.

that's a good idea. try some new recipes!
baking goodies is something the kids can participate
in too. surprise dad with his favorite cookies? or come
up with your very own unique recipes. you can find
old cookbooks at goodwill for a buck or two!

like someone else said, redecorating is a fun hobby.
paint the kid's room, or the bathroom, and re-arrange
furniture. take your time on it -- don't let it become
overwhelming. it will definitely take up a good week of
time and you will have felt like you accomplished something
in the end. plus, a new look to an old room always makes
for a nice change and that sounds like something you need
if your routines are boring you to death 

/facepalm

[cloudsoup]

what?