I have been beating myself up b/c I feel that I don't spend enough time with my kids ages 3 and 9 mon. I am a stay at home mom but it always seems like there is things to be done. I try to spend a few hours in the morning with them and a few in the afternoon before dad gets home. I try to only let my oldest watch 2 hours of TV a day so that I can get a few things done and he will be somewhat content but that is not always the case sometimes he will ask me to watch with him. I don't want to miss out on this time with them but there are things that need to be done. How do you guys spend your time?

Not nearly enough. ugh... Dont feel too bad. We do the best we can.

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Mommy to Bailey 10/02, Brooke 9/04, & DJ 6/06

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Most days I am pretty good about it, but for them I am trying to win the post the most contest today so not such a playmate today! Dont feel bad like Ember said we do the best we can.

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Have a bootiful Halloween!

When DD was a preschooler, about the same amount of time as you - a bit in the morning and a bit in the afternoon. I made a point to do something more educational in the afternoon.

She prefers to wake up slowly so she is/was allowed to watch TV in the morning and ! gasp ! while eating breakfast. I know - it's awful - but that gives me a few calm moments to drink a cup of coffee and get myself started. If Mama is happy, then everyone is happy.

After 10am the TV is off and DD has to play by herself or 'help' me while I do chores around the house. That is their job - to play and learn. And I have to tell you, I spend tons more time with DD than my mom did with me.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

Do the best you can and the time you do spend playing just enjoy it!
I never feel at the end of the day like I have spent enough time with each child playing. But then I also know I do the best I can with the time that I do have.
You are doing fine!

Thank you for your encouragement. Do you ever find yourselves see your kids playing good together and let them play and go do something else that needs to be done. I find myself doing that at times b./c I want them to be able to learn to use their imaginations.

I tried to balance spending time with them encouraging/letting them play alone. I think i did a pretty good job. They are 21 and 17 now... we are still very close and they are very independant individuals. I am proud of us all.

It is hard for me to spend time with my girls because they fight. No matter what toy or activity they end up battling over it. I try to spend most of the youngest's nap doing learning activities or playing with my oldest. I pretty much burnt out on dolls though It is easier when we can go outside. I always have a ton of chores and it seems like they need another snack by the time I clean up from the last one.

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I probably play with my kids too much, if there is such a thing! In the morning they do watch NOGGIN or PBS-Curious George, while they eat breakfast so I can drink my coffee in peace, take out the dog, feed and take care of the cat, throw in a load of laundry. Then they go off and play. Right now they play nice together and my 5yr old has the best imagination of any kid I've met. He has the two of them playing pirates, deep sea divers, they play that they are Diego and save animals, it's never ending the things he comes up with-normally if he sees something on Animal Planet then he gets his brother so they can reinact it. Normally when my youngest goes down for a nap I'll do school related things with my 5yr old, he'll color/paint do crafts, puzzles, games etc. It's just easier right now while the little one is asleep or he wants to do everything his brother does! As much as my dh and I play with the boys it's still amazing to see our oldest ds has such a great, little kid imagination still. There are times he runs off to play with his action figures in his room by himself. I know my dh and I play with the kids much more than our parents ever played with us, if they even did.

We play alot, they play on their own and together alot also. We don't watch tv during the day (unless daddy is watching them anyway). I don't do much housework during the day, just dishes and some laundry, the rest of the time is with them, and half the day seems to go to getting them food! For skinny kids they eat soo much! We all have great imaginations and if needed they can occupy themselves which is nice about having them so close in age.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt