3 day weekend..

[HALEY]

This is the start of me only working 4 days a week, what the heck am i going to do with 3 days off... i'm so depressed...
First of all i'm getting my resume updated.. but again since were in a recession who the heck is hiring right now, someone has to be..
Then i guess i'll clean and do laundry..
Play with Micah...
Can't go shopping no money...
and right before Christmas this had to happen...
I need to get out of this mood, been like this for a month now, don't even want to get out of bed anymore....

[DianaB]

You always enjoy being home with Micah and now's the time to make the best of that time together. You can take him to some parks and do some fun stuff that doesn't cost anything. You can go by a river or creek and throw rocks in the water!! Kids love that one! Enjoy your time at home. Make a really good meal. visit some family or friends that you've been wanting to visit. Make some Christmas gifts!!

[Dobie]

Diana's right about making Christmas gifts - you could make ornaments for family that focused around a picture of Micah - that would be something they would cherish.
Several years ago, there was a Christmas that I just could not afford presents, so what I "gave" that year was my time - I helped with projects around the house that family members had kept putting off, cleaned a couple of attics and basements, and did some snow shoveling for another family member. Even though it was physical gifts, I think the thought was appreciated.

[judy]

I agree with Diana and Dobie. Enjoy your time with Micah. Money is not the most important thing. I have had money and other times, had no money. In the end,
it didn't really change me or my life, except that I worried about not having it. I have been happier at times when there was no money, and vice verse.

My daughter has given me homemade gifts often. One year, she took the childrens' hands, dunked them in finger paints, and made a tile from each one.
I keep them out as a kitchen decoration. She painted a Happy Birthday Grandma
sweatshirt for me one year. It's one of my most prized possessions! One year, the children cut out their own pictures of flowers from magazines and glued them on a small cardboard box. I keep some of my papers in it. It doesn't even have a bottom, but I love it.

You can bake cookies or cook something delicious that can be frozen. Making chocolate is a lot of fun and very easy.

Make the best of it Haley. Life is way too short to aggravate yourself about money. Money has a way of coming and going.

JMO!!!

[HALEY]

Aww Thanks Judy, i needed to hear that, i will make the best of this, so what if we don't have that many Christmas presents this year, we got Micah and my family that's all that matters right?
God will get us thru this bad time. I pray...
See what happen when they took God out of the Government, he's punishing all of them now!!

[gja1000]

Enjoy your extra time with Micah - he will grow so fast! Remember - this too shall pass - things will change, they always do. We make it somehow. You will too.

[Marilyn]

Just wanted to say that you've been given some very wise advise from some very caring ladies here. Please do take it to heart.

One year we were very short on funds and made all our Christmas gifts. Homemade candy in decorated jars, picture frames from old barn and fence boards from around my father's farm, and things like that. We found negatives of pictures we knew would be special and had them printed and framed them with our homemade frames. We bought some cheap red ribbon and wrapped all the gifts in newspaper decorated with red ribbon and homemade bows. We'll never forget that Christmas, very nice memories.

Time is precious, especially time spent with those we love. Please take advantage of this time to make those special memories.

[HALEY]

Thanks Marilyn - i am going to spend some time with my son, everyone is right, i wanted more time with him anyways, Chirstmas will be tight with gifts and all, but he is young and we will make the best of it this year with lots of love and family and friends...

[Janet]

I know this may sound strange...but Haley, one year for Ricky's birthday when he was about 4 or 5...we went to a store and got these great big boxes...I mean plenty of huge boxes. We took them out in the garage and Ricky (with our help) made these tunnels out of the boxes with lookout holes. He played with those boxes more than he ever played with his toys. He loved it. It was his own special place and he had all kinds of trucks and tractors in the maze with him. Such a great memory.

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by Janet

I know this may sound strange...but Haley, one year for Ricky's birthday when he was about 4 or 5...we went to a store and got these great big boxes...I mean plenty of huge boxes. We took them out in the garage and Ricky (with our help) made these tunnels out of the boxes with lookout holes. He played with those boxes more than he ever played with his toys. He loved it. It was his own special place and he had all kinds of trucks and tractors in the maze with him. Such a great memory.

Janet i think that is a wonderful idea, Micah loves boxes, he also likes pots and pans, i give him wodden spoons and he bangs on them for hours and chases the dogs of coarse with the spoons, i swear him and Harely torture each other, Harley is just as bad, he takes Micah's toys cause he knows he's going to chase him, Harley loves it....

[DianaB]

That's funny that boxes was brought up because I was just thinking that kids his age love boxes. You could get some large ones and decorate them with paper. He's so little that he won't notice that he's not getting a lot for Christmas. You've got time to come up with some creative ideas.

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by DianaB

That's funny that boxes was brought up because I was just thinking that kids his age love boxes. You could get some large ones and decorate them with paper. He's so little that he won't notice that he's not getting a lot for Christmas. You've got time to come up with some creative ideas.

i was just thinking about making him one that looks like thomas the train, very good at drawing, won lots of contest in high school art class, and my husband too can draw...

[Marilyn]

These are great ideas!! Children his age really don't need very much. A few inexpensive toys and decorated boxes shoulds like a wonderful Christmas to me!!!

[Gina]

Haley, I know times are tough now a days for you younger couples with high mortgages etc. With your hours cut down you can earn extra spending money and still be home with Micah. I was always a stay at home mom when my children were young, I was stuck between the sandiwich generation taking care of my eldery parents and raising my children. I did with a lot less , I didnt go on vacations every year and hardly went out to dinner. We sacrificed so I can stay home with them. I don't regret it at all. They were the best times of my life.


I did not work but always was an avon repre. and believe it I made a few dollars, I always had high sales, hence my profession today. lol I was very active on the PTA and all origanizations for my children.. So that money came in handy for Christmas gifts, Halloween etc.

The important thing here is that you will enjoy time with your son and it is wonderful to be with him and to enjoy each day . The ladies here gave you great suggestions for Christmas presents, Haley a lot of people are cutting out people from their Christmas list, including myself. I have a big family and friends that I brought for and we don't need anything so a token present is nice.

Sometimes I wish I can stay home at times it seems boring but there is always something to be done. Trust me days go by quickly..


Please drag yourself out of bed and start smiling you have a beautiful family to be thankful for this shall pass.