skip to main content

Parents of Toddlers

How much of my time does my toddler need?

14 years ago

I have been a stay ay home mom since my son was born. He is now 18 months old and I will be going back to work in a couple of weeks. He is used to getting A LOT of my attention, probably too much, he gets EXTREMELY whiney when he doesn't have my undivided attention. I think this will be good for both my son and I to be away from each other a little bit, but I am concerned that now that I will be away from him for 9-10 hours a day he won't get enough of my attention. He will be cared for partly by his father and partly in daycare. I worry that he will not have the focused attention from them that he now gets from me. I realize moms face this dilema all the time, it just seems so much more dramatic now that it is me! How much time is too much to expect an 18 month old to entertain himself?

Comments (4)

popi_gw
14 years ago
Children behave differently according to who is taking care of them. He will adapt to different carers, and won't be thinking "why am I not getting the focused attention that I usually get from mum".

So really it is YOU that will be concerned about whether he is looked after in the same way that you look after him. In reality this won't happen, will it ? But this does not mean that he will be neglected, it will just be different for him.

In my opinion most 18 MO would want to be involved in what you are doing, most of the time.

Good luck with returning to work.
adamsmommy
Original Author
14 years ago
Well you are correct, I AM concerned about him not being looked after the way I do it. My concern is that he will just be left to play with toys or occupy himself and not be stimulated with reading or other interactive activities as I would do. I worry about his development. I am sure I am drastically over-reacting. I just feel at this age he really needs that close interaction rather than just being "watched" as he entertains himself. And yes, he most definitely wants to be doing whatever I am doing. As you can imagine, this means everything takes about 4 times as long to accomplish. However to me, it is worth it to see the pride and joy on his adorable little face. I fear others may not see it the same way.
Related Discussions
First Time Grower, how does my plant look?
Q
Comments (6)
I am just using a 20" light from an old aquarium, it was a spur of the momment thing. I also took a cardboard box and lined it with aluminum foil to reflect the light, not sure if it helps of not. I am going to do some more research and build something better for next time but for now it seems to be works well. I ordered them from amazon.com from a seller called Hirt Garden. The sent them with a hand warmer type thing, and the box was still warm when I got it. I would definately order from them again. There were four plants, but I seen I needed to seperate them to get a better yield and picked the alpha plant to isolate. Here is a link that might be useful: Hirt Thai Hot Chilis
...See More
First time grower, how does my crop look to everyone so far?
Q
Comments (11)
I too am new to all this and struggling to learn what needs to be learned for this to work. My biggest challenge is that some of my plants don't look good (I'd say 6-8 of my 28 are in some level of disrepair or desperation), and I *know* they don't look good, but I don't have the ability yet to look at a plant and based on its condition say "Ah, yes, bugs." or "Needs fertilizer" or "too much water" or "too little water". Man, it'd be so great if there was one site with pics of each problematic condition a pepper could have. I had aphid infestation, and I got rid of those, but then it rained every day for a month, and the damage looks similar...LOL Anyway, like you I was getting lost and overwhelmed by the whole fertilizer thing. Then a guy who works at a very successful and major nursery here (DeBaggios) said, just use TomatoTone, period. at transplant time and then once every three weeks, another tablespoon full in a circle around each plant. Seems pretty easy. I guess we'll find out if it works.
...See More
how much comfrey would I need to feed my tomatoes?
Q
Comments (5)
ryinpairodice - I have a space in the back of my yard where the comfrey and nettles should be alright. I don't want to interplant them. I was just going to soak them in water, and use that as a soil drench. And I was going to use the sterile bocking 14 comfrey, that's not supposed to spread like the other kind. But I'm just going by what I read, so I could be wrong. I was thinking about some kind of cover crop in the fall, but I'll still need something for this year. The spot I'm going to plant in is covered with grass and weeds. Lots of queen anne's lace, and various other things. I think I'll leave some of the queen anne's lace, since it's a carrot, and it's supposed to be good for the tomatoes. But I thought about mowing the area once, and raking up the mowed grass and weeds onto the bed areas. I was also thinking about getting some straw for mulch to smother the grass and weeds, so I wouldn't have to dig them up. But I'm wondering if the mowed grass and weed mulch would be enough, without the straw. I think it would be safer, since I wouldn't risk importing any problems with the straw. But I was worried too much grass might cut off the air to the soil. It's not just grass though, so maybe it would be alright? Then I could just cut and pull weeds throughout the season, and keep throwing them on top the beds, like you said. Could that give me enough nitrogen for this year? Nothing's been grown in that spot for a long time, besides grass and weeds, as far as I know.
...See More
My how time repeats its self, does any one remember these?
Q
Comments (6)
When I was a kid, we had a souvenir of Niagara Falls that was just like this lamp. I know it's gone, though. My Mom cleaned out her basement years ago and chucked everything.
...See More
oilpainter
14 years ago
If you are putting him in an acredited day care he will be stimulated, because they have activities for their charges. Some things my grandsons do at daycare are painting, crafts, story time, and interaction by play with other kids as well as outside play. These activities are always supervised and the daycare workers spend time interacting with the kids too. My grandsons and my friends grandchildren love daycare.

If you are asking will one person will dance attendance on your child that won't happen, but he will get stimulated play and sometimes be left to play with other kids.

However just getting someone to watch your child is a crap shoot. Some will do things with the child and others will plunk them in front of the TV.

If you do your homework though, Daycare can be a positive experience
colleenoz
14 years ago
While I agree that babies need stimulation, they also need to learn to entertain themselves. It's all part of learning to be a well-rounded personality.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

FUN HOUZZ 10 Truly Irritating Things Your Partner Does in the Kitchen

By Mitchell Parker

Dirty dishes, food scraps in the sink — will the madness ever stop?

INSIDE HOUZZ How Much Does a Remodel Cost, and How Long Does It Take?

By Erin Carlyle

The 2016 Houzz & Home survey asked 120,000 Houzzers about their renovation projects. Here’s what they said

ENTERTAINING Easy, Colorful Toddler's Birthday Party

By Jennifer Bishop Design

10 great tips for turning affordable, reusable finds into a festive luncheon kids and parents will love

STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS A Stitch in Time: Creative Sewing Spaces

By Susan Redman

Sewing rooms have become popular again as people of all ages embrace simple crafts they can do at home

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Designed to Stand the Test of Time

By Bryan Anthony

Ageless beauty abounds in this elegant European-inspired kitchen in Minnesota

PATIOS An Outdoor Dining Spot Creates Quiet Time in the Heart of San Francisco

By Mitchell Parker

See how this abandoned site became a big-city oasis with the help of a new lawn and a unique outdoor dining area

BEDROOMS Room of the Day: A Master Retreat Designed for Quality Family Time

By Becky Harris

Bright colors, bold patterns and dark walls cozy up a space where the whole family connects each night

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Collecting Over Time in Canberra

By Luci.D Interiors

Artwork, secondhand finds and collectibles mingle exuberantly in a newly bright and open Australian home

DECORATING GUIDES Reboot Your Child’s Room for Back-to-School Time

By Laura Gaskill

Give a preschooler to teen a room that’s more age appropriate, fun or to their taste

LIFE Time Travel to Houzzers' Childhood Homes, Part 1

By Becky Harris

Peek into home design's past and share the memories of Houzz community members with these personal photos and stories

Sponsored

NME Builders LLC

2 Reviews

Industry Leading Kitchen & Bath Remodelers in Franklin County, OH