Hi!  I can so relate to what you are saying - mine is at the same stage and I am going nuts!  Even when we do go places it is not relaxing as you are so anxious about what they are doing.  Anyway, I can't say enough good things about playgroup - ours has been a godsend.  Otherwise, I can tell you what the things are that my 2 year old (this week!) does at home - we have a great yard so do lots of outdoors stuff, but the things we do inside are:

cotton reels, duplo, books (especially board books, touch & feel, lift the flap - you can borrow from the local library if short of funds (like us!) - they may also do dvds too and storytime, which is great), dolls, craft - drawing, play-dough (you can make yourself, recipes should be on here somewhere), cubbies (with the furniture), puzzles.  You can get great toys and books from the second hand shop and garage sales for almost nothing.  Otherwise, maybe once you are at playgroup ask mums about borrowing toys - there may be a toy library somewhere or maybe some with older kids may even give you hand me downs.

It is important to get time for you and your partner.  I know we struggle with this 2 - DH is gone upwards of 12 hours a day and when he gets home, we eat dinner and get the kids into bed - then he goes to bed as he gets up at 5.30am.  That leaves no adult conversation, which can drive you nuts.  So, I ring friends (or mum), make sure I get to playgroup, church and preschool and talk to people there when I can.  Every so often I'll go out with friends on my own - shoudl do it more often but it is often a big drama with the kids, so very difficult.

Hope that helps, but Minti me if you want more!

You could try calling your local council. If they are anything like mine, there a great number of things my son and I go to that are ususally free or a gold coin donation.  Most councils are keen to encourage parents to interact with their children and seem to hold events like monthly shows, sing-a-longs and my favourite - a parenting group.

At times I think I would have gone insane if it wasnt for the mums in our group.

Make the call. It made a huge difference to me and to my son.

well its a 2 way streak chicki. you have this very energetic little girl (was going to say ratbag. LOL) and not a heap for her to do. this is very much to do with $ i we are in the same boat. what would be a great idea for ya is get the Quokka on a thursday and look up the free section. this week they had a cubby for free and heaps of swings. I am sure that B is hany and could fix these things and realitivly cheap too. that solves the play ground situstion.

now inside. as we have said before playpen chicki. they are a god send. your house is so small so everything is out and there is no defined area for her to play and its a rental so you cant put locks on the doors.

B is going to dislike me here but you need to set her boundaries chicki. i have let Alex and Charlies boundaries down as they have got older but at A's age i was ice mum. they got a nice sharp voice with tone. kids react to that. u saw A last week when she left the lounge here and chris raised his voice ever so slightly. she came running back in here. its just a case on re training. the one thing that i will always say is that course chris and i did while we were pregers with alex (growing kids gods way) was a god send. it prepared us for all of this and i feel we did very well. we rarely had to yell or smack our kids.

ok now for you. as i txt u before iw ill come over once a week. not just for you but i need my gf. LOL just cause we are a mum doesnt mean we give up our life. now when u go to church on sunday ask them about their playgroup. go to it. you will meet like minded mums there. ask B if you can go to womans night, up here at hillside it was wednesday night. and then keep church on sunday.

ok now for playing with A. start her on new things. make a routine. when u feed K, she is in the playpen. less stress for you. then put K down to play and get A' s attention to something else. drawing is a good one. painting is too. (painting while K is asleep) playdough is great. if u can afford $5 each shop get some little people. they have half a dozen sets for $5 at big W. my kids love them and they go in the bath too.

good luck and remember go to play group. if you need me to come with you for the first few times just say so and i will be there chicki.

I would suggest structuring your day. Maybe break it down to art time (painting, drawing, etc), and then music time (dancing, singing, rhymes), and book time, free play --- or whatever else suits your lifestyle.  Children this age thrive on structure and when she gets used to it, you wouldn't even have to remind her what time it is, she will probably let you know!

You could try playdough, drawing, painting, kicking a ball around, dress ups.  Oh the list is almost endless, much like her energy.

Go to Big W or Kmart and have a look in their kids toy section as well as the art supplies sections.  Great items to be had that your daughter will love, and many won't break the bank.

If all else fails, I've heard our neighbours are moving, so will be an empty house next to us in the next few weeks.  Ok, so not realistic.

Look in your local town phone book and find out if they have a 'neighbourhood centre' they are about $2 for three hours... Your children go into a creche, while all the mums sit in another area and do as you please. whether its scrapbooking, crafts or just talking over a coffee. would be a great way to meet new people close by, cheap and the best part is the staff make all of your drinks (free) for you- you dont do a thing apart from relax. Hope you have one in your area they are a blessing

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