I lost my job a couple of months ago, and my last day of work was last Friday. I didn’t find a new job during my last two months of work, so here I am, a newly minted SAHM.

However, I’m a SAHM with a twist. A SAHM-lite? Maybe a SAHM in training? I’m looking for a new job, hopefully one where I can work part-time, which means we’d still need a daycare spot for Little M. Since daycare waitlists are years long where we live and little M isn’t old enough yet for preschool, I had to work out an arrangement with his daycare provider while I look for work. She is going on vacation for the month of August, so for the months of June and July we’ve agreed to a part-time schedule where I’ll pay 50% of his usual cost and he’ll go two and a half days a week (or just two weeks, if we go away for a couple of weeks to beat the summer heat!).

I’ve agreed to let her know by mid-July if Little M will be returning full-time in September. If not, then she’ll need to fill his space. That leaves me with just about one month to figure out where my career is going – to a new position outside the home or to a new position in the home. Either option scares me! I was with my old company for eight years so moving to a new one is a big change. On the other hand, I haven’t spent many weekdays with just me and my boy with nothing on our agenda, so that’s a huge change too!

Apart from updating my resume and arranging for a caffeine addict’s dream number of coffee dates with possible career contacts, I’ve been preparing for the next few months by researching all the (preferably free) toddler activities in my area. So far I’ve scoped out the best playgrounds within walking distance of our house – although only one is shady during the day, story hours at the local libraries (but they’re sadly on hold for June!), tumble tykes options at my gym and free-swim hours at local pools with wading pool options. I’ll also be sure to pick up a wading pool for our own yard too!

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in the wading pool at Mamie & PawPaw’s house

On the boards lots of people suggested getting out of the house at least once a day. And since I’m one who loves a schedule and a plan, I’ve been trying to figure out how our days might look. Mornings are little M’s longest awake times, so I thought that a trip to the gym for an hour or two after breakfast might be nice. We could return home to play in the yard and then have lunch before nap. After nap we could go to a park most days and to a pool once or twice a week. My goal is to start having dinner as a family, which means a 5pm dinner for all of us. I’m not sure if Little M can entertain himself long enough for me to cook, but I’m hoping to give it a try – especially if it means cutting down on the snacking that Mr. S and I do at that hour!

Thinking about how our days might look and actually living those days are two entirely different things. I’m pretty anxious about this transition in our lives and could use all the advice I can get.

What are your best tips for staying home with a toddler? Any tips for hunting for a new job – especially a part-time one?