how the heck do you do it?? do you just plan everything around when hubby is home?

I am going absolutely crazy. I hate having to rely on other people to take my places. DH still wont let me drive b/c my reaction time sucks My neighbor is going with me on errands today and was going to let me drive. if i felt it was too much she would just take over since we arent going very far. But now my back hurts and my left foot is numb so no driving for me today. So bummed. i was very much looking forward to getting my life back, driving is part of it. I hate needing milk and having to wait till hubby gets home. wanting to take the kids somewhere but can't.

IM GOING BONKERS....



how do you do it? or is it different if you never drove in the first place?

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It might be different since I've never driven but the truth is, I don't plan everything around hubby driving. The only thing that really gets planned around him is the groceries and that's usually because I make him take one of the kids so I don't have to watch them both while shopping. Other errands that are done on the weekend are runs to hardware stores and such where we need both of us to decide on buying something. Doctor's/dentists appointments, some small grocery runs, play dates, other shopping, trips to NYC etc, I do all on my own. I don't stay home just because DH is working. Its my choice not to drive at the moment so I don't let it stop me from doing what I want to do.

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I don't drive much right now. I do occasionally drive to the grocery a half mile away if hubby is home and only one of us needs to run over there for something.

The rest of the time, we just plan trips out for when he is home. I prefer doing things together anyway, I get bored running errands by myself. We hang out at home or walk to the nearby park during the day when he's at work, which I don't mind being home because that's usually when I do my work so that we have afternoons and evenings free to do whatever.

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Mary Beth - 31
DH - 30
Baby Kian - 3/24/07
- - -

Oh man, I would go crazy!! Sometimes, I go for a drive just to get away. This weekend, I ran a few errands with DH and the kids, and his sitting in the car outside the store made me nervous.

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[quote=JennD;7177901 Doctor's/dentists appointments, some small grocery runs, play dates, other shopping, trips to NYC etc, I do all on my own. [/QUOTE]

How do you get there, Jenn? Can you walk? Or is public transportation just that good where you live???

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Karen



Mommy to:

Emma Katherine 12-31-98
Caroline Grace 7-11-00
John Francis 12-28-02
Sarah Margaret 11-23-04
Mary Clare 3-8-07
and Blessing #6!! 9-28-08

In order to do that, I'd have to have someone watch the kids. Since they're with me almost all the time, I couldn't go for a drive to get away. I go for a long walk on the weekends after the girls are in bed as my "away" time.

Jenn, do you take the Metro line or something?

Good question, Jillian. I would go crazy. I would be fine if I lived in a city and could get around - sometimes I don't take my car to Chicago - just take the train and either take a cab or el (subway) places.

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There's a bus system here and a free shuttle that the town offers as a way to reduce traffic on the roads. I also take cabs sometimes but a lot of stuff is just close enough to walk to.

The dentist, ped, our doctor, 2 grocery stores, the butcher, post office, 2 dry cleaners, 4 restaurants, Emma's preschool as well as all the public schools, 2 corner stores, a Hallmark store, 2 baby stores, library, a garden/hardware store, dance academy, 2 nail salons and 2 hair dressers are within 3 miles of us so its not that hard to walk to them.

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i think for me its all bc im not used to not being able to drive. my friend was going to let me drive to the post ofice (3 miles away) but as i walked to the van she decided not to let me b/c of how wobbly i was just walking. i ended up with a driving cart at target, she insisted b/c i was having such a hard time today.

Im just going crazy. its not that i want to go places its that i cant, kwim?

we dont live in an area where you can just walk everywhere, especially not in this heat.

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3 miles!!!! That's still a haul!! Holy Smokes!! 3 miles!!

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The heat of summer is a pain as is the cold of winter. In summer, I bus or cab it if I have to be somewhere between 10:30 and 4 but I often get up and get the girls ready first thing and hit the grocery store or post office at 8 so its not too hot yet. I make as many appointments as I can for 8:30 or 9.

And Christine, most stuff is actually right around the corner literally and the rest is really only a mile and a half away so its a quick walk but on fall and spring days, I'll go to the 3 miles for a change of pace and some exercise.

We're a one car household and hubs takes it to work most days, so I don't drive a whole heck of a lot. We just wait until he's off to do any errands.

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Momma to Jacob Ryan (8/24/99)
Kieran Andrew (04/14/01)
and Noah David (02/13/07)


http://bubblefactory.etsy.com

I would go absolutely stir crazy....
I need to know i have a car there even if i don't use it. I need to know i can take off whenever i feel like it. whenever we have gone on vacations and have no used or driven a car for a week, i come back and i have like withdrawals....
I am a very independent person, i like to go shopping by myself and doing my things. Don't get me wrong i like doing certain things with my husband but when it comes down to shopping for me or for gifts i could do without his 2 cents.

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I must have a cloud over my head, i have opened up threads and get sidetracked.
Sorry Jill about your having to rely on everyone but don't worry and don't overdo it because you want to be able to get better and stay that way not slow down your recovery. Take it easy and you will be well on your way to being independent again

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I just can't fathom that! I got my driver's license the day I turned 16. Donnie and I split the driving, he would do all the driving if I let him but that's just weird to me. Until the gas prices I was all over in a day, I love taking the kids to new parks and such. I definitely keep home much more these days.

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100% !!

While on maternity leave in the beginning, I was restricted from driving due to the C-section and I was HATING IT! I think just knowing I can't do something makes me that much more stir crazy. Having my mom drive me and Chase to the ped was nerve wracking because she despises our city traffic and driving a car that isn't her own.

I feel for ya, Jillian! Hope it gets back to your normal routine sooner than later.

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Stacey (38)
DH Steve (38)
DS Chase 2-13-07

Jennifer, I totally know what you mean. Its the knowing I CANT go somewhere should I need to. My neighbor is awesome though. She calls if shes going anywhere to see if i want/need something or if i want to tag along. I feel so guilty taking her up on the free services of her children though, LOL. her 14 yr old DS babysits the boys at night but if its day time her 11 yr old will (we trust her like you wouldnt believe) and since we are never too far if she needs us she just calls. She loves watching the boys too. she will come over so i can shower, or work on laundry or just lay down for 30 min without interruption. Definately spoiled by them thats for sure.

point is though, if i WANT to go somewhere, I CANT. I guess thats whats killing me more than anything.

Jenn, you saying you walk everywhere reminded me of my due date with jordan. I was having ctx every 2.5 min, lasting for 45 seconds, painful and like clock work. We decided to go on a walk, my mom opted to stay home in case we called to tell her to come pick us up. We walked and walked and wakled. people were stopping to see if we needed a ride to the hospital. Everyone was pretty much military or retired and better yet retired military, everyone was friendly and always considerate. Well this lady in her 60s stopped to see if we wanted a ride. we thanked her and said we're trying to jump start my labor (I stopped from the ctx bc i couldnt breathe). We told her where we were walking and every 10 minutes she'd pass us again, it was adorable. At one point she pulled up to check on us and brought us 2 bottles of water. You could tell she was excited for us (we had talked for a few min and told her it was our first). Anyhow, in the end we got home and i had to lay down for a few so DH went on a drive to check how far we drove, 2.4 miles. EEK! I had never walked that much in my life, let alone 65 lbs heavier and 40 weeks pregnant. Unfortunately the ctx stopped so every night we walked some more, occasionaly seeing that woman.

what im trying to say is, we used to walk ALOT. in the fall and early spring we still do. we walk around the neighborhood and its about 1.5 lbs round trip. I cant wait til i feel up to it so we can clean off the wagon and just go again.

Im taking it easy, I promise. only doing as much as i can handle without pain. the minute i feel pain or irritation, i stop. im just dying that i cant drive