Episode 72: What if Boredom is the Point

Your partner going back to work can hit harder than you expect, especially when you’re still postpartum and the baby is changing by the day. I’m Sheree, back with a solo check-in as we get ready for the end of paternity leave (for hubby) and I’m telling the truth about the emotions that come with it: I’m genuinely sad to lose the built-in support, and I’m also trying to feel strong enough to handle the next phase of maternity leave with two kids on my own...most of the week.

From there, I get into the parenting topic that’s been living in my head lately: screen time with a preschooler while you’re caring for a newborn. I share why I aimed for minimal screens early on, what I’ve learned about overstimulation, and why pulling my daughter away from a device can be so hard. We talk about the real downside when kids get too locked in, like missing potty cues, hunger, and tiredness, and how that creates a bigger meltdown later. At the same time, I don’t villainize screens. I talk about using shows like Bluey and Gracie’s Corner in a way that supports learning, and I share an educational app we’ve been loving (Keiki) for tracing, numbers, hygiene play, and language growth.

If you’re looking for practical screen-free activities, I’ve got you: arts and crafts, paint, toddler nail polish for a rainy moment, puzzles, gardening, cooking “shake, shake, shake”, dance parties, reading, audiobooks, and the undefeated option of water play. I also share how I’m trying to be less rigid, build screen-free chunks into the day, and slowly get back out into the world after a tough delivery, including my first attempt at driving myself to an acupuncture consult. 

If any of this sounds like your house right now, listen along, share it with a friend who needs the reassurance, and leave a review so we can keep making episodes that feel like real life.

Scroll down for more!