'Down Time' Ideas - for Me

Hmm. Hard since you are supervising at the same time. I do agree with all the answers already posted. The only other thing I do when outside supervising my son while he plays is I like to do Sudoku. It's easy enough to put down and pick back up when I need to. I think calling to catch up with someone is a great idea. I often call my Grandma and chat with her while outside with my son. Oh another idea --- clip coupons and make your grocery list! Or do exercises/stretches/jumproping!

Have a big glass of wine while browsing mamapedia!

Pull weeds, wash your car, clean out your car, sweep the sidewalk or driveway, walk up and down the street where your kids are (good exercise)

Make lists of things you need to do or buy, look over your kids' homework, call friends and family you usually don't have time to call, clean out your purse or a junk drawer. Now I'm getting jelous of this time you have to do these things I need to do :)

Lots of great suggestions from the other ladies. First, don't feel guilty about sitting there and watching the kids --enjoy the time! Cutting and organizing coupons and making your grocery list is a great thing to do. Do you have an i-phone? sign up to play "words with friends" or other computer games on your phone. Plan menus -- write Christmas gift lists. You could also get some exercises and stretches that you could do in place. Good luck!

Make a grocery list, a meal plan, Christmas lists, call your family or friends, call your hubby at work, paint your nails, organize those photo albums, walk up and down the block and get some exercise!?

As long as you can occasionally look outside and see the boys playing, or know that they are within earshot of another mom, I think you can do whatever you need to do. At some point kids need unsupervised time to work out their own disputes w/o always being prompted by parents. It's in taking these small steps they grow to make more important choices and learn for themselves what works and what doesn't work. Children who go from the crib to the playpen, to the fenced yard, to daycare, to school, to organized sports never experience making their own choices, or have the opportunity to test their abilities w/o parental prompting. It's no wonder at 18 they can't decide what they are going to do with themselves. Just my prospective after rearing 5 and teaching a bunch more!