Poll: "Me" time.

warriormomerin

I'm interested in finding out how much "me" time or alone time typical moms get.

I'm not talking about time alone in your car or after the kid(s) have gone to bed. I want to know how many total hours of structured or planned free (free meaning, not doing mom/wife duties) time you average per week.

[Poll]

Mrs.Cooley2bee

I voted 1-2 because of water aerobics and book club and other random things I do on my own.  But in general I do count time after DD goes to bed. She's out by 7 and I don't go to bed until 10, so I feel like I get a good amount of downtime to relax if needed. 

allobosc

I probably get more than most moms, but I don't feel like it.  In fact this morning I was thinking just how much work and parenting intrude upon my hobbies

I try to scrapbook once every 2 months or so with some girlfriends.  It isn't about scrappin' as much as it is about getting "me" time.

I did get to read for 15 min. before bed last night.

KYmama9286

I voted special snowflake b/c we have people over for drinks maybe 1-2 nights a week but honestly lately I've been cutting back on that because while its fun to hang out w/ friends from 8-11/12 I am really exhausted and kind of wish I was in bed sleeping haha that sounds horrible but lately I'm so burnt out that anytime I'm not "parenting" I want to just be sleeping...Other than that I have a bible study I am in 1x/week for 2 hours in the morning (child care is provided for free which is great!) and I have my church small group 1x/week from 7-930 which is nice but we have Nicholas so alot of wrangling is done in trying to keep him from losing it, trying to put him down at someone else's house, etc. but it is adult conversation so that counts, right?

KristenBtobe

Lately I've been busy and not with the kids as much, but I don't feel like I've been getting enough downtime. I have my MOPS group once a month, I go to work (sometimes that feels like downtime!), run errands and all that jazz. But I want to get back to the gym and I just can't seem to carve out the time. Not to mention how much I'd like to just read a damn book.

seghibs

I voted "Special Snowflake".

For work I travel 50% of the time, so when I am on the road, I get lots of me time (too much for me to be happy about).  But I focus on doing things for me during this time.

When I am home, I want to be with DS as much as possible (I guess to make up for the time away) so I probably take 1 - 2 hours a week to myself. I go spinning one night a week and workout one time over the weekend. 

shawnsweetie

Pretty much none. I can count on 1 hand how many times I have gone out since P was born almost 2 years ago. I don't even go to the grocery alone. If I want to go running, R and P are with me. If I need to go to the doctor R and P are with me. If I need to shower P is with me. If I need to sleep P is with me. I am pretty much with them all the time. While I am cooking dinner I am holding P. I pretty much have zero down time. Even after the kids go to bed I am doing stuff. I usually fall into bed at 11 or 12 when P summons me and I wake up every 2 hours with him until he wakes for the morning at 6 am. Rylee doesn't take naps nd P's are spoadic if they happen at all. I eat breakfast and lunch standing up.

I'm tired.

Dani3679

I just posted on FB the other day how much I would love an entire day to myself.  I get out maybe once a month without Ry (I actually get 2 nights this month!)  Quinton usually works on the weekends so it just me and Ry all day.  If I could get one whole day to do nothing by myself I would be in absolute heaven, maybe I can talk Q into taking Ry somewhere one day (but then I always feel bad if I put any of my responsibilities for her on him, since she is my daughter!)

stacieann15

I picked 3-4 hours, although 2 of those are my night class. I'm not sure that counts since it is my "job" to be a graduate student.

sistrkate

I get pretty much no free time to myself, at least not planned.

I get up at 6:30 on weekdays so that I can shower and dress in peace before the kids wake up for the day.  I have a little time to check email, etc., then too.

Like someone else said, I kind of have to count the time after the kids go to bed, but it's usually not spent doing things fun like reading books or doing my nails.  I'm doing laundry or making lunches or something.

It kinda sucks, frankly.

Meg41208

The time after DD goes to bed is usually the time DH and I spend unwinding together.  As far as me-time, I'd say I probably get about 3-4 hours a week.  I usually go to the gym in the mornings on the weekends, and if I don't, I sleep in while DH gets up with DD (he's usually up when she wakes up).  Sometimes, I do errands or things for myself during lunch during my workday or after work before I pick DD up from daycare.

addslove

KristenBtobe:

But I want to get back to the gym and I just can't seem to carve out the time. Not to mention how much I'd like to just read a damn book.

This.  Please let me know if you figure it out because I can't seem to.

Superchicy

I put 1-2 hrs, but I am counting time where I might get off work early, or have a break at work and surf for a bit or something.  Otherwise I am either working or with DD all day and night.  My "me" time is the hour or two after DD goes to bed before she wakes up again, but I really can't plan to do anything b/c I never know when she is going to get up, and I never know how long naps will last so nothing gets planned there either.  I've actually been out w/o DD twice since she was born.  Kinda sad. 

buckeyethor

see, this is why we all need to get out together more sans men and kids.

sistrkate

buckeyethor:

see, this is why we all need to get out together more sans men and kids.

  The Bump seriously needs a "Like" button for posts just like this one.

Lyons_in_2007

I voted 6+.  I definitely get more than my fair share, as does DH.  DH and I both understand how important it is to balance the time in our lives - "me" time, 1:1 time with the kids, family time, and couple time.  It makes for happy family dynamics (as it makes for happy individuals within the family), so we make it a priority.  All that said, we are extremely lucky to have supportive extended family who make it possible for us to manage both the "me" time and the couple time in our lives.

tiffyr0se

Typically I have 1 evening a week that I have dinner with friends or go out shopping.

kel716

Obligatory Special Snowflake here.  It seriously depends on the week.  Some weeks, I'm in the 6+ category, other weeks I don't have any.  I consider "me" time non-school time. 

I am lucky though that in the weeks where I don't have a ton of alone time, dh tends to go do something with DS so I can relax/diffuse for 30 minutes or so.

I am walking a few days/week after school with a co-worker...  so while it's "me" time I feel like it doesn't completely count because we're always talking about school stuff...  so in many ways, I'm still working, but getting some exercise in on a regular basis. 

OliveBaby

Is it wrong that I assumed this was about personal, battery operated "me" time? Haha.