What do you do for "me" time?

peacelove&mama

I think I've posted here before, but as a quick intro just in case, I am a stay at home mom from Canada. I have a 6 year old son with ADHD, a 9 year old stepdaughter, and am expecting a baby boy in December. I also do home daycare, but am taking my "mat leave" beginning next month.

My reason for posting tonight is that lately I'm feeling so completely overwhelmed and can't seem to wind down. I'm sure the fact that I'm pregnant has a lot to do with how I feel, and I'm sure that summer has got to the kids and that's part of the reason they're not behaving/getting along as well as usual which is really getting to me.

My question to you all is, what do you do to relax, and how do you carve out the time? I used to read but I can't even concentrate on books anymore. 

laurakaz13

I work out a lot (5 or 6 days a week).  I get my nails done every few weeks, and my hair done every six weeks.  I go out every few weeks for a girl's night with my friends. 

At night after bedtime, I read or play on the internet or just hang with DH.  I actually get a lot of "me" time.  I need it. 

How do I do this?  My DH takes care of DD and gives me breaks.  I also have 3 very reliable babysitters whom DD loves.  They help us out every week.  It's all worth it for my sanity. 

vlagrl29

I work out a lot and that's my "me" time.  other than that, I make sure everything is done after we eat dinner:  dishes put away and cleaned up, give DD her shower with me, have a little playtime before bedtime, put her to bed and put away toys.  then I have 2 hours to just chillax before I go to bed.  I basically plan not doing a dang thing after we put her to bed and that helps a lot

pastalady

i feel guilty how much me time i get lol! DD goes to bed at 7 pm and sleeps until 7. i usually go for a walk for about 45 min as soon as she is in her bed. Then I watch tv with Dh or surf the web. i go out at least once every week with girlfriends or date night with DH.

I guess my main thing is i get everything done while DD is awake. all housework, etc. she likes to help me lol! Then when she goes down it's just a 10 minute tidy.

 

 

AimeeL85

This might not seem like much, but 3 or 4 times a week after dinner I head upstairs and soak in a nice hot bubble bath.  I sit in there for about 45 minutes and read, play on my phone, or even sleep until 7:15 when DH brings DS upstairs for bedtime.

DH and I also have an agreement that keeps us sane. We love our sleep and didn't get nearly enough of it with DS not STTN until he was 16 months old.  So I sleep in on Saturdays, and DH sleeps in on Sundays. We'll sleep until 10 or 11 while the other cares for DS.  I look forward to Saturdays alllll week, it really does keep us sane.

The_Jen626

I put DD in preschool 2 days every week.  So Monday and Wednesday I get 4-5 hours to myself.  That's when I do my grocery shopping and errands, but also I use that time for lunch with friends, seeing a movie, laying by the pool for a bit, shopping, hair appts, whatever.

I also have a monthly book club, and when I'm not pregnant I'll go out drinking with my friends about one night a month.  Also DH and I will go on a date night about once a month, and during the summer we put DD in school on Fridays and take our boat out just the two of us, it's nice to just be able to relax and not have to be aware of our 3 year old the entire time, we can just drive or swim and chill out.

I have several great babysitters on call, and DH knows that I am a better wife AND mom when I get some "me time" so he is fully on board with that.

This Wednesday I am taking a spa day, and I am soooooo excited.  I've had a rough few weeks and can't wait to just RELAX in the silence!

Edit: I also read a LOT of books, like one a week...my DD plays on her own very well, so in the mornings (if we aren't running out the door for a playdate) I'll sit in the living room and read, and she'll play in her playroom for about 45 minutes to an hour.  Or this summer we'll both be in the backyard, she'll play in her pool or sandbox and I will sit next to her and read.  It's relaxing to me and feels like "an escape" even though I'm still right next to her.

Rdautenhahn

I've recently gotten a new sewing machine so I use my free time for projects around the house. It's so fun to use my creative side and be productive. My H will just entertain my son for a little while on the weekends and I make something fun. 

joyfullyfound

"me time"? What is this strange term?

gatogrrl

Well, right now I have very little "me" time.  It's really starting to bug me, actually.  With this new baby, I find myself saying, "I'll sit down after I do X," which then becomes Y, which then becomes Z, and suddenly an hour has passed and naps are over, and I am super cranky that I got no "me" time.

However, at the beginning of September my gym membership starts up again (I had it frozen for 3 months pre- and post-partum).  I think I'll just make a schedule of the classes I want to attend, show it to DH, and ask him how we're going to make it happen.  You just have to ask for it and expect it, and then DO it.

sophie206

DD just started consistently sleeping right at her 2nd birthday, so I have started getting back into reading in the evenings. DH takes DD out for a few hours about every other weekend and I lounge around or catch up on work for my job (not really me-time, but less stressful). DH and I also try to get out on a date about 1x/month.

rab41380

I go to the gym at least 3-4x a week.  I like taking the yoga or other fitness classes because I really escape for a true hour.  I noticed yoga has helped me be a better mom, and wife.  I handle stress a lot better than I use to. 

Besides that, I plan girls night out with my single friends who do not have kids.  This always helps me escape, I try to do this once a month.  

jenniann87

I workout after DS goes to bed and in the morning if I get up before him I'll either workout or go for a run. I love working out, for me it is a great time to clear your mind. I also take a couple dance classes every Wednesday at a local studio. I bartend 3 nights a week, 4-5 hours a shift, so that is also like my "me time". I am very fortunate to have my parents close by and they love watching DS. My brothers and SIL are also great and love spending time with DS, so having a few different babysitters I am usually able to get out for a Mom's night out or lunch a few times a month.

My FI and I also have an agreement that with him working 2nd shift and crazy hours that on the weekends it is my turn to sleep in. He gets up with DS and I can lay in bed and sleep. I look forward to it all week.

Mom2Mack1

I don't get very much.  Unfotunately we don't have any regular sitters, plus I pregnant so I don't feel like doing much when evening rolls around.

I do sew alot lately, making baby stuff right now.  Lately, DH has been taking DD for a few hours every weekend giving me a break. 

eaglesfan700

I go to the gym 5x a week and use the childcare there.  Best thing I have done for myself since becoming a SAHM

I also go out frequently with friends for dinner/drinks and H and I do date night once a month.  Every so often I go away with friends for a girls weekend.  I also have football season tickets so I am gone for the day on home games

My H is awesome about making sure I take the time I need.  In the fall, he is taking off from work to stay home with the kids for a few days so I can go stay with and help out my bff after she has her 2nd baby.  We also have a couple reliable babysitters

DevonPow

I have a sitter two mornings a week for the baby (DS1 is in camp/will be in kindergarten). I use that time to go to the gym, run uninterrupted errands, get a pedicure every two weeks, have my dentist appointment in peace (lol), etc. I also bring the baby to the gym 1 morning a week for some "me" time while he is in the nursery. At home I read a lot...mainly after the kids are in bed, but occassionally there is time when the baby is napping, DS1 is engrossed in play, and all the chores are done

JenWhite123

My MIL watches dd for a few hours once a week. I have lunch with a friend, run errands, etc.

babypuplove

It helps to have a husband who is great with the kids and has a fairly short commute.  His company is very family friendly, so he doesn't work a lot of late nights, and is good about encouraging alone time.  I'll surf the internet, read, soak in the tub, or watch a DVR'd show while he takes the kids to the pool or playground across the street or plays with them downstairs.  We try to have a date night at least once or twice a month, and I go out with friends at least once or twice a month.  I get pedicures every few weeks in the summer, and only get my hair done 3-4 times a year, but that two hours is bliss.  :-)

We've been fortunate in that we have a lot of family to babysit, but that has been changing lately (MIL retires to FL soon, my sis moved to CA), so we've had to hire more sitters.  Paying the extra money isn't fun, but it's worth it for us to have adult time.  DH plays golf and basketball, and occasionally goes out with friends for happy hour, so I feel like we have a nice balance.

peacelove&mama

gatogrrl:

Well, right now I have very little "me" time.  It's really starting to bug me, actually.  With this new baby, I find myself saying, "I'll sit down after I do X," which then becomes Y, which then becomes Z, and suddenly an hour has passed and naps are over, and I am super cranky that I got no "me" time.

However, at the beginning of September my gym membership starts up again (I had it frozen for 3 months pre- and post-partum).  I think I'll just make a schedule of the classes I want to attend, show it to DH, and ask him how we're going to make it happen.  You just have to ask for it and expect it, and then DO it.

That first paragraph, yes! For me, it's getting everything ready for the new baby. I have 20 weeks left but I didn't get to do a nursery or anything for my first son, so I'm somewhat obsessive about checking things off the list.

I noticed a lot of people posted that they work out. I was doing yoga up until summer began and now I can't get enough peace and quiet to do it. Kids sit and stare, or try and join in which throws me off, or start asking questions about what I'm doing... I'd love to have a room with a DOOR to do it in, but unfortunately my bedroom isn't big enough. Perhaps I'll have to start doing it right after the kids go to bed.