How do you make time for you?

womancake · April 2013

...and what do you do with it?

I can get a few minutes here and there (obviously, or I wouldn't be able to post this), but I feel like I've kind of lost myself since having a kid, and I'd like to work toward a little more of a balance. V was a really high needs baby. When she was little she nursed constantly, and I couldn't even leave her with DH for more than an hour without it becoming an epic meltdown. By necessity, I just poured myself into motherhood. And I'm okay with that. But it meant that I had no hobbies, I rarely went out without her, and I was constantly in mom mode. She's getting much much better about independent play, and I can leave her with my mom for a few hours without a problem (though only at night or on weekends, since my mom works...I have no one I can leave her with during the day).

ANYway, I used to really be into scrapbooking and crafting, and I'd like to get back into it, but I just don't know how. The only space I have is the dining room table, and I can't leave anything on it or she'll destroy it. By the time I drag everything out and put it away during her naptime, I'd spend more time setting up and cleaning up than actually scrapping. And after her bedtime, DH and I take our showers and watch a show together and then it's our bedtime. I don't want to take away from the little bit of time we have together. So if I could find space, I guess I could do it on the weekends.

This got longer than I meant it to. Just wanted to see if anyone else struggles with this, and how you've managed to make time for yourself and your own interests. Would appreciate any tips/advice. TIA.

Jcraul · April 2013

Me too! I used to sew and garden but now I'm happy if I get a chance to watch a chick flick. Between work and being a Mama it leaves little time. When I do ask for an afternoon or a few hours to myself Dh seems to make it such a chore

hoot179 · April 2013

I have a hard time making time for myself, its mostly my fault as I feel so guilty. I ask for help with Owen so I can go to work, or the Dr. and I feel like ill be abusing that help if I go get a manicure or just take the afternoon for myself. my H works

womancake · April 2013

I hear you guys on the guilt! I'm just starting to realize that it's not selfish to make time for myself--it makes me a better mom! Obviously the kiddo still comes first. I'm not going to go out shopping if she's sick and needs her mama.

Ms5586 · April 2013

This was a major struggle in our household up until about a month ago, when I had a major talk with DH. He's very supportive of me doing things for me, but I couldn't find a way to do them without other things suffering. We decided that on

hoot179 · April 2013

womancake:
I hear you guys on the guilt! I'm just starting to realize that it's not selfish to make time for myself--it mak

memali26 · April 2013

I'm going to be honest, 3 years into motherhood and I'm still not sure I've figured out the balance. It's kind of a constantly evolving thing, and definitely a struggle. Here's what I do now:

During the day, the first 30-45 minutes of nap ti

mnewlee · April 2013

I've really struggled with this too. I went from having all the me time I needed to having almost none. I'm lucky that my H knows how much I need down time and he's always pushing me to do stuff for myself. Actually finding the time to do it is another

manda26 · April 2013

I don't get much, most weeks my alone time is grocery shopping on Mondays while DS naps (H works at home that day). I don't scrap book or anything but I have some friends that do that stuff and they have a girls crafting night every so often together a

CMheart1011 · April 2013

DH is good about letting me have alone time when he's off. He'll take over toddler duty for an hour or so and tell me to go do whatever. Half the time, I need a shower and to change clothes to look presentable enough to go somewhere, so I d

womancake · April 2013

Ms5586:
This was a major struggle in our household up until about a month ago, when I had a major talk with DH. He's ver

womancake · April 2013

memali26:
I also love to scrapbook/craft, but really haven't done much since DD1 was born Space was part of the problem, so

SusieBW · April 2013

It's always been very important to me to have time to myself, and to DO things that I want to do, and DH has always accepted that. I have never wanted my job, my marriage, or my children to define who I AM as a person, and I will never let that h

SusieBW · April 2013

mnewlee:
I need to take a page from his book. He has no qualms doing things he likes to do. I think as moms it's a lot harder

jen4ny · April 2013

I have a hard time too. I just want to find time to work out again. DH is cranky if he doesn't get his time so I focus more on that happening than myself. Between work, maintaining the house, and taking care of A it sucks up all of my time.

alli&dan · April 2013

Most of my "me time" is in the evening after B goes to bed. I try to have an hour for myself every night where I do something I enjoy doing, even if that's just bumping, watching tv, etc. I work M-F, SO has a rotating schedule, so often times it just me a

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