by Dawn Rutt

Created on: July 31, 2010

How to find me time as a parent

A happy mommy makes for happy kids, but it’s impossible to be a happy mom without finding that ever elusive “me time”.  Unfortunately, the great myth of “me time” is nearly impossible to come by. As a working parent, you are forced to merge work and family. As a stay at home parent, it’s impossible to even use the bathroom by yourself. Showering becomes a spectator sport.

As a parent, we sacrifice everything for our children but we shouldn’t have to give up our well being. In fact, to be a good parent it’s essential to find that time, to make that time,  to recharge and relax. While it’s easier said than done, there are a few ways to work a little alone time into your day.

Making Time

If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, consider exchanging babysitting duties. One afternoon, you can take their kids for a couple of hours and maybe the next day you can send your kids over for a few hours.

Take advantage of naps! If your children are still young enough for naps, don’t spend those few quiet moments alone doing laundry. (Unless, of course, you really enjoy folding underwear.) Instead, why not pull out that long neglected book or take a nap yourself.

If you are fortunate enough to have family nearby, see if you can schedule a time for a relative to take the kids for a bit. Not only will the kids be forming new bonds with family, but you will have some uninterrupted “me time.”

If money isn’t an issue, consider simply hiring a babysitter. There are many high school students who are actively looking for some extra money. Maybe you have someone in your neighborhood whom you and your kids are already familiar with. If not, there are usually ads in the paper or online for babysitting in your area.

So…now what?

Now that you have all this time on your hands, what are you going to do with it? Think back to the time before you had kids…what did you do then? Do you have any long forgotten hobbies? Maybe you painted, or loved to draw.  Maybe you devoured books like they were cake. Maybe you liked to bake cake. Maybe you just liked to sleep. Whatever it was, consider indulging in it again.

Perhaps you’d like to discover something new. Consider taking up a new hobby or taking a pottery class. Join a gym or crank up the music on your MP3 player and take a jog around the neighborhood. Go to the pool. Call a friend. Have sex with your spouse. Start a journal. Start a blog. Go back to bed.

Even a few hours dedicated solely to yourself can be rejuvenating. A few hours without the constant chatter of little voices can be all you need to feel like yourself again. And the best benefit of all?

You’ll even be able to pee by yourself.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Rutt.
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