A little ‘Me-Time’ for Mom
I was reading some articles the other day on today’s busy Moms and how everyone needs some ‘Me-time’ to recharge.
One article says:
“When we are stressed, overwhelmed and tired, we have a shorter fuse. We become irritable, and it’s more difficult to handle the challenges of being with children,” says Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, a personal life coach in Aurora, Colorado.
And another write-up says how “Rest and relaxation are two things that moms desperately need for sure, but often forget to put into their daily schedules. This is a must, as it not only rejuvenates a mom, but it helps to calm frazzled nerves.’
I don’t know about you, but for my case, as much as I know I need a break from our daily busyness, taking some time out when both kids are wide awake is just not easy.
I mean, we don’t have relatives in Singapore who can help and babysit the kids so that my husband and I can freely enjoy some ‘couple time-out’ (read: running our business and meeting deadlines means his working hours are naturally longer too, on average), let alone some time-out for myself.
Of course unless the kids are BOTH asleep.
So at night time, when they both have dozed off, that’s when I’d clear up my work and actually get a bit of ‘me-time’ – catching up on some reading and quiet time, blogging, instant messaging friends, chatting with Wilson and sometimes, watching a DVD together (or simply just … chatting and sharing) till the wee hours.
[All these are at the expense of lesser hours of sleep though. Oh well, can’t always have the best of everything every time huh?]
Other than that, there are random occasions now and then too.
Like when the four of us went to a shopping centre and Wilson took the kids to the outdoor playground while I went off by myself for a good hour or so – to relax, windowshop and just unwind.
Or, if Vai somehow falls asleep on his pram after we send Anya to school (rarely happens though), I’d grab a book and enjoy some uninterrupted time-off while thoroughly enjoying my lunch and milk tea *NICE*
…
Juggling and balancing everything well is a real challenge to me. It often feels rather impossible to achieve too. But I must say, God has given me sufficient strength to go through each day, right until today, and though I’m not able to balance and juggle everything well every day and every time, I know I should always try my best to learn and do better each time.
Anyway.
Do you (or don’t you) have regular ‘me-time’ breaks?
How and what do you do to unwind and recharge?
Do write in and share yeah. It’s always nice if we can learn a little something from each other *smile*
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Samantha :
Wow … you manage to regularly exercise too! Good on you! 🙂
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Neera :
Yes I think we moms mostly go through similar experiences don’t we … That’s why I hope more moms can share and write in too … so other parents can get ideas and support from the comments section as well.
Anyway, the Moms Nite Out sounds soo good! But it’s not possible for my case too, because running our own business basically means hubby’s working hours are not predictable… and longer at times …
Oh and I like the idea of going out by urself once in a while as dad takes care of kids. I am going to try that myself.
Many ladies here do a Moms Night Out on a regular basis, say every 2 weeks or so, where after dinner (they have early dinner at about 5:30-6:00 pm), they go out with friends for movies, book discussions, etc. All there’s left for dad is to put the kids to bed. I really envy that kind of thing but just doesn’t work for our family 🙁
I felt I was reading about myself in this post 🙂 Yup life is pretty hectic and energy demanding with 2 young kids and the me time is when they nap together in the afternoons (about and hour and a half) and after they sleep, about an hour or so. At times I am so tired from lack of sleep, because of carrying on till the wee hours, like u say that I just doze off with the kids during the afternoon nap.
My me time is I make it a point every once a month, I will go for a mani/pedi session alone. Once in a while will meet my friend (w/o hubby & son) for breakfast on a weekend or Every night after Cayden sleep, I will play a 30 minute hoopla hoop to make myself feel better in health as I seldom exercise nowadays:p Yeah! Sleep of course is shorter if I want to do things for myself. But I need it if not I will go crazy. Heh!
Thanks mc, nic & siska for sharing!
Seems like sleep is the no. 1 thing we moms tend to lack huh? 🙂
mc : the babysitter once a fortnight arrangement sounds great!! hmm, i’m yet to find a ‘suitable, credible and available’ candidate … 🙂
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Rachel :
Thanks heaps for dropping by! 🙂 And yes, I’m totally with you on ‘finding what works best’ for our own unique family arrangements …
my me time would be after i come back from work (6.45am) and before damien goes to work (7.45am) or before JL wakes up (whichever comes first). so only about an hour. I did all my blog reading, blogging, emailing. Yes, I could’ve used that one hour or so to sleep as I am lacking of sleep as it is, that’s what Damien always asks me to do, sleep. but that is the ONLY me time all day that I have. And I feel that I just have to have it. Once JL is up, that’s it… it becomes me and JL time. when Damien comes home from work (around 6-ish pm), I try to have a very short catch up with him before I have a quick sleep (from 7pm to 9pm), so yeah, on weekdays, I only have 2 hours sleep a day.
Leonny:
Thank you so much for quoting me in your blog. I can see after reading your blog that you do need some “me time” and some sleep!
It can be so hard to juggle everything and take care of everyone. And it usually comes at the expense of self care and as you mentioned “sleep.” However I think the important thing to remember is balance looks different to everyone and it is important to find what works best for you.
Sounds like you are doing a great job of balancing your life and creating a happy life for yourself and your family.
Rachelle
You and I sometimes chat over YM till 3am…so I’m kind of in the same as you – getting ‘me-time’ only after Will is asleep. I’d blog, read emails, create my jewellery or catch up with hubby. However, he hasn’t sleep through yet…so that means I’d always have to leave what I’m engaged in to attend to him and then come back and pick up where I’d left off…that means if I have 3 hours of me-time, I actually have 2+ hours…Basically I’m willing to sacrifice my sleep to have me-time every night – it makes me happier and feels more balanced! 🙂
here in london we don’t have any relatives to rely on for babysitting either. but once a fortnight we have a great babysitter come in for an afternoon so me and my husband have a few hours out. that is very nice.
i have the same problem with lack of sleep at night too, trying to make “me time” last longer after keira has slept. hehe.