When we first moved here, I worked two jobs. One of the jobs (the part-time one) required me to get up very early and I was mostly done by 8am. The second job was full time and I usually finished that by 5pm. Then I would get home, deal with Peanut craziness, make dinner, watch a little T.V. and do work for the next day and then crash early. Oh, did I mention that I woke up at 4:40am to workout before doing all of this?
After a year of doing that, I finally quit my mind-numbingly boring full time job and kept the part time job and started teaching at the community college. Working two part time jobs really let me experience the joy of free time, especially since I only taught class 2 times a week and the other job was a remote position. Since then, I've been accustomed to having a large amount of free time, usually to spend on the computer or reading.
When Faith first came, it was so stressful and hectic trying to figure out how to take care of a newborn (not to mention breastfeeding/pumping), that I didn't notice a lack of "me time". Eventually I started to miss it and I incorporated blog reading into my pumping routine (yes, I probably pumped while I read your blog, gross huh?).
Now that Faith is older, it's harder to find time to myself. Nap times are a pretty sacred time and when those go away, it makes me feel...unhinged. I think that's my biggest fear about Baby #2: the loss of any semblance of free time. I think a good solution is to redefine "me time".
What I do to try to fit in "Me Time" into baby awake time:
- I read while Faith plays. It can take me forever to get through a book that way, but it lets me incorporate something I like into her playtime.
- I've started listening to music during my stroller runs. I used to not do that because I was afraid I wouldn't hear the baby, but I've realized that I can see her, and I know what her "angry hands" look like, so music shouldn't be a problem.
- Sometimes I read blogs while she plays. I say sometimes because Faith wants my computer. If she sees it, she drops what she has and comes to get it.
How do you fit in "me time" into your busy day? What is your idea of "me time"?
My idea of "me" time is the half hour before bed 9pm (when I go to bed) when I just sit in bed and either watch TV or play a game on my iPod Touch, or read. My room is my only space that's mine, so it's like my little treat to me every day.
ReplyDeleteI love learning a bit more about your life before Faith! I can't imagine how difficult this balancing is--I hope your routine adapts as hers does, so you get the time you need!
ReplyDeleteAh, me time. . . how I miss thee.
ReplyDeleteMy idea of me time at this point is the few minutes (10 maybe?) it takes my husband to rock our baby to sleep. I do actually read aloud while I am breastfeeding (whatever I am reading, my baby has "read" everything from the newspaper to novels). :) So, I would somewhat count that as me time as well.
Side note, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of great job is that where you worked from 5am-8am? I am an early bird (up at 3:45 am even on days I don't work), so that is right up my ally!
My baby naps sporadically throughout the day--she's up for an hour, then nurses, then sleeps for an hour. During her naps, I get stuff done around the house. Otherwise, I'm entertaining her while she's alert. She's not great at independent play.
ReplyDeleteMy true "me time" is after she goes to sleep for the night at 9 p.m., after which point I will stay up until 1-3 a.m. reading on my Kindle or catching up on blogs, or writing on my own. I suppose I'm allotted a great deal more 'me time' than other mommies given how often she sleeps, but I don't really count it unless I have at least two consecutive hours to myself.
I think all babies go through differing nap schedules--Faith will probably resume some semblance of normalcy in her sleep routine soon, and if she doesn't, you'll adapt to it. I'm sure you wont become unglued!
Or maybe you will, but at least that makes it interesting for your readers. ;)
Definitely when he goes to bed, but that's normally when the husband and I get our workout in and before you know it, it's time for bed ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of only 2 naps a day when they develop is that they tend to get a bit longer, so you may get 1.5-2 hrs at a time rather than 45-1hr. So if she drops her first 1 hr nap, you might get a longer period later in the day. Maybe?
Me time definitely takes planning & making it a priority when you become a Mom that is for sure!
This is an awesome topic. You are smart to begin to carve out "me time" even when she is awake, because from what I hear, they only sleep LESS as time goes on, and not more. Such is life, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI think working has actually helped me carve out some me time. I get it while I'm riding the T on the way to work. I read my Kindle and people-watch and think about silly things like clothes and haircuts and restaurants I'd like to try (ha!) instead of bottles and dishes and laundry. I get it when I'm walking Owen to/from daycare, and I try to spend that time catching up with a friend or family member on the phone, since I rarely if ever talk on the phone while Owen is awake.
Since he does go to daycare, when I'm home with him, I don't do much other than play with him/tend to him. I let the phone ring, I ignore my emails. At naptime I run around the house doing all the little things I need to get done (including checking my emails and chores around the house). Since he's pretty reliable with his morning nap, I can guarantee at least 1.5 hours of "me time" then, and I don't count on it for the rest of the day. It's not a perfect system, but it works for now.
But beyond riding public transportation and writing emails during naptime... I have no clue what "me time" looks like!
Ha, Faith is definitely a 21st century kid if she goes straight for the computer! I worry about finding me time and time to run once we have kids. Especially once we have more than one.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read this post because there are no funny pictures of dogs or babies. Please correct this.
ReplyDeleteMe time can be hard to come by...I can't imagine with a child. I take time after dinner to write in my blog, watch a good show or read a little bit.
ReplyDeleteKara, I hear you on this one! I remember dropping the second nap being way more difficult for me than for Finn...I LOVED his morning nap, because I'd wait to eat breakfast and drink my coffee leisurely, read the paper, and catch up on emails/blog. I'd use the afternoon nap to do chores. Now everything is crammed into his one 2 hour (if I'm lucky) midday nap. I reserve most of the nap for me time and have tried to get him to be better at independent play at different times throughout the day so I can do some chores (washing dishes, folding laundry, paying bills) while he is awake. I think staying at home can be really hard for this reason...it is tough to know how much undivided attention to give our children since we're with them all the time.
ReplyDeleteI used to only have "me time" when the kids went to bed. That was my computer time, reading time, TV time, whatever time. As they've gotten older, its become easier and harder to get me time. Easier because they're more independent, and play by themselves and I can sneak 5 or 10 minutes while they're awake. Harder because they're at the age where just playing with toys doesn't cut it anymore, and if I turn my eyes away from them, their boredom turns into doing things they're not supposed to be doing. I think I am pretty much resigned to the fact that "me time" is anything that involves time where they're not hanging from my coat-tails: grocery shopping sans kids, the 10 minutes where I'm getting my eyebrows waxed, showering (even though they're usually on the other side of the shower door...at least I'm alone in there), driving to pick up the 5YO from school when the Hubby is home to watch the 2YO, etc. And definitely my running time.
ReplyDeleteMegan - The part time job was primarily dealing with Middle East news. I got the job through past connections and it was a good position since I could do it remotely, but bad because there was no room for advancement!
ReplyDeleteHmm. My "me time" is definitely when baby is napping, but I have to fight myself to make it be "leisure" time. I always feel like there's stuff I should be doing...you know, cleaning, laundry, etc etc etc. When I sit to do "unnecessary" things (blog, read) I always feel a little guilty. It's tough to find the right balance.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, with more than one kid, you definitely cut into your "me time" even more.