You Can’t Just Be a Mom…

Don’t get me wrong, being a mom is the hardest and most important job I have ever had, and I wouldn’t change it for a second.  But I am also a woman and a wife, a daughter and a sister.  As a mom of three I know how hard it is to get caught up with life as a mom.  I’m busy all day with the kids and at night I am exhausted.  It is after the kids go to bed too that I blog and try to squeeze all that work in, in just the few hours I have before I need to go crash in my bed.  My blog though is my outlet, it is something that is just mine and I don’t have to share with anyone.  As a mom there is pretty much nothing in this house that is really mine, since my kids touch and want everything.  My blog though is like my secret guilty pleasure that doubles as a job for me.  My husband often tells me to quit blogging since I am always stressed with deadlines and blogging does sometimes take me away from my family, but it is “mine” and that is hard to explain.

So for me, I have loved computers since I got my first one twenty years ago.  When I had my first child, I slowly stopped going on as much and honestly I became spiteful.  I hated my husband because he go to go to work and interact with other adults!  I hated that he had something that was “his” and even though it was his job, it was still something that he didn’t have to share with me or our son.  Then we had our second child and I knew I had to do something.  Something had to change or I was going to go crazy.  So two months after my second child was born I started my blog.  I had no clue what I was doing but the challenge was something I needed.

Now I know blogging isn’t for everyone, but whatever you did pre-kids you need to try to re-incorporate into your new life as a mom.  Don’t just be a mom!  Slowly I have realized how important it is to have a life outside of my kids, for my sanity and it makes me a better mother since I am happier inside.  I watch movies with my husband and we play board games/video games like we did pre-kids as often as we can, I go out to lunch with my sisters without my kids for sister-time, I recently went and saw a movie with my mom without kids and I can’t remember the last time we were able to do something alone, and finally I blog.  Maybe before kids, you exercised, read books, worked on puzzles, or even just pampered yourself with a spa or pedicure.

I know it can be hard to get a babysitter (my kids have honestly never had a babysitter that wasn’t family which is hard to schedule) so find ways to be creative.  I am fortunate to have a husband who can help out so I can escape mom-duties every now and then, but there are ways to be creative even if you are at home with your kids all-day every-day (I’ve been there.)

Here are some ways to enjoy me-time if you are stuck at home:

• Give yourself a pedicure or manicure
• Start reading, it is a great escape!
• Watch some television, it is another great escape especially from cartoons!
• Have a friend over during nap time, school time or bed-time
• Talk on the phone after the kids go to bed with old friends or family
• Get on the computer and check out all the great forums and websites for moms, just start googling and you’ll find something!

Believe me when I say, you will be much happier as a mom if you can make some time for yourself as the woman you are also are.  Remember the time pre-kids and don’t let that person go.

What are some ways you make time for yourself or some non-mom things you do?