*This post was sponsored by Woman Up Box, but all opinions are my own*
Quiet time.
Everyone craves it. Especially mothers.
But why do we (moms) feel guilty about it? Why do we sacrifice ourselves daily, then feel bad about having time to ourselves??
When I became a mother, I felt a love that I never knew existed. I watched my baby sleep and drank in every precious moment. When my mother in law offered to watch her so I could nap or run an errand, I always felt guilty for leaving her.
I wondered if she was going to be okay without me.
After baby #2, I still struggled with leaving my kids–whether it was with family or a babysitter. I struggled with postpartum depression, which added to my mommy guilt. My youngest had colic and cried for 4 hours every night. My nerves were completely shot.
After a visit to my doctor’s office that ended in tears, I realized that something had to give.
In order to be the mom I needed to be, I realized that I needed some time to recharge. Having quiet time wasn’t just a desire, it was a necessity.
I thought things would be easier as they got older because the demands of raising a baby would slowly diminish. I didn’t think about the varying demands of raising toddlers and adolescents.
This past year, my oldest daughter started kindergarten. Those of you with school aged children know that this brings on a new set of demands.
100th day of school, PTA programs, ball games, class parties & playdates are enough to make you wonder whether you are going or coming.
In order to balance all the demands of motherhood, here are a few ways I sneak in quiet time:
Date Nights
If my husband and I have a date, I am forced to put some extra time into my appearance. My husband and I get to spend quality time together without the kids competing for our attention and affection.
We get to enjoy quiet time together.
Shower
Hey, I can’t be the only one who sneaks in an extra long shower every now and then. Sometimes I’ll get my husband to finish up bedtime while I attempt to fix all the world’s problems in the shower. It’s a great place to be alone and enjoy quiet time.
It doesn’t work so well when he isn’t home, because someone ALWAYS interrupts and has a problem that needs fixing.
Scheduled Quiet Time
I honestly used to feel guilty about asking my husband to take the kids somewhere so I could be alone. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself when I wasn’t caring for my family. I would often circle around the house trying to find a chore I could complete quickly before they returned.
Then one day I realized that the quiet time was for me, and that changed everything! I used that time to catch up on my favorite reality show, take a long quiet bath, shop, or nap!! The important thing is making sure you carve out time for yourself. How you achieve that may look different from someone else.
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I love that the focus is on lifting women up and on inspiring our customers to do so too. There is even a monthly “Lift Up” card for each box with ideas on how to give another woman a boost, and donating 10% of our proceeds to a woman-focused charity each month.
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Oh… It’s such a great problem for me… Even to stay in a shower alone it’s a challenge! ((( 5-10 minutes not enough…I really need to spend 3 evenings alone to feel better….
Do it! Even if you have to break it up. Everyone needs some alone time to preserve their sanity.
I am guilty of feeling guilty! I have one little one right now but are expecting our second in November. I’m already trying to get better at it so I don’t overwhelm myself with two under 2 needing Momma all the time!
I get it. I felt the exact same way when #2 arrived. My oldest was 2.5 when her sister was born. I felt so guilty about spending time with the baby (that had colic) and not as much time with her. Guess what? They are besties now and she doesn’t even remember that time. Sometimes we put more pressure on ourselves than necessary. You will figure out a system that works best for you!
It’s still hard sometimes for me even though I have older kids, but I realize the importance of quiet time so I don’t feel as guilty as I used to.
Good for you!! It’s a tough balance.