Posts tagged me time
Killing two birds and something I learned.
Mar 17th
I’ve always been somewhat of a book worm. However, the volume of books that I read has drastically declined since the birth of my kids. I simply don’t have enough time in my day to read. I miss snuggling up on the couch with a good book while Scott watches {insert the name of any meaningless man show here}. There was a time that I could easily finish 2 or 3 novels in a week. Aaah, how I miss those days.
Anyway, during a recent trip to BJ’s I was browsing through the books (mainly to look at kids stuff) and came across a few that caught my eye. I made note of the titles and then requested them at my library. When I was notified that they were in, I became anxious to find the time to read again. But how was I going to make time in my day to do this? Well, I decided that I’d kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I’ve been trying to make time in the day to get back into working out (which has fallen off my planner since around Christmas time, eek!). So now, a few nights each week, I go down and get on the treadmill and instead of listening to my iPod or watching TV, I open a book. Last night while I was walking and reading, Scott came down and tried to talk to me. I shooed him away declaring this “alone time” for me.
The book that I’m currently reading is Between Here and April by Deborah Copaken Kogan. I saw it that day in BJ’s and it looked like a good, quick, easy read. I’m pretty drawn to stories about mothers, children, families, etc. Here is a brief synopsis of the book taken from the book jacket:
When a deep-seated memory suddenly surfaces, Elizabeth Burns becomes obsessed with the long-ago disappearance of her childhood friend April Cassidy. Driven to investigate, Elizabeth discovers a thirty-five-year-old newspaper article revealing the details that had been hidden from her as a child—shocking revelations about April’s mother, Adele.
Elizabeth, now herself a mother, seeks out anyone who might help piece together the final months, days, and hours of this troubled woman’s life, but the answers yield only more questions. And those questions lead back to Elizabeth’s own life: her own compromised marriage, her increasing self-doubt and dissatisfaction, and finally, a fearsome reckoning with what it means to be a wife and mother.
I’m not going to attempt to write a book review here as I’m only half way through the book. However, as I was reading last night I came across a shocking fact. (Yes, this is a book of fiction but after reading this “fact” I was compelled to look it up to see if it were actually true, and it is!) This might be common knowledge to some, but I had no idea and was pretty surprised by it.
Did you know that Postpartum Depression was not recognized as a mental illness by the legal system until 1994? A main theme in this book is PPD and it just amazed me to see how this was handled in the late 1960s and early 1970s. PPD isn’t something that was really on my radar until I was pregnant with my first child but even when I first became aware of it, I never would have imagined that the thoughts, feelings and emotions that some women go through after childbirth would have been completely discounted as recently as the 70s.
I’m anxious to finish the book to find out what happens. It’s not really an engrossing read thus far, but it’s not something that I’m ready to abandon half way through either. I’ll keep you posted!
The third best day of my life.
Mar 1st
The best day of my life was the day I married Scott. The days that Brinley and Nora were born tie for the second best day of my life. Which brings us to the third best day of my life – this past Saturday. Why was it so great? Well, I got to spend the majority of the day ALONE! You might be confused a bit. If the best days of my life were getting married and giving birth to my kids then how could the next best day of my life not involve any of them? Well, it’s because it was a day that revolved totally around me and that has not happened in nearly three and a half years.
I blame no one other than myself for this. Scott has tried ad nauseam to try to get me to go out and have a ME day for quite some time. But for some reason I just could not pull myself away. I feel compelled to be with my kids because, let’s face it, they NEED me. There isn’t another person who could possibly do all that I do with them and for them in a day, right? Wrong. I guess I just like to give myself waaaaaaay to much credit. I mean I’ve gone out alone since the birth of my kids to do various things – quick shopping trips, appointments, etc – but I’ve never left for an entire day by. my. self.
I started my day by getting my hair cut. The last time I had my hair cut was in June. I was long overdue. It felt so great to be pampered and have adult conversation. I didn’t want it to end! When I left the salon I felt like a new person. I had just lost about five to six inches of hair! Wow! I absolutely love my new hair do. I went from long, straggly hair that ended up in a pony tail every day to actually having a style! (Check out my “About Me” page for a picture.)
My next stop was the mall. I typically visit the mall on week day mornings with the girls. At that time the stores are filled with moms, kids and old ladies. I’ve gotten quite used to being able to maneuver my double stroller through the stores with my kids blabbing away and spilling their snacks on the floor. Imagine my surprise when I enter the mall on Saturday to crowds of teenagers, busy women shoppers and just packs and packs of people. It was sheer madness! But I was alone. No stroller, no kids, no diaper bag. I had the freedom to zig and zag at will to avoid the crowds and bounce in and out of any store I wished. It was very liberating. I scored some new bras and underwear from Victoria’s Secret and grabbed a new outfit before heading to the food court to enjoy some lunch. I didn’t sit in the kiddie area and I didn’t have to search for a table large enough to accommodate me, two kids and all of their paraphernalia. I left the mall via Target (my favorite place on earth) and grabbed a few quick things.
Here comes the best part of my day… I’m walking to my car and there are eager shoppers in their vehicles stalking me to find out where I’m parked. I’ve got cars coming at me from both directions and as soon as I turn toward my car, blinkers start flashing. I politely wave them off saying that I’m not leaving. I put my bags in the back and got into the driver’s seat. I did not turn on the car. Instead, I locked the doors and just sat there – alone. No radio, no kiddos in the back seat, nothing. Just peace and quiet! I sat there for a good ten minutes before starting the car and heading off.
I returned home at around 4:30pm and Scott and the girls were still very much alive. Shortly after walking in the door my mom called to say that she was on her way over. When she arrived I headed upstairs, got ready and Scott and I headed out. You see, it was the night of my ten year high school reunion. BUT, I did not go. Instead we met up with some good friends for dinner and drinks. I had no desire to attend my reunion. If I had gone, I don’t think I would be able to say that Saturday was the third best day of my life.
Time out for ME
Feb 25th
I write this post after one of the worst nights sleep I’ve had in a while and it wasn’t due to a poorly sleeping child. This time I have a stomach bug to blame. It hit me around 10pm and I think I might have been able to get in a hour or so of sleep between my trips to the porcelain God and Brinley eventually waking up to join me. NOT FUN!
Anywho, I’m exhausted and my body aches but I just put Nora down for a nap, I’m going to whip out this post and then I’ll let Brinley rot her brain watching TV while I attempt a nap on the couch.
For those of you who follow her, you know that today is Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday. The goal is to take a hour for yourself during the month without kids and do something that you want to do. It might seem trivial, but usually the only time I have without my girls is when they’re asleep! I’m not complaining, I love being a stay-at-home-mom but a time out once in a while would probably do me some good.
My time out this month was spent grocery shopping at 8pm on a Monday night – alone! Big deal, right? Well, it was great. I got in my car, alone, turned up the radio pretty loud (something I can’t do with the kids in the car) and drove a little bit faster than I normally do (don’t worry I didn’t break any laws). Then I got to the grocery store and walked in without a child on my hip or holding a hand. I felt pretty liberated. I stopped at the coffee station near the bakery to get myself a nice, hot cup of joe and was on my way to fill my cart – no distractions or begging for a cookie or a book. I was probably only gone for an hour, but it felt great. I’m thinking of making this my new grocery shopping routine. We usually go as a family on Sunday afternoons, but it’s starting to get in the way of our weekend family time.
So, how did you spend your time out this month? Be sure to visit Theta Mom’s blog to share.
::Heading to the couch now::
