Julie in Australia asked, “I am wondering whether you take time to yourself? You give me the impression that this is not a “need” in your life in so far as you obviously love spending time with the boys each day and your husband. However, how do you unwind? Do you enjoy time by yourself or do you find the time with your family is where you find yourself re-energised”
Oh yes…I am an introvert through and through. I very much feel the need for alone time each day. I spend a lot of time with people and I love it…but it does make me tired.
I never get tired of my husband because he just isn’t home enough to get tired of. ;) But my boys? I don’t need NEARLY the breaks from them that I used to need when they were all teeny tiny at the same time and hanging on my legs and hanging on my sleeves and hanging on my…well…you know…when they were nursing. {ehem}
When they were all little bitty, any quiet time I could get was wonderful and so, so needed. Now that they’re older and not so dependent on me, I don’t feel quite the need to “get away from it all”. Do you hear that, Moms of Little Bitties? It will get EASIER!!! Wahoo!
All that being said…I do still need to have some down time each day (if possible) to just “feel the quiet”. I need to be able to have some time to not answer any questions or make any decisions or work anyone through an argument with a brother.
You might be happy to know that my “down time” is almost always my blogging time. My blog is my hobby, business, ministry and “down time” all wrapped up in one! How great is that?
When I’m writing…I am all alone in my own little writing world. Well, all alone except for all of you…but bless you…you are all incredibly well behaved and quiet.
This usually happens for me in the afternoons while the boys have their reading time/play time/TV time. Sometimes I have a little more time after the boys go to bed and if Matt is working the late shift.
Crazy as it may sound…whenever I happen to have the entire house to myself (like if Matt’s at work and the boys are all playing at a friend’s house)…I almost always choose to work on my website or ebooks or articles. Part of that is because I always have work waiting for me and emails to answer…so a quiet moment means uninterrupted and guilt free work time. Plus, I LOVE it. Every once in a blue moon, I let myself read a good Christian fiction novel.
I used to feel selfish because I needed some time to unwind all alone with everyone “out of my face”. I believe that if we take the “me time” idea too far…it does become selfish. But…if you are the kind of person (like me) who needs quiet and alone time to re-gain your energy…that’s not selfish. It’s smart.
So…what do the rest of you do for “down time” whenever you happen to have some?
Jennifer says
I’m with you… I’m blogging. Sometimes I think people think I work all the time because my free time is spent blogging. But I just love it! It’s relaxing to me!
Barb says
I am also an introvert, and need some quiet time to myself. My children are also older (9yo & 5yo) so they are more independent, and it frees up some time for myself. When they are playing together, (if I am not participating ;))I tend to check my email or read a couple of chapters from a book. My husband is real good at giving me some quiet time when I have a rough day. Thank God for him =)
Amanda says
I love hearing that you take time in the afternoon to blog! :) My blog is one thing I do for myself to get creative and have some focused time to myself. Sometimes the computer isn’t quite as restful as I need, though, so I’d rather sit on the couch or visit with a friend and KNIT.
Karen says
Sometimes I read or take a nice, hot bath to relax and have some alone time. (Sometimes I do both at the same time!) Now that we have a new baby, the alone times are few and far between!!!
Shonda says
I like reading blogs as well as writing mine. I really like this one! I love cooking, reading and knitting. I get my quiet time between 6-7:30am and I read my Bible, pray and do my Bible study. I go to MOPS at my church and during the day when my son takes a nap I work out and fold laundry while watching DVD’s that I get from the library. I also love a good bath and book.
Camille says
I have two Little Bitties… and I am so happy to hear that the constant hanging on will end someday. I’ll try to enjoy it while I can! :-) I’m an extrovert to boot and they still drain me!
Brandy says
I am still at the itty bitty stage of parenting so free time is few and far between. But when I do get a second of time to just breath without my kids right under my feet I usually spend it unwinding be that a long hot bath, sewing, reading, menu planning. Just the stuff that needs to get done at the end of the day. My hubby is usually really good at reading my signals of distress. He knows if I’m calling at 5:01pm that he needs to leave as soon as possible because it’s been a ROUGH day. My youngest baby is just 11 months old and my oldest just turned 7 in between those 2 I have a 4 and 5 year old. Right now I try to remember that that they will just be small once and to enjoy it… Sometimes it harder done than said.
Josette says
my down time is “computer time” replying to emails, shopping online :), and blogging. I NEED my down time. I do have ittie bitties and they need me all. the. time. I love them dearly, but I need a break or this mommy won’t be able to think straight. I don’t feel guilty about it, nor do I feel bad I am a super enforcer of a set bedtime. They need their rest and so do I.
I don’t blog a heck of a lot but I do read other people’s blog and if something interesting flits through my head I will post.
Jen B says
I love to blog and read blogs during my down time. I don’t need to leave my house to get some quiet time. :) Don’t get me wrong, if there’s a chance to go out to Panera bread by myself, I jump at that. :)
Emily says
I am also an introvert and need time to myself at least weekly. These days, I usually spend that time cleaning, of all things. But that may change when baby arrives in June!
Shelly W. says
I need my down time too, but that has only been since I had children (6yrs ago). I usually take time to read emails, check blogs, and facebook daily.
I also bake. I love to bake and cook and usually -I bake my bread or yeast rolls when my children are not home. There is something very theraputic in kneading bread while singing or just listening to the quite in my house! It’s a rare thing ;)
Christi Wilson @ www.nonnie.thenanablogs.com says
I am an introvert, as well. I like my quiet time; but at the same time, I get tired of the quiet times sometimes, and NEED to be around people! When I have my quiet time though, I either like to read, or knit. Loom knitting has become my all-time favorite passion now!!! :)
Danielle says
My down time is napping. I know. Boring but true. I have a 3 year old who will 4 on January 13th, a 2 year old, and baby 3 is due to arrive in early February. We’re potty training, working on listening the first time and just trying to get through the days right now to be honest. So, any free moments are spent on my bed, eyes closed, enjoying the lack of noise!
Rebecca says
I am not even sure if sleeping counts as down time these days (39 weeks pregnant, plus a 2 year old that requires a fair bit of comfort to sleep in her own bed). I guess down time is breakfast time for us. DD eats her cereal in her high chair while watching Elmo and I catch up with some fellow January due date mommies.
Other than that if I want any ‘me time’ I have to sacrifice sleep and hope the 2 year old doesn’t wake up and join me since the lights are on.
Stacy says
I loved this blog. It made me so happy to know that someday again I will get downtime. I have two little ones who are still clingy and love to be with me. As much as I love it, my husband also works long hours and the quiet time I can get each night when they are in bed to read, is amazing.
Jennifer says
My husband is great about keeping the children for me while I go out grocery shopping. This is usually all the time for myself that I need and it helps save money! I also like to get up in the mornings before everyone else does to read from my Bible or prepare my Sunday School lesson.
Princessperky says
I have a houseful, but when naptime comes around, all had better vanish and leave mommy alone! (well I start with stories for all, and my youngest falls asleep during that) I had to explain to my husband that reading over my shoulder doesn’t qualify as alone, so he is banished too if at all possible!
Not that I am a big meaning and avoid all folk, just that for 2 hours I have alone time, to goof off online, and sometimes take care of bills or scout stuff. I don’t think it is a bad thing at all to need time alone, I know I am a much better mother when I get some.
I used to take nice hot showers alone, but well, I don’t always get a chance, that is more of a special occasion splurge -oh and going to the bathroom alone! luxury I tell ya.
Danielle says
That’s why i get up at 430 everyday. Just to get a hot shower!
I get my quiet time in the wee hours of the morning. Time to exercise, Bible study, prayer etc. And watch the morning news on tv.
I get to relax when my hubby comes home from work. And after the kiddos go to bed. naptimes, I’m usually napping or cleaning or cooking!
Julie says
My husband gives me about 30 minutes (sometimes I take a little more than that) every night to be by myself. As soon as dinner is over he handles the kids and I sit in a hot bath to get into a good Christian study book and have prayer time. Once my bathtime is over, I head back in there with all of them and have family time. Now that my kids are 3 & 4 it’s much easier than when they were 1 & 2. It used to be that I NEEDED to be alone…now I just enjoy it. I guess if I didn’t do it every night I might realize that I still need it. I’m so thankful that he’s willing to give me that time to be alone.
Julie says
I should add that both of my kids still nap (well, the oldest sits quietly and looks at books while the youngest naps, so I get that time to tie up loose ends around the house.
Step says
Introvert here too! I’m so glad that I don’t have to explain to you what being an introvert means — you understand — yay! I simply must have time to myself every day, just an hour and all is well again. The holidays really throw me in a tailspin. Every weekend in December requires visiting and holiday parties with friends, family, my kids’ sports teams, etc. I promise you, I am a very friendly person, but weekends full of socializing with 20+ people drain me. I almost always come home from an event and go directly to the solace of my computer to unwind.
I don’t have a blog, but I love visiting other people’s blogs. I also love to get lost in a good book, or get into my kitchen and cook, or create homemade greeting cards. These things pretty much makes up my down time. My kids are 12, 10 and 8, so I’m past the itty-bitty stage now.
Meghan says
I’m loving this series. We’ll all continue to try and be quiet and well-behaved so you’ll keep spending your down-time with us.
Jennifer Konietzki says
I have an itty bitty one, but she does nap really well, so I seem to have at least a little bit of downtime, which I’m sure wouldn’t last if God saw fit to give me another one anytime soon, but as of now I sometimes sneak in a nap or finish my Bible reading/praying that I didn’t get to finish in the morning, or shave my legs. I usually have her in the shower with me, so I don’t get a chance to do that…I never thought that I’d consider shaving my legs a luxury! ;)
Julie in Australia says
HOORAY. You answered my question and oh so well. Thanks Laura for your answer. I love reading your blog and have found that reading blogs in not just a relaxing way for me to spend a bit of down time but sooooo encouraging. I love the thought you share as well as those of people who add their comments. I look forward to sharing your 2010.