This week’s 22 posts on “me time” here on HDYDI, as well as those on the theme week link up, have shed light on the complexity of making time for the non-parenting parts of our lives. Some repeating motifs have become apparent.
Nurturing ourselves is crucial, and it takes effort and planning when we have young children. MandyE, Krysta, Mari, Elizabeth, and SaraC all gave us practical ways to incorporate time for that nurture into our days in their excellent blog posts. Michelle gave us some pointers on the very basic, and surprisingly challenging, act of eating with two newborns to care for.
Specific activities that keep us centred and connected to our spouses are key. I wrote about this, as did SarahN, Mercedes, SaraC, and Katie.
Not every mother gets “me time” away from the children. Both Beth and Jen Wood wrote about this, as did I. Elizabeth brought a uniquely single parent perspective to this point. And SaraBeth found herself away from her kids in a completely unanticipated way.
“Me time” changes over time, and the three of us with the oldest children in the group all pointed this out. MandyE and I wrote about how our use of me time has changed over the years, while Michelle noted that it hasn’t changed as much as some might expect.
Interested in reading this week’s posts? Here’s the full list:
- Monday, August 31
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- Making Time for Mom: A Theme Week Kickoff – Sadia
- Children Matter, but Not Above All Else – SaraC
- Imagining “Me Time” in the Midst of Motherhood – MandyE
- Why I Need Meditation to be a Good Mother – Sarah N
- Mommy’s Workout Time – Sadia
- Tuesday, September 1
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- Evolution of Me Time – Sadia
- SAHM vs Working Mom Me Time – MandyE
- Do These Five Things for Yourself to Be a Better Mom – Krysta
- Me Time? What Me Time? – Beth
- Wednesday, September 2
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- Can Chores and Work Be “Me Time”?! – Mari
- TV is a Tool – Jen Wood
- Working from Home Full Time – Sadia
- Four Ways to Make Me Time Every Day – SaraC
- Inexpensive Ways to Make Time with Your Partner – SaraC
- Thursday, September 3
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- How I Get My Me Time – Mercedes
- A Gift of Mommy Time – Sadia
- Me Time in the Morning – Elizabeth
- Mommy Goes to School, Too! – Katie
- Getting YOU Fed After You’ve had the Babies – Michelle
- Friday, September 4
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- Mommy Judgment and Me Time –Amy, Elizabeth, Jen Wood, MandyE, Michelle, Sadia, SaraBeth and SaraC
- The Me Time Bandaid – SaraBeth
- I Like Being With My Kids – Sadia
- Kid-Free Isn’t Worry-Free – Elizabeth
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I found this week to be very enlightening, encouraging and uplifting. As a mother to young children, it can be difficult to see the forest through the trees. I really appreciated the wisdom from the more seasoned mothers.
SaraC recently posted Hello, My Name Is…
I never found it very easy to take me time when my boys were smaller. #TwinklyTuesday
Tracey Abrahams recently posted My Top Twenty Favourite Blogs
Thanks for linking all of these. I’ll need to check them out. I had to decide every Saturday morning would be my time for writing my blog and told my husband he’d be watching the boys then because if I didn’t plan it, it never happened.
Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesday
Lady Nym recently posted Those Photos
I so wish for a me time wonderful post
#TwinklyTuesday
This is such an important read! And very enriching, as you show where we can learn more all different perspectives on ‘me time’. I definitely have lots of reading to do! Thank you for sharing,
#TwinklyTuesday
Ann Winters recently posted My Sunday Photo || {The Ordinary Moments}
Such a great selection of posts… I have some catching up to do! Thankyou for all the inspiration though!
Claire recently posted Mum Got Organised: Timetabling for busy mums!
Me time is so important! I try to have a bit of me time when Emma naps or in the evenings when she’s gone to bed, and I’ve also been lucky to have some pamper days on my own when my husband has taken Emma on his day off! #TwinklyTuesday
Emma’s Mamma recently posted Gro Light review
I found it easier to have me time when I had 1 but with 2 it’s a bit more tricky! I did manage to get my hair done last week which was 2 1/2 hours of bliss haha.
#twinklytuesday
helen gandy recently posted A Moment of Panic.
Making me time can be so tricky at times but it is important to try to do so – we all need a little time out every so often to recharge our batteries, even if it is just for a few moments. Sounds like a fab series for helping encourage mums to do so. #twinklytuesday
Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted What not to expect when you tell your hubby you’re in labour…
Between being unwell, sleeping, parenting and working on the blog I hardly get any time for me. Your post reminds me that I really do need to take some time out now and again for moi!
Angela x
Angela at Daysinbed recently posted From Cancer to Adrenal Insufficiency – A Story of Bravery
It’s impossible to be calm, fair and consistent with your children if you are frazzled and overstretched. Looking after yourself is an essential ingredient to being a great parent! #TwinklyTuesday
Anita Cleare recently posted How do I stop the nightly homework fights?
I’ll have to check these out! I don’t tend to take very much me time with a two year old and a one year old, and what I do have I spend working on blog mostly (and cleaning house)! #twinklytuesday
Silly Mummy recently posted Daddy on the Naughty Step
Me time is so important and so many wonderful mums don’t take the time to care for themselves. Lovely post #twinklytuesday
Jen @ 4,128 miles recently posted Six things I’ve learnt in six years of marriage
Excellent series and lots of good advice. It’s easy to get so caught up with everything and everyone you forget to take care of yourself.
I included the first one in my, I wish I blogged that, series: http://www.someplacestrange.net/2015/09/i-wish-i-blogged-that-september-2015.html (Hope it’s okay to link. Delete if not!) #twinklytuesday
I don’t have me time – ever. I should though #TwinklyTuesday
Oooh what a great theme for a blog post! I will be sure to come back and check some of these out later because ‘Me time’ is definately important and I’m really interested in how everyone else goes about making sure they get it
(Stopping by from twinklytuesdays)
Unhinged Mummy (aka Janine Woods) recently posted Positivity In Pictures #14
What an incredible resource you have here! Pinning. Stopping by from Twinkly Tuesday.
Finding time for me is always a little tricky, and I will be popping back later to read some of the linked posts! Having said that, I have just dropped my youngest to her first day of preschool and I am sitting in an empty house not quite sure what to do with myself
#twinklytuesday
Having ‘me time’ is so important being a mummy is the hardest job I’ve ever done and it’s important to take care of yourself so you can continue being a good mum. Even if it’s just a soak in the bath when the kids are asleep or treating yourself to have your nails done. It all makes a big difference.
Backs n Bumps recently posted So you have a bad back – part 2
Writing my blog is my me time. #twinklytuesday
Catie recently posted Autism and overcoming sleep problems
Yes! Exactly! The other HDYDI MoMs and I were just talking about the irony of our blogging time not having come up in our discussions of nurturing ourselves.
My husband is out tonight, and I am inspired – the yoga mat is coming out!
Megan – Truly Madly Kids recently posted Thoughts on the refugee crisis
I will definitely look through some of these posts when I have time. I try and have an hour on an evening once my son is in bed (and hubby at work) for me to have some time to do just want I want. #twinklytuesday
Becky (@educatingr) recently posted One Afternoon in Wrenthorpe…
I think that’s the one piece of advice I can give to those who aren’t mothers yet….enjoy your “me” time because once you are married and have children it’s very limited. Great post and I will be sure to read a few of these. Thank you for hosting #TwinklyTuesday.
Trista, Domesticated Momster recently posted ~ Top Reasons Why Being Female Sucks Sometimes~
I feel 100% guilty if I have me time because I see so little of Zach that I feel I have to make up for the time spent away from him by spending all the other time with him! It’s probably not healthy because I really don’t have much me time. It is such a hard pull though! Thanks for sharing and making me think about it and thanks as always for being a fab co-host at #TwinklyTuesday xx
Lisa (mummascribbles) recently posted Home improvements – new doors
I really need to try and find more ‘me-time’ for myself. Actually husband and I have a night off (kids sleeping over at grandparents – not sure who’s most excited – the kids, us or the grandparents?!) on Friday and I really need this. My #twinklytuesday post is actually about how I felt judged by a fellow mum telling me that whilst I like a night out, her priorities are her children. It really made me feel like I was depriving my children of my care and attention. But reading this (and I’ll be coming back to read more as there are so many that strike a chord – chores as me time?!) makes me feel like I am doing the right thing by making time for me and my relationship, in order to make me a more relaxed, less stressed mummy. Thank you all x
Becky (@attwtwo) recently posted Must We Judge?
I struggle for me time, I will definitely look through some of the posts #TwinklyTuesday
Caroline recently posted Review – Memphis mid-sleeper bed
I don’t do “me time” away in the sense that I go anywhere alone for a longer period (like a vacation). I do “me time” in the evening when they are in bed, but also some “me time” by taking a walk with the dog alone, doing some shopping alone or simply just getting to sleep in hehe. It all works for me. 😀
Having kids can be hard some times, but I have learned that the more *I* do with them in the sense of creative play or going out to the park, the less of a “nightmare” it will be at home for me because it will tire them out nice and good for the late afternoon, so come dinner time they are both pretty much ready for bed. 😀
But the days where I don’t do anything at all….then I often find my self really wanting husbot to get home soon! hehehe
ERFmama recently posted #Tipoftheday – Retrofitted ISOFIX!?
“Me time” is so incredibly important for our emotional wellbeing and to help us ultimately be better parents.
I really struggled with my identity after I had my son. I felt the old me had been ripped out from under me. Taking time for myself – going to work, seeing friends, writing etc – helped me to reconnect with the old Laura and get healthier.
I’ll be reading the other posts with interest
#twinklytuesday
Thank you for this fab selection of posts. We’re big fans of #embracehappy and #somum make dates on Twitter which give my mummy some me time too x #TwinklyTuesday x
Baby Isabella recently posted Chocolate Picture Maker Review
It took me until my daughter was ten before I really allowed myself quality me time and finally had a night away with my hubby, I should have done it sooner #TwinklyTuesday
Mackenzie Glanville recently posted Am I enough? #mummy & us
I think me time is very important, especially for a mother. It gives her chance to recharge her batteries and keep her own identity. I will be back to read some of the posts when I have more time. Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesday
Debbie
Random Musings recently posted Gender Roles In Relationships
Me time is often hard to come by, if I’m not looking after my baby I’m blogging, then again, I guess blogging is my me time.
#TwinklyTuesday
Leanne Cornelius recently posted Slimming World Weekly Weigh In Results & Food Diary #7
Some really interesting reads here. Thanks so much for co-ordinating this. I have to say, now that my children are 12 and 9, I do find it easier to get ‘me’ time. What I find far more difficult is making time with my husband. Now that the children are up later in the evenings, we don’t get that post-bedtime slot that we used to. In order to get time away from the children, we have to leave the house, which is difficult when you have two very anxious sleepers and babysitters who find it hard to settle them. I think the challenges change as the years progress, but they are always present! However, they are so worth every minute of effort! xx
Me time is so important. But being a stay at home mum means that I really don’t get much. Anytime I do get is spent on my blog or social media. I enjoy it but it isn’t that relaxing. However, I do get to have a long hot bubble bath with a good book every now and then. Bliss! Hugs Mrs H xxxx #TwinklyTuesday
Mrs H recently posted Because I’m happy – catching up
It can be do hard to find me time but it has to be done every so often, for everyone’s sake. Thanks for the list of articles.
#twinklytuesday
Fionnuala
Fionnuala recently posted Easing Into Autumn
Aargh!! I’m SO annoyed with myself!!! So much for ‘Me Time’ — I still haven’t finished my blooming post!! LOL!! There’s a joke in there somewhere — struggling to find the punchline at the moment!!! Thanks for being so patient — and such a fab co-host xx #TwinklyTuesday
Caro | The Twinkles Mama recently posted 130 weeks and 4 days | Happy half year birthday! | Siblings {September}