When you tell people that you are a stay home mother, they think you wake up late and just sit around all day in your sweatpants. Well, sorry to disappoint but being a stay home mother means spending every waking hour with your children while maintaining the house so that at the end of the day, your husband does not return to a home so messy that it resembles the aftermath of a typhoon.
And because a mother’s work is never done, personal time becomes a much sought-after luxury for stay at home mothers. However, having a break is just as essential so that mothers do not suffer a burnout. So here are five ways you can sneak in some me-time while looking after your children.
Naptime
The highlight of every stay home mother’s daily routine. Once your darling little angel has fallen asleep, try to make the most of it without waking him up. A child’s naptime is the perfect opportunity for mothers to gain refreshment, clear up unfinished work or indulge in some self-pampering. While some infants nap for an hour or less before they get up for their next feed. Toddlers tend to take longer naps, usually up to three hours a go. This means I get to update my blog, watch a few dramas back to back while painting my nails. And other times, I end up joining him to catch some shuteye too.
Playtime
Train your child to play alone and you will gain the me-time you have always wanted. Start by finding out which are his or her favorite toys and activities, then encourage independent play. My boy loves his paint and art brushes. So while he is busy creating his next masterpiece, I’m sitting across the room, keeping an eye on him while doing some online shopping on my laptop.
Mealtime
This is another great opportunity for sneaking in some me-time. While my boy is busy drinking his milk, I sneak off for the much-needed shower. This works just as well while feeding your child solids. I sometimes surf the net on my iPad in between each mouthful he takes.
Bath time
This would only work with older children who can sit and stand well on their own. You could do a foot soak or apply a clay masque while your little one splashes and play around the bubble bath under your watchful eye.
TV time
This is an option that some parents would frown about as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages media use for kids under 2. But if you desperately need some personal time, then I must admit that the television makes a pretty good babysitter. Put on his favorite Barney DVD or some educational Youtube videos while you get busy. I am not that strict on media usage for my boy, so if I really need some time out, I would let him watch the tube for an hour or two.