How do SAHM's find time for themselves

[Palooka]

Really. :lol2 I have 3 kids and never get much of a break. Sure my husband is a wonderful, great, hardworking man, bringing in the income. I love him for that and the time I love to spend with him. (it is short though)

However, I can't seem to find a break for me. More than anything I love to run on my treadmill. I know for a fact that if I have time for me than I would be a much happy mom and wife.:heh And the whole house would flow so much better. I am at home and don't really have anytime to play on the computor (during the day) as people that are working a job does! I find myself staying up late at night (like now) just to get time for me to 'play.' Ya know when the kids are asleep and the dh.:heh

Here is my problem in short. My kids are in sports so I drive them to and fro. I have a baby and he keeps me on his schedule. lol. No really he is a charm. I just have to figure out the shower, workout plan, feeding schedule,paying bills,cooking,cleaning,etc, know what I mean.. It is just that everyday is so different here.

I can't say at 5 this will be done or 7 I will do this. The one problem that I have is that I always put myself last on everything. It just may be the nature in me to take care of everyone first.

My husband is good about this but he does lack time because he is on salary. ugh!

The other night I got to go to the library. That was so nice and peaceful. lol

Anywho, anyone want to share their schedule or how things work for ya. TIA!

Please tell me I am not the only loner out there. This truly is getting to me.

[Kathe]

You know I am on the opposite end of this. My husband is a SAHD and homeschool dad. I work at our salon and Arbonne so I'm gone about 50 hours per week. I try to recognize that he gets stressed sometimes just from being "on" so much. And I think being a guy it can be even worse. So I try to give him some alone time at least every day or so. Even some alone TV time. When I get home at night (sometimes not until almost 9 pm) I take over getting the kids in bed, reading stories, prayers, etc and let my husband just be. On weekends I try and take over the kid stuff as much as possible and let him do his project guy kind of stuff. Yesterday I did all of the cooking and clean up instead of him doing it which is normal during the week. It gives him a break to do stuff he wants to do. He also goes to a mens bible study group every Saturday morning and we have a family late breakfast when he gets home that I make and serve.

Maybe your husband can do stuff like that.

Also, most mornings I get up at 5, when everyone else is still sleeping, and go to the gym for an hour. That is my time. This morning I got up early to have some quiet time, made banana nut bread, some computer time before everyone gets up and we get ready for church later. I'll also go for a quick walk when the bread is done.


Kathe

[soonhereturns]

It's tough sometimes to get time for yourself, but I look at it this way. I need down time once in a while to be a better mom and wife. My mom ran herself into the ground. I don't remember her taking time for herself and she's paying for it now. I make it a point to get some down time. I use grocery shopping most of the time as my down time. I don't allow the kids to come with me and I take my time. Sometimes I'll get a snack while I'm out and just sit. I shop once a week. If something comes up for the women at church or another event like that, my husband is practically shoving me out the door. :lol2 He recognizes now that it's important to just "rest" awhile from everything at home. He's seen what has happened to my mom too and doesn't want me to be too tired and worn out after the kids are grown. It's time to have fun at that point and go play. :) It really is important. With 11 kids I'm at home pretty much 24 hours a day. 6 of them are now school age, but I only have 2 in school since I homeshool the other 4. I have 5 children that are 4 and under. 3 of the boys and 1 girl are in scouts, so I'm now running a lot too. My oldest will start basketball next month.

Well, didin't mean to ramble, but those are some things I do. HTH

[ChayilWoman]

Yeah...what they said. I make work out time a priority because it makes me healthier and happier which in turns makes the family happier and healthier. I do the grocery store thing too, even including getting something to eat (either dinner or a treat) and eating it in peace and quiet. And all the things Kathe said she tries to do for her husband, mine tried to do for me. He's learned I'm a much better person with some down time at the end of the day and on the weekends. Main thing is to make it a priority. It's soooooo important.

[Deepcallstodeep]

Guess I'm not a good one to answer this 'cause I could use more alone time too... haven't even gone to the bathroom alone much in 6 years...but I too stay up sometimes when everyone is sleeping... house so blissfully quiet and I can think a complete thought and say more than a "popcorn" prayer.:)

My dh will take the kids out sometimes for a few hours on a Saturday (any excuse to go to Home Depot, ha ha) and I try to resist doing housework then and just read the Bible instead and have some alone time with the Lord, or go for a walk.

I'm so aware that these early years with kids fly by so fast... I have a feeling that more alone time is coming soon, and now is the time for me to just be present for my family. It was not an easy adjustment for me when I left my job to stay home right before I had my first son. I feel the Lord is teaching me how to have the heart of a servant.

An awesome thing I have learned since I was saved 4 years ago, is to ask God at the start of each day to help me prioritize my time. When I am faithful to ask for His guidance and direction for every minute of every day, I find I am not so drained anymore!

[denny272]

:scratchWhat's a break?? :sob

[CircleSlide]

awww the joys of motherhood, this too shell pass. My kids ages 9, 11, 14 are all in private school now so I am by myself from 8 to 4 and I really don't know what to do with my self some days. My house is clean, the laundry is done, the dinner is made, ok secretly I am so loving it, but on the other hand they are growing up and it makes me sad to see them leaving the nest. After many years of homeschooling and then the little ones underfoot I am enjoying the break.

But when my kids where younger many of my friends would get together and take turns babysitting. She would have my kids one day and I would have hers the other day, this worked out great because she and I both homeschooled. We would also get together on the weekends for girls night out. The husbands would get together and watch movies play video games with the kids, sometimes even take them camping. It was a much needed girls retreat! I have to say my husband is excellent he always stepped up and saw when I needed some time off.

[ChayilWoman]

I just started trading babysitting with a friend last week. She kept my girls one day and I'll have hers this Thursday. It's amazing how much I got done in those few hours with no kids home! I think it's going to work out really well for both of us, so we'll probably keep doing it.

[lisaann]

I try to take 4-5 walks a week. Since my dh works very long hours, and I can't ever count on him to be at home at a certain time, I just carve the time out whenever I can. Often I have to just tell him you need to be home so that I can have at least 45 minutes for a walk before dark. Since he works such long hours I think it is good for him to have 'alone time' with the kids anyways. Sometimes he grumbles but I just ignore him :heh .

If you are a SAHM then free time isn't going to just happen. You have to make it happen. If dh won't cooperate then see if you can swap time with a friend.

[House of Light]

Ah, yes. No free time. I have only been a SAHM now for a year(has it been that long?) Before that I owned my own business....and would even take a whole day to go shopping(if work was slow, or I felt the need to do my own thing). I haven't even been to a beautician in over a year! there is no time, and no money to do so.

I don't know the answer, because I am struggling with this one, also. DH likes me to be home when he is. My kids are young....10,8,6,4,2. We can't afford a sitter, and I don't have any friends that don't work out of the home. I am stuck. And somedays, I feel that I have lost who I really am.

OK. enough pouting for me. The Lord is good, and we are healthy, and we have plenty to eat, and we have a home of our own. But, boy, do I sometimes envy those women who also have another life outside of the home.