For the past four and a half years I haven’t taken the greatest care of myself. Instead I have poured every ounce of my being into raising my children. Now everyone on earth has told me that this is not healthy, but for some reason I failed to heed that message.
After waiting over thirty years to become a mom and struggling for over two and a half years to conceive my children it seemed to make perfect sense to spend every waking minute caring for them. No, that doesn’t make sense? Maybe not, but that’s what my heart and soul told me to do.
Now that I am waking from this four year slumber I want to carve out time for myself. This is, of course, something I should have done right from the start, but as they say it’s better late than never.
A week and a half ago I started working out a gym near our house. After the youngest little guy is sound asleep in his crib, (I still nurse him to sleep every night), I tip-toe out of his room, grab my sneakers and work out for an hour. Sometimes I leave the house just after eight and other nights I’m not leaving until well after nine, but no matter the time I try to carve out an hour at least two to three times a week.
I could certainly stand to lose some weight, but this is less about weight loss and more about going out of the house, away from my children who I spend almost every waking minute with it. This is my time to do something just for me.
On the nights that I don’t work out I am trying my best to either blog, color, meditate or simply put down all of my electronic devices and go to bed.
While I have to wait until the children are asleep to leave the house I am happy to have any time to myself and I am especially glad that my husband is cheering me on and encouraging me to get the heck out of here.
Until last week I didn’t realize how rarely I drive without my children in the car with me. It feels good to roll down the windows, turn up the music and just go without worrying about sippy cups, snacks and when I last nursed the little guy.
It feels unbelievably good to carve out time for myself and to be alone!
I’m so glad you have been able to get out there on your own and enjoy it!
I know a few mothers who have forgotten how to be on their own because all their focus has been on the kids for many many years and it’s scary to see how it’s damaged their ability to fend for themselves. I love being around my family a lot right now but I also greatly appreciate what alone time I do get and have to make a conscious effort to make that time too. It’s not always easy!