Today’s Hot Topic comes from a reader who hoped to draw upon the amazing mom-power that turns out for this weekly spectacle to help resolve an issue that is causing some tension in her household. (I guess it’s not revealing to say that her husband is a little clueless about the whole thing as that may or may not apply to a large percentage of us.)
Her dilemma is simple: She loves being a mom, but sometimes she needs a break. No, this isn’t SAHM v. WOHM II. She doesn’t want a job. She doesn’t want a new life. She doesn’t even want a vacation – actually, she probably wants one because who doesn’t?
She just needs some TME (Time for Me).This is where I wax poetic about the virtues of solitary time and healing properties of occasional pampering. Where I talk about how I’ve perfected the balance of motherhood and womanhood. Where I go on and on about how I know everything and --
I know nothing. I totally have this same problem. As you may be aware, I have a mom crush on Miss Dub, but I still get physically fatigued and mentally exhausted from being a mother – and sometimes I just get bored. I want a break, I crave a break, I dream of a break … but I don’t often give myself a break for umpteen reasons.
A lot of the time it’s sheer laziness – the hassle of getting a babysitter and then coming up with something worth the cash and effort. Other times I feel too guilty to ask Mr. Dub to watch our little one after a long day or week of work. But most of the time, I don’t go because even when I’m away, I’m not taking a break.
If we see a movie, I check my phone to see if the babysitter has called. I’m eager for dinner to be done so I can get back and make sure that she ate enough herself. I wonder if she’s getting the specific treatment she prefers. And I just plain miss her … until we get home and see she’s fine, at which point I want to run back to the restaurant and order dessert and a (non-alcoholic) nightcap.
This reader feels the same or worse, as she’s got two kids to worry about while away. But she wants, nay, NEEDS, a few hours to herself or as a couple every now and then.
So, oh wise ones, what say ye?
How do you like to escape and enjoy yourself?
Where do you go?
What do you do … or wish you could do?
And how do you truly enjoy yourselves?
Help!
