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I don't do the dishes. LOL

That's not funny.

But seriously, I write, in my journal, in my blog. I paint. I read blogs and sometimes a book or two. I also had to give myself a break for a long time and NOT be particularly creative, and allow that to be okay. I was just worn out with creating babies.

But when I was ready, I committed myself to writing a novel, and I think it's important to make a commitment to something that you love doing for yourself. A project.

And I find the time to do that by not doing the dishes. It's really not funny.

When my now five year old was one, I started running for an hour every day, no matter what. i could not be whole. She was a particularly mommy centered baby who never went to anyone else, but I left her for that hour, usually while she was still asleep. I'd get up early and run from 5-6. I was running away from her. I was running to find myself, to see how strong I could be. I'd never run a block in my life and by this time, I was over 30. I started running and running and I fell in love with running, with my body, with being, once again, if only for an hour a day, a person with thoughts and inspiration.

Now she's about to turn 5 and she's in school all day. I only get about 4 hours a day with her awake and most of that time is in the car, getting ready for bed or getting ready for school. She's only five and I feel like she's left me. I've lost her. I did treasure her young moments and I did give her more of me than I though possible. I'm happy that I ran, that made me a better mom, but I MISS her. It's over. She's only going to get farther and farther from me from now on.

I've got more time and I TREASURE it. I'm doing art again (even though i now have a 6 month old baby boy -- I'm living up nap time and I'm realllly tired).

What's my point, Andrea? I don't know. SOmeone once told me that kids don't cry blood, so if you need a shower and he's not going to want it, shower anyway. You'll be whole for you and whole from him if you take care of yourself first. And never never let your kid go off to kindergarten. :p

dear andrea and all,
i find this post very inspiring (like so many before). I am the mother of a now 7 months old son, whom I love dearly, but I am also a writer -at least I used to be -. I used to spend lots of time on my own thinking and reading and writing which created a sense of being me. but i am also one of four daughters of a woman who was a mother with all her being (and somehow still is) in a society where this is normal and how it should be. I feel so insecure now and so bad because I am longing for time for myself (and i am ashamed of this because everyone keeps telling me that he will be grown so soon and then i will have more time...) but i think i have to find a way to write more be me again, because deep inside i think thats what he needs most - a human being who is herself and lets him be hisself... all the best katrin p.s. thanx for the swimming story... ;-)

dear andrea and all,
i find this post very inspiring (like so many before). I am the mother of a now 7 months old son, whom I love dearly, but I am also a writer -at least I used to be -. I used to spend lots of time on my own thinking and reading and writing which created a sense of being me. but i am also one of four daughters of a woman who was a mother with all her being (and somehow still is) in a society where this is normal and how it should be. I feel so insecure now and so bad because I am longing for time for myself (and i am ashamed of this because everyone keeps telling me that he will be grown so soon and then i will have more time...) but i think i have to find a way to write more be me again, because deep inside i think thats what he needs most - a human being who is herself and lets him be hisself... all the best katrin p.s. thanx for the swimming story... ;-)

I remember reading a story in a compilation a few years ago. The story was written by a mother. She said she was on vacation with her husband and toddler son. While at the lake, she decided that she would challenge herself to swim out to the middle, touch the bouy, and swim back. As she embarked on her self-proclaimed test, her husband and son watched from the shore. Her son started crying for his mom. She could hear his cries for her but knew he was o.k. She didn't turn around. She kept swimming. She said at that moment she knew that she had to keep going, not only for herself, but for her son. She needed him to see that she is separate from her, a woman with goals and interests and dreams that do not fully revolve around her child. Eventually she reached the middle of lake and returned to shore. Her husband was proud and her son was fine. I was pregant with my daughter (now 6) when I read this story and it stuck with me. I make it a point to not cater to her every request for me. I want her to see that I am still me, not just her mother, and that I have a life and desires outside of being mom. I think when you give yourself permission to still be you, it becomes second nature to nurture yourself as you would with no baby.

trying to find the time to do self-care is something i am trying to balance. i know my feelings of creativity and being creative have taken some hits this year. knitting is a soothing activity that i love, writing posts is another. reading your blog and other mamas really puts things in perspective too. i love the comments from mamas with teens, it reminds me that the time will come when i will feel like they do not need me enough. such a dichotomy, me time still feels a little wrong with them so small. thank you for asking us to participate in your dialogue....you strike me as such a wonderfully thoughtful woman. and ben does look angelic....i remember that silver thing from an early picture of him (when i was waiting on my babies and falling in love with yours). smiles. amiee

When my daughter was little personal time meant a quick shower with her lying on her pillow on the floor just with in eye site...then it moved onto setting up a little safe place for her to play in the bathroom while I showered and now at 18 months she sits and reads books or stacks blocks while I get that ten minutes of, if nothing else, hygiene. Now as she gets older I find it easier and easier to set her up with a project and attack one of my own. Also I go out with friends at least once a month when my husband can watch her to get that much needed adult conversation!

Two kids and full time job with one hour commute...my time falls between the hours of 4:30 and 6:30. It seems early...and it is. Once you get started getting up early, you can do it and actully look forward to it. During this time I run, swim and bike. While no triathlon yet, watching the Ironman this weekend was truly inspiring. Look at the pictures I took..the variety of ages, shapes and level of fitness was amazing! Find you time in the morning...when baby boy wakes you will be ready for him and the day.

o.k. I am such a dork and double hit the send button. ugh, please feel free to delete delete!

wait 18+ years until the youngest is in college???

5 kids+traveling husband = one neglected mommy!

I really really depended on hubby when he (finally) would get a few days home. He was wonderful! He would settle into the routine and just take over with the kids while I did other household chores. One thing he would do often is just look at me, hand me a $20.00 bill (a large sum for us back then) and say he didn't want to see me for four hours.

As the kids grew I (HAD to) teach them to be responsible and help out with the chores as well. (they all learned their colours by sorting laundry at three) There is no way I could have done it alone.

I also instituted manditory quiet time (1 hour each day) and dance times (yup, 15 minutes of riotous dancing when the kids got home from school everyday until they left the house and went to college).

Learn to prioritize, and also to let things go. If it won't matter in five years it won't matter, let it go.

Other than that it was doing whatever I could during their sleeping hours. Sometime this meant wallpapering at 2:30 a.m. Other times it meant that pedicure.

wait 18+ years until the youngest is in college???

5 kids+traveling husband = one neglected mommy!

I really really depended on hubby when he (finally) would get a few days home. He was wonderful! He would settle into the routine and just take over with the kids while I did other household chores. One thing he would do often is just look at me, hand me a $20.00 bill (a large sum for us back then) and say he didn't want to see me for four hours.

As the kids grew I (HAD to) teach them to be responsible and help out with the chores as well. (they all learned their colours by sorting laundry at three) There is no way I could have done it alone.

I also instituted manditory quiet time (1 hour each day) and dance times (yup, 15 minutes of riotous dancing when the kids got home from school everyday until they left the house and went to college).

Learn to prioritize, and also to let things go. If it won't matter in five years it won't matter, let it go.

Other than that it was doing whatever I could during their sleeping hours. Sometime this meant wallpapering at 2:30 a.m. Other times it meant that pedicure.

I take care of myself by reading superhero journal every day :)

You just asked the most important million dollar question! Reading the answers just prooves that. And I'm so glad on your behalf that you are able to ask the question; then you'll be able to make time to your self.
I'm a Norwegian mom to two kids age 7 and 13. I never made time for myself when they were younger. But now I do, and that's making wonders. I wish I had stopped and focused on selftime earlyer, but oh well, I'm just very glad I'm doing it now! So take time to yourself, follow some of the tips from these comments and be proud of your self for doing so. And by reading your blogg, I admire how you care for and love BEn. -Who's a very charming boy!

I love to do creative stuff, so to be able to be both mother and creative I have filled my house with lots of crafting things I can do together with my children. My oldest girl was only 11 months when I first let her play with my paint; she dipped her hand in yellow, blue and red gouash and made a picture using her handprints. By removing the paper "in time" the picture became a outstanding masterpiece.

My best tip on selfindulgence is; hot bath with lavendel oil.(ethereal oil, not bathoil. 10-14 drops in the water.) The lavendel makes you sleepy, relaxes your mussles,and ...open to sex:-) so a bath just befor bedtime will make wonders. It's my husband favorite.. (By the way; put the oil on a piese of cotton and wipe around the windowframe; it stops the moskitoes from flying in!)And some belive that lavendel ethereal oil on a cottoncloth under the babies pillow at night will make them sleep better. -just what you need!
Good luck! Most of all; early childhood seems like eternity when you are in the middle of it, but like a short moment of time when it's over. I promise:-)

when i can i like to scrapbook-in fact I love it! there is definitely little time, between a full time job and caring for two little girls, but when I do have the time, I am at peace! it allows me to be creative and save memories in an artistic way!

btw-loving my joy necklace!!!!
-rani

when i can i like to scrapbook-in fact I love it! there is definitely little time, between a full time job and caring for two little girls, but when I do have the time, I am at peace! it allows me to be creative and save memories in an artistic way!

btw-loving my joy necklace!!!!
-rani

when i can i like to scrapbook-in fact I love it! there is definitely little time, between a full time job and caring for two little girls, but when I do have the time, I am at peace! it allows me to be creative and save memories in an artistic way!

btw-loving my joy necklace!!!!
-rani

when i can i like to scrapbook-in fact I love it! there is definitely little time, between a full time job and caring for two little girls, but when I do have the time, I am at peace! it allows me to be creative and save memories in an artistic way!

btw-loving my joy necklace!!!!
-rani

I have been thinking alot about self care these last few weeks. I am in a very stressful stage of mylife so I need to do a good job of destressing.

Somethings I find relaxing:

Making art
Reading
Watching good girly movies I just watched Flicka last night which was really good.
Buy books, browsing through beatiful books
Browsing the web for blogs
Listen to music and sing along
I also like getting this done it makes me feel good.

Somethings I want to do and want them to make me feel good:
Exercise
Baking and Cooking

Hope you get some sleep!

I have been thinking alot about self care these last few weeks. I am in a very stressful stage of mylife so I need to do a good job of destressing.

Somethings I find relaxing:

Making art
Reading
Watching good girly movies I just watched Flicka last night which was really good.
Buy books, browsing through beatiful books
Browsing the web for blogs
Listen to music and sing along
I also like getting this done it makes me feel good.

Somethings I want to do and want them to make me feel good:
Exercise
Baking and Cooking

i walk.
7km...sometimes farther...
every morning.

i spend one afternoon a week...with a friend...preparing food for our families.

i take one class a week...starting this fall that course will be in photograpy ;-)

i blog.

i read blogs...especially ones written by superheroes ;-)

hope sleep has found you.
love,
k

some of my favorites are :
taking an hour or two to go to my favorite coffee to read, write or draw,
shut everything off, kick boyfriend out and make an evening of watching dvds in bed,
publishing on my blog, pictures, thoughts, ideas - connecting!

Most of these cost a little time and money, and help me keep my sanity!

Self-care is a little easier now that my son is thirteen and not keeping me awake at night. I enjoy longer showers, for starters. I blog and spend time online, but it's also good for me to get out of the house on my own, whether it's just to go window shopping or to get a manicure/pedicure. Sometimes I'll just get in the car and drive, just to see where I end up.

Only a wannabe mother, but my self-care regime consists of:

- walking down to the beach and paddling. Night or day. Summer or Winter.

- Reading your blog, gawping at your amazing photos. Becoming inspired.

- Fiddling around with my dreadful pastel drawings.

- Doing yoga before bed to cool off, wind down and reflect on my day.

Thank you for bringing this topic up. I wish I had a good response but instead have realized I need to make more time for self-care. Everyone has some great ideas.

I'm not a mother but lately I've been working 10-12 hour days. My self care thing is ginger tea. It's not exactly a substitute for fresh air and exercise, but it helps with the doldrums.

This seems like a timely question. :) At my husbands urging, I've scheduled what I am calling "Mama Mondays". A close friend of ours who has been anxiously waiting for Zoe's arrival has agreed to watch Zoe for me on Monday's. ALL day Monday! I dropped her off for the first time yesterday at 9am and my husband picked her up at 5pm. I took the best shower ever and even put a little makeup on. I read. I blogged. I had lunch with a friend. I went shopping. I actually cooked dinner! It was marvelous. THe best part is, I know I get to do it all again in a week and Zoe? She came home happy and exhausted from her day.

The only thing is, I was hoping that my "Mama Monday's" would let me participate in the photo assignments. Could we do it on flickr, maybe?

Thank you for this question! I need to pay attention to my self-care. I need to make it part of my routine and still haven't figured that out after 6 months. So glad everyone shared their self-care items...my goal today is to come up with some!

when madeleine was ben's age, i slept whenever she slept, not realizing at the time what a outrageous luxury that was! now, i ride my bike, make small talk with strangers and go hideout at the neighbors house when i'm sick of everyone.

Hm - yesterday was a wreck of a day, so this is a great thing to consider this morning. Most of my self-care attempts echo the others listed here: read my bible in the a.m., get dressed and made up, workout a little, read a little, work in something creative during nap time. The trick, though, is actually *remembering* to do these things, and a lot of days...I forget. I forget, and wonder why I'm so frumpy and frazzled, and then realize "Oh yeaaahhh...." Forgot to get out of my yoga pants and put on some lip gloss. Was too exhausted during most of nap time to do anything but zone out. So that's my tip: Try to remember to take care of yourself in a timely fashion!! :) Oh, and remember: when it comes to those days when the nap times don't happen, and they regress at night, this too shall pass. This too shall pass.

Andrea you must feel very flattered that such busy women enjoy chilling out by coming to your site!

I work and I'm writing a thesis, which together absorbs at least 6 days of my week. Strategies for self-care are fairly diffuse but usually centred in the home; I think my strategies are similar to what other people use here (soak in the bath, yoga etc). I also google Chagall prints and soak up the colour; and I draw and journal. I personally think that you can't over emphasise how good it is for the Self if you get out of your usual routine for a bit of fun. I spend 98% of my time in professional mode; so something as mild as playing on playground equipment in the park with my boyfriend, or visiting a toy store I find really cathartic. On the weekend a bunch of friends and I played lawn bowls for the sake of embarrassing ourselves in front of the 80 year olds on the green.

Regarding 'finding' time and self care: I think what other people's posts has shown is that you don't really 'find' time, you have to MAKE it.

I've taken a shower and put on my face nearly every single day since my son was born in February. While he's a very calm baby, luckily, this doesn't mean he doesn't cry at all. I try to do it during nap time, or when he's playing, but if he does begins to cry/whine (instead of napping while in his crib), I let him, all the while popping my head in or talk to him during. It really only takes 20-30 minutes altogether to shower, dress, etc. but what a difference it makes to my day.

Being put together makes me feel good. Also, it enables us to step out the door at a minute's notice when he's restless/fussy/won't nap, when I need some air, or if I want to invite friends over spontaneously.

All the other responses - first thing in the morning, hire a babysitter - are what I would suggest.

My girls are now 6 and 9. One of the best things I have done in order to cope over the years is to read books on parenting and attend parenting classes. Two very different girls have required two very different approaches, but with the knowledge of how best to cope with their sometimes extremely challenging behaviour I am less likely to get myself into a state where I'm ready to reach for the really big wine glasses. Which isn't to say things are rosy all the time! I'm just saying that the frustration and guilt most parents feel may be lessened by taking breaks, as well as by taking classes or reading books.

(If you're wondering, 'The Difficult Child' by Stanley Turecki has been the most helpful book. He talks about temperament, and it is so much easier to cope with a child's whining or misbehaving if you can see it as a symptom of their temperament; it works the other way, too, helping you to help your child deal with frustrations and be a much happier kid. Turecki is also extremely sympathetic to parents who are at the end of their ropes and convinced that their children are doing this to them on purpose, which is how I felt!)

Ask for help, even if that means sneaking out for a long walk after dinner. Make sure to take a shower everyday, something about getting ready (i.e. presentable) makes me feel better. Meet a friend at a park to get adult interaction as well. Breathe! Always remember to breathe.

I walk first thing in the morning with my girlfriend who also has 2 kids. We find so much to discuss and laugh about. We even walk when there is 2 feet of snow and ice on the roads. Now, I am finding my quiet time in my garden as well. The kids know if I am out watering it, they should leave me alone unless it's VERY important. You have to find the thing you enjoy or need and make sure Matt supports it. Ben will go with your flow and it will be easy for all three of you. He just gets cuter by the day.

I schedule yoga for when my husband is free to watch our daughter. I paint when my daughter is in preschool, which we started when she was 2 1/2, because she craved more interaction with kids than I was able to provide just visiting the park with its irregular attendees (or none at times). So now I can do my watercolor painting, woodworking, or other projects that make me feel productive and get my creative juices flowing, go get my regular doctor visits taken care of (annual exam, physical, allergist, dermatologist), and get my hair done once every 4 months while my daughter is working on her social skills.
Sometimes kids demand 150% of what we have, and we give it willingly, for as long as needed. But then when they don't need so much, even for a day or two, you have to take it upon yourself to direct the ebb and flow of parenting so that you get what you need, too. And, rely on the help of others, to make it happen. It makes for a much healthier and happier mommy.

Ben is so precious. In the photo, his expression is like: "Who, me? Keep Mom awake?" My kids are teens now, but when they were small (I had a 4-year-old when my daughter came along), their father travelled some 200 days a year. I didn't have a support group. I remember really wanting some time alone. They even followed me to the potty -- had to leave the door open. I took naps when they napped, trying to recapture precious lost sleep. When they'd go down at night, I remember lighting candles, making a bubble bath, and pouring myself a nice big glass of Chardonnay and just lying back with a big sigh! After their dad returned from one of his more lengthy trips and I had had three weeks of a colicky newborn who cried all the time and a four-year-old who I didn't want to feel pushed aside, I handed him the baby and just started crying. I remember my toddler asking, "What's wrong with Mommy?" and his dad just leading him out of the room, saying, "Mommy needs some rest." Those times seemed endless -- but now that I look back on them, I see we all survived. If I could do anything differently, I would have gotten together with other moms or found someone I trusted to babysit instead of trying to provide 24-hour care. I think I was a good mom, because like you I went through all the infertilitly stuff (both times) and I was sooo happy to be a mom that I did and did and did. I thought if I took time for myself I wasn't being grateful or I'd have twinges of guilt for wanting time alone after trying so hard to NOT end up alone. Good news: they get bigger really fast and then you can curl up with a good book, go out to lunch, actually have a real telephone conversation. I worried that I had lost my ability to have adult conversations because all I did was talk to two little children all day long. But it all comes back!! I think you're doing a much better job than I did at attempting balance. It's only now that I'm in my early 50s that I've learned to do that. What I wouldn't give to have known then what I know now!!!

Sorry for such a lengthy post!

I don't find time for self-care. I have a 4 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. But in my mind, I am constantly trying to determine when I can find time for me! I have successfully enrolled in yoga once a week in an effort to make time for me. We will see how that goes! But it certainly does not satisfy the creative drive that I feel goes unexpressed. I'm still attempting to find myself. Imagine that. At 36 years of age. Woe with me!

I don't find time for self-care. I have a 4 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. But in my mind, I am constantly trying to determine when I can find time for me! I have successfully enrolled in yoga once a week in an effort to make time for me. We will see how that goes! But it certainly does not satisfy the creative drive that I feel goes unexpressed. I'm still attempting to find myself. Imagine that. At 36 years of age. Woe with me!

I don't find time for self-care. I have a 4 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. But in my mind, I am constantly trying to determine when I can find time for me! I have successfully enrolled in yoga once a week in an effort to make time for me. We will see how that goes! But it certainly does not satisfy the creative drive that I feel goes unexpressed. I'm still attempting to find myself. Imagine that. At 36 years of age. Woe with me!

I don't find time for self-care. I have a 4 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. But in my mind, I am constantly trying to determine when I can find time for me! I have successfully enrolled in yoga once a week in an effort to make time for me. We will see how that goes! But it certainly does not satisfy the creative drive that I feel goes unexpressed. I'm still attempting to find myself. Imagine that. At 36 years of age. Woe with me!

I am the mother of two and I think the key to it is to make yourself as important as your children. I say this like it's easy, or that I even do it, but on the days that I do convince myself that I am worth it and that I am a better mother, wife, friend, and ME when I self-care, it always proves so true. I try to go to yoga instead of worrying how many loads of laundry get done, I take pictures and write my blog, and I knit while I am at soccer practice with my son or gymnastics with my daughter. For me it is a moment here and there that provide the balance I need to stay happy.

Truth is that I can't for the life of me commit to a schedule for anything. I have to do me-things spontaneously or they lose their appeal. I have a one-year-old baby boy who is very active, so even if I tried to have, say, a self-pampering routine for 10 minutes every day, I would only end up frustrated and feeling like I have one more chore.

Instead I do everything I love when I have the time and the inclination. I look for wonder in the world, compose stories in my head, draw when I am suddenly holding a pencil, work on my articles when the baby falls asleep, eat lunch with friends when hunger strikes. If I find a piece of chalk I might draw a bird on the sidewalk. Today I attended a poetry reading by one of my dear friends.

These things energize me and make my life as vibrant as it was before the baby, only fuller. But I cannot say what is it that I'm doing for myself.

Oh, I was really enjoying the photo challenge!

Maybe we could set up a sister blog with multiple team members authorized to post?

Nothing fancy, just a place to get everyone's photos together ...

First thing in the morning.

I find that if I don't take care of myself during the mornings, the day gets away from me and before I know it - it's late and I've worked too long or it's time to make dinner, and the "me-time" get squeezed right out of the day. But if I put it as the first thing of the day, it always happens and I always manage to fit the other mandatory stuff in.

So in the mornings, I eat a healthy breakfast, drink my coffee slowly, read a chapter or two in my book, water the garden, take my dog for a walk (one of my favorite parts of the day!) and do some yoga and meditation. Then I shower and start the work day.

That seems to work well for me. :)

I'm not a parent yet, so I don't know if any of that applies when there's a little bean in the picture... you'll have to let me know. :)

xo!

First thing in the morning.

I find that if I don't take care of myself during the mornings, the day gets away from me and before I know it - it's late and I've worked too long or it's time to make dinner, and the "me-time" get squeezed right out of the day. But if I put it as the first thing of the day, it always happens and I always manage to fit the other mandatory stuff in.

So in the mornings, I eat a healthy breakfast, drink my coffee slowly, read a chapter or two in my book, water the garden, take my dog for a walk (one of my favorite parts of the day!) and do some yoga and meditation. Then I shower and start the work day.

That seems to work well for me. :)

I'm not a parent yet, so I don't know if any of that applies when there's a little bean in the picture... you'll have to let me know. :)

xo!

coffee, lots of it. i have 3 little ones that seem to sap everything out of me, i'm right there with you!

Sometimes I have to announce to everyone in the house that Mom will be taking a nice, relaxing, bath for 30 minutes...And NOBODY better interrupt me unless the house is burning down or someone has cut their arm off, and is bleeding to death!!
Then I go in and lock the door and use my Philosophy brand raspberry sorbet or melon daquiri scented bath gel and simply "zone out" for half an hour.
Everyone pretty much knows better than to come knocking on the door until I emerge in 30 minutes, all clean, scented and relaxed, and ready to deal with whatever.....
I don't know what they think would happen if they actually did bug me during my bath ritual???
So far, nonbody has decided to chance it, and find out.
:)
Also, I find mediation, breathing excercises, and very early morning walks help too
Good luck and I hope you get some shut eye and "Me time" soon.

my 18-month loves to be outside more than anything in the world.
exercise helps keep me sane and "up".
i merged the two via the purchase of a jogging stroller.
we now have a little ritual of sorts.
we jog to get me some iced coffee... him, a drink box...
sometimes we'll split a doughnut if it's breakfast time...
then, i jog around our lake for 3 miles...
while he takes in mother nature.
i run. he's happy drinking apple juice and looking at squirrels and butterflies.
it's a win/win.
then, we come home and take a bath together.
that gets us to bedtimes most days, so it's perfect.
course, then i sack out on the couch like a big marshmallow, but still...

my 18-month loves to be outside more than anything in the world.
exercise helps keep me sane and "up".
i merged the two via the purchase of a jogging stroller.
we now have a little ritual of sorts.
we jog to get me some iced coffee... him, a drink box...
sometimes we'll split a doughnut if it's breakfast time...
then, i jog around our lake for 3 miles...
while he takes in mother nature.
i run. he's happy drinking apple juice and looking at squirrels and butterflies.
it's a win/win.
then, we come home and take a bath together.
that gets us to bedtimes most days, so it's perfect.
course, then i sack out on the couch like a big marshmallow, but still...

my 18-month loves to be outside more than anything in the world.
exercise helps keep me sane and "up".
i merged the two via the purchase of a jogging stroller.
we now have a little ritual of sorts.
we jog to get me some iced coffee... him, a drink box...
sometimes we'll split a doughnut if it's breakfast time...
then, i jog around our lake for 3 miles...
while he takes in mother nature.
i run. he's happy drinking apple juice and looking at squirrels and butterflies.
it's a win/win.
then, we come home and take a bath together.
that gets us to bedtimes most days, so it's perfect.
course, then i sack out on the couch like a big marshmallow, but still...

oh--i am so disappointed that we wont have our monday photo assignments! I really look forward to it... it's creative, fun, and I never have ideas... I hope that you decide to keep it up-it branches out from the norm and gets us all searching and thinking of how and where to take that picture.

when i want a drink treat (iced coffee with sugar and cream)- i buy myself one

when the kids go to bed at 6p- i pour myself a nice tall beer

i fill up the tub

turn off my phone

and then sit and think about nothing for a bit

then i go to bed at 6:30p.

hope sleep comes to you soon. xx

I'm still trying to figure that question myself!! I have a 5yr. old, a 3 1/2 yr. old and a 4mos. old who ALL SLEEP through the night (and nap throughout the day too!) AND i still can't find time for "self care". I keep thinking it's b/c i don't possess the skills neccissary for good "time management"!! Ha...i'm pretty sure my 4th grade teacher wrote on one of my reportcards that "Robyn does not manage her time in class well!"

With almost 2 year old twins, my answer to self-care is simple: babysitting, babysitting, babysitting. It doesn't really matter what I do with the time (eat ice cream, do yoga, watch TV, reupholster a chair, nap, read your blog), it's that I have the time to do it and a moment or two to myself. It's lovely to have that excited feeling in anticipation of seeing the twins which eludes me when I'm with them all the time.
Hope you're catching up on your sleep!

I get up at 6am and go workout. I also love to "power lounge" in my hammock. Although I haven't done that in a long time. I too like to check out other creative blogs and websites, love to take classes, read, and cook.. Cooking to me is self care because I am feeding myself a healthy, scrumptious diet, and I love learning about food and healing.
Mani/Pedi dates with myself are nice too. Going for one tomorrow for my birthday.

I have a very spirited 2 1/2 year old, and a high-need 10 month old, (great and super easy combination, by the way) I never wanted to be one of those moms who lets themselves go, but...I have(sigh)! I have a BFA in metalsmithing, and am going back to school to become a Surgical Tech. School makes me feel alive again, so I suppose you could say it is my self-care. I miss being creative though, so another ritual of self-care is to read blogs of other creative people, like yourself.
Have a great day!

A 20-minute yoga dvd at 5:30 am when everyone is sleeping. Most times is works out that way!