| > | | | | each person needs to do and who’s going to |
| Most of us moms have little to no downtime. So any | | | | do what and when. Share the chores. Pay the kids a |
| time for us that we manage to eek out of the day | | | | few dollars to pick up the toys or something |
| or week is very precious. Here are 15 tips on how | | | | extra. |
| you can find more personal time and still manage to | | | | 9. Write or journal in your quiet time. Schedule down |
| get to the important things like having fun with your | | | | time. I keep a pad and pencil by the bed because |
| children. | | | | many of my best ideas come during rest. |
| 1. Start de-stressing on Friday night: Take a walk | | | | 10. Take mini trips: a day at the zoo, sea world, trip |
| around the neighborhood with kids, husband, friend, | | | | to the mountains, and a day at the beach. These mini |
| neighbor, boyfriend etc.or take a hot soak in the tub | | | | getaways help our general well-being and mental |
| with a good book, magazine and scented candle. | | | | health. |
| 2. Get errands done during the week so you have | | | | 11. Have personal time: get a massage on the |
| more time to play with the family on the weekends. | | | | weekend, spa manicure/pedicure, stroll into a favorite |
| Go to the park, swim, bike ride, or play basketball. | | | | bookstore or boutique, have a leisure coffee or tea. |
| What matters is do what your kids consider to be | | | | The office supply store with all the colored papers |
| fun. They will remember your playing with them, not | | | | and pens is a favorite for me. |
| that you cleaned the house. | | | | 12. During waiting times: take a walk, do bills, read a |
| 3. Let the dusting go. In the grand scheme of things | | | | magazine, zip open the mail, keep a file of need |
| it’s not that important. After seeing a recent | | | | to read. When my son takes a class, most of the |
| version of a weekly house cleaning show, my house | | | | parents are sitting and waiting. I take walks around |
| is PERFECT in comparison!! I no longer need to feel | | | | the block several times for exercise. |
| any guilt and neither do you. Family and friends are | | | | 13. Share sleeping-in time: you do it on Saturday and |
| more important. | | | | your spouse sleeps in on Sunday if you have young |
| 4. Shop late at night after the kids have gone to bed | | | | children. |
| and spouse or other adult is there to watch. If | | | | 14. Take your child and a friends’ child to their |
| you’re an early morning person, shop before | | | | evening class one week and then their parent does it |
| everyone wakes up. | | | | the next week. |
| 5. Trade off with a friend to watch each other kids | | | | 15. Take turns with your spouse reading to your child, |
| for an evening so you and your spouse can go out | | | | helping with homework or putting them to bed.We |
| together and have an adult night. | | | | can’t do it all, all by ourselves, so why try? |
| 6. Get the babysitter to do something extra (put | | | | You’ll go nuts and then your kids will go nuts. |
| away the dishes, wash a load of laundry, dust the | | | | Get help from whomever you can rope, grab, |
| living room) for a few extra dollars. | | | | coerce, solicit, bribe, pay, or plead with to help you |
| 7. Take advantage of free delivery from many local | | | | out. Even single friends are sometimes happy to play |
| shops and services. More and more large grocery | | | | for a day with your kids and give you a break. That |
| stores are offering shop on-line and delivery services. | | | | can be the gift they can give you next time |
| 8. Plan the weekend ahead of the weekend. What | | | | they ask, What would you like? |