What Does It Mean: Making Time for "Me"

Yesterday was a luxury. My husband "gave me" the morning off from our sick kids so I could sneak out of the house to grade papers at Starbucks and run a few errands. It was an effort to get out of the house since I have been under the weather too but I desperately needed to get away.

I set-up shop at Starbucks with my piping hot coffee, steaming breakfast sandwich and laptop. It only took me an hour and a half to get caught up on emails and papers. I was excited to go to clothing shopping for the kids at the very last Quarter Sale at my favorite consignment shop followed by a quick trip to the Dollar Store to buy supplies for our upcoming neighborhood gathering.

Three hours later, I walked in the door to chaos. Children crying, house a mess, a husband rushing around trying to get out the door to hang out with a friend.

I sat on the couch scarfing down my leftover pizza accompanied by the screeches and cries of my 1 and 2 1/2 year old children who were "napping." What a relaxing homecoming. I wish I could say I felt refreshed and energized after my three hours away but I came home exhausted. Maybe it is being 24-weeks pregnant, recovering from being sick or the lack of sleep at night from my "I don't want to sleep at night" 1-year-old son. Either way it was not what I anticipated.

As I sat on the couch eating I began to think, "what does it mean to take time for me?" Reflecting on the day, I realized the my morning was filled with doing things for other people: grading papers for my students, shopping for clothing for my kids, buying supplies for my neighbors. Although I enjoy all of those things and they do bring me satisfaction to an extent...it was busy and non-refreshing.

So, what does it mean to take time for me?

Becoming a mother has changed how I think about time for me.

Here are 11 new ways I have discovered, "What it means to make time for me:"

1. Taking a nap while the kids are sleeping.
2. Enjoying a HOT cup of coffee while reading a quick devo or a page of a book as the kids eat breakfast.
3. Watching Grey's Anatomy on Thursday nights while folding laundry (side note: this past weeks episode was so disappointing).
4. Calling a friend to catch-up since getting together is a huge challenge with sickness, nap schedules, etc.
5. Shopping without the kids, regardless of what I am buying.
6. The splurge to get a pedicure...ALONE. (My husband supports this habit monthly when I am pregnant...I'm a blessed girl).
7. Sitting in church service on Sundays and Tuesdays (with childcare) as I connect with others who share my beliefs. 
8. Taking a few extra minutes to wash my face in the morning and evening...I LOVE my new Arbonne Products!
9. Blogging :) as my oldest plays on the floor and my son sleeps.
10. Dancing along side my daughter in her mommy & me ballet class.
11. Buying the "expensive" laundry soap and scent boosters for my clothing. It brings me joy to have the fresh, long lasting scent lingering on my clothes. 

Whether you are a mother or not, work full-time or not, it can be hard to make time for "me." How do you do it? What do you do? Please leave comments here. I am always looking for new ways to make time to rest, reflect and rejuvenate in the craziness we call life!

Be blessed.