Time for Myself

After chatting with the hubs this weekend (we had lots of time to talk due to Hurricane Sandy), he said, why don't you workout or something. After restraining myself to not glare daggers at him, I said, because I have SO much other stuff that needs to be finished before I even think of doing anything like that. He replied, why don't you make time for yourself? I thought to myself, why don't I? I mean, I have LOTS of things to do as a stay at home mom and wife however when do I do something truly for ME?

I got to thinking, well, I love to sew. BUT when was the last thing I made for myself. Every project over the last year or so, I have made for my children. I love to read, but lets be real, I never get time to just sit and read with a 3 year old and 1 year old around. I love to bake and yet again, I am always baking for the other critters in my house. Man, this mothering gig is pretty self-less....

Don't get me wrong, by the time 8pm rolls around, I am so spent or tired that I finally take "me" time. Usually the time is me lounging on the couch trying to keep my eyes open. Sometimes I wish I could make more time in the day. 24 hours is just not enough, I swear! Between homeschooling, dance lessons, MOPS, playdates, cleaning the house, cooking meals, etc, I am not sure where my time goes. Sometimes, I feel that I am lost in the mix. Not in the directional sense, but in a what makes me, me, sense,

I learned at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Convention this year, that we mothers, including myself, lose who we are in our children. I am more than, C & N's mom or that lady who looks tired all the time. I am Katie. A woman who loves her husband; loves God. Who loves to read books and sew things. Enjoys dancing and letting my hair down. Loves to spend time with her family and just let loose. I also would love to one day learn to scuba dive. Also would love to run a half-marathon. Its amazing what we learn about ourselves when we think about ourselves. (does that make sense). That weekend, I learned so much about ME and my fellow moms.

So, what I am getting to is that I, Katie, am going to make a HUGE effort to carve out me time. Whether that me time be 30mins or maybe, if I am real lucky 90mins (during kiddos naps) and take that time to do something for me. Just for me. Not this "well, it could be for me, but the kids really like this"....NO! Just me. I recommend that all moms everywhere be a little selfish when you can and do something that makes you happy. Makes you, you.

Motherhood is a wonderful gift that God in trusted us with, but doesn't mean that we cannot be Katie or insert your name here. I think that we would all be better mothers because of that.