Rambling Thoughts about Down Time
Today is just a rambling post. No statistics, no hard facts. No links. Just some random thoughts about finding time to spend on our own that doesn´t include work, family, or, well, any other arduous task.
Since becoming a work at home mom I rarely watch TV. When would I? During the day I´m spending time with my daughter or I´m working. At times, when I´m making lunch and my daughter is playing in the refrigerator box that has become her hiding place, I´ll turn on Young and the Restless and indulge for a few short moments on the happenings of Nick and Sharon and the rest of the gang.
At night, my husband and I sit down for a few shows. I´ll watch LOST in its entirety, though I´m at the point now, not knowing what is going on after three seasons, that I´m beginning to think as I sit, "I could be working on that web page . . . I could be finishing up that press release . . . I could be mopping the floor."
On Fridays I hire a babysitter, but I only hire her when I need to work. Today, Friday, is her normal day. I emailed her on Wednesday and said something to this effect. "I finished up for the week early. Enjoy your weekend, and we´ll see you next week."
After sending the email I thought this: Now why couldn´t I have her come over for a few hours so I could go do something fun for myself?
We read the articles. I write the articles. We know we should get out and be alone sometimes, but we don´t. Why? I haven´t figured that out. As soon as I have some down time my mind begins to churn over all of the little things I have to get done. Like cleaning the kitchen. Folding the laundry. Designing a web site. Writing a query. I can´t enjoy the downtime because I´m thinking about what needs to be done, so then, well, I get up and do it.
My goal over the next eight weeks, before our second daughter arrives, is to take some time for myself. Sit on the sofa and do nothing but stare at the little square box that shows pictures and sounds and movement that are pretty mindless and just entertaining. To hire the babysitter at least a few times, leave the house without my laptop, and do something crazy, like eat alone at a restaurant or shop for baby clothes.
Afterwards I´ll come back and write about these experiences and I´ll remind you of how much more refreshed we would all be if we could just get out and do something by ourselves.
But first I have to finish up this web project.
Happy Weekend, Working Mommies.
