My Me Time

 I am so happy it is Friday! Not only because I get to post another My Me Time post, but because today is the day we get the keys to our very first home! It is a very exciting time in our life, which of course wouldn't be complete with a little lot of stress. It will all be worth it though when we are handed the keys to our home and we take one look around and know it is all ours :) I can't wait! Now back to this Friday's MMT post, with the beautiful Colleen from Paisley Boulevard. Colleen is a stay at home mom of 2 and tells us the importance of getting time alone.
****

Hey friends of Lisa! I'm Colleen and I blog over at Paisley Boulevard. My blog is a mix of fun little projects, musings on life, and my family. I'm so happy that Lisa started this series, and to be here talking with you about our "Me Time" as mommas, because I think it's so important!

I'm a former marketing manager who last October turned stay at home mom to 2 kiddos. My son is 4 and my daughter just turned 12 and I also have 2 step-daughters. My husband works a busy job that has him traveling for a week at a time, several times a year and our kids are involved in a lot of activities. Our life can get pretty hectic, there's always someone who has something going on and my sweet angel boy is currently entering a very, um...energetic and stubborn phase? Yeah. I guess that's the nice way of putting it. {I hear NO a lot.} Lately, there are times when I'm at the brink of my sanity. I need my me time more than ever! ;)

What do you do for your “me” time? 

I can be a little high-strung, so I try to make sure it's something that fully relaxes me for my official me time. I'm pretty obsessed with Yoga, and it makes me feel so refreshed and relaxed in my mind and body. A pedicure. A quiet walk. Thrifting ALONE. Even reading someplace quiet. Something that will renew my spirit and make me feel human again!

Do you take part in activities or hobbies for your “me” time?

I have a TON of hobbies and interests, hobby ADD actually. One day I'm teaching myself to sew and the next I am trying to teach myself guitar. I'm not exaggerating. I'm crazy like that. I don't often finish what I start anyway, but it's hard for me to count that as ME time. I love to make fun projects and recipes, but I usually have a pair of 4-year-old hands helping me do everything. So technically, some of my me time isn't when I am all by myself. And, that's OK. I like that we can bond over things that I enjoy, and that my kids enjoy them, too! That's why my official totally alone me time has to be all about relaxing and it doesn't happen that often.

What do you do to ensure that you get your “me” time? i.e. do you wake up early or stay up late?

Chase hates me to leave him at all lately, and it incites a total meltdown. It's been hard, finding ways to be and balance enough to be alone, but I think that's the point of this series. Hard or not, the point is that we NEED to find a way. For me lately, that has meant trying to get over my mommy and wifey guilt and just taking the sudden moments that come up to sneak away! When all is calm and I can literally grab my bag and run out the door. I have to actively be aware of those moments that pop up and take them!

{my kiddos}

How much does it mean to you to get time to yourself?

It's crazy how much I need it sometimes and I don't even realize it. I adore my family, but I wasn't born with natural endless patience like some mommas. If I don't get a little breather now and then, I'm not at my best for them, let alone myself. I think we all fight that momma guilt, or we run into other moms who have zero problem giving up their entire being for their kids and that makes us feel worse. And, that's fine for them, but I'm not the mom who can't go 5 minutes without her kids. I miss them if I am away for even an hour, but I know how much better I am at being a mom when I am done.

Why do you think it is important for women to have that time to invest in something they enjoy?

We can't forget ourselves! Who we are I mean. I don't know about you, but after I became a mom, I changed. And I love that! But, parts of that change have to include who we become as women not just as moms. Our kids grow up and leave us. (SORRY! Yes, they come back around, but you get where I am going.) It's amazing to give as much of yourself as possible to being a great wife and mother, but if you give ALL of yourself, one day there isn't going to be too much left for you, and that must feel pretty empty. Encouraging ourselves to recharge and let out our creativity makes for a more fun mom now, and gives us things to keep us busy and enjoy in the future!

Thank you so much Lisa for having me! You're the cutest! :)

xox, Colleen
****

Thank you so much Colleen! I loved your answers to these questions! You are so right about losing part of who we are when we take on the responsibilities as wife's and mother's and how important me time is to developing who we are outside of those responsibilities.

Check back next week of another post from the My Me Time Series!

To learn more about My Me Time Series, click here.

If you are interested in taking part of this series, please email me at Mommasmetime@gmail.com