Please tell me I'm not the only one

[MadameFancyPants]

DS (almost 2) has gone to school twice a week for a year now.  I always have a long to do list of things to accomplish while he's away but none of it ever gets done. 

As soon as I get back home I'll do a few things here or there and then mostly lounge on the couch watching tv/internet and sleep.  Then it's time to pick him up.  I can't find the energy to actually clean my house and do thing things I wouldn't be able to do while he's home.  It's like I need get the rest that I don't get on days when he's home. 

My husband is not around 95% of the time so he doesn't quite understand that I get nothing done when DS is home and then need to rest and relax when he's at school.  I'm sure if he went to school 2 days in a row I could rest the first day then be productive the next.  I feel like I'm getting use to not having a clean (spotless) house and its going to carry on for years.

[Natalie12]

When my kids only went to school to mornings a week, I either did fun errands(like Target-love that place!), grocery shopping, or relaxing. Don't feel bad about it at all. Everyone needs their rest.

[ms sig]

Oh, I'm so with you! My daughter's in preschool 2x week and I started getting a mama's little helper 1x a week (I have a baby too). It just doesn't seem like enough time to power through a to do list. I just feel like I need to decompress and have some alone time. Something I've been trying is picking something short from my todo list (about 15mins) and trying to at least do that, preferably before the relaxing. Or picking something that takes longer and just saying to myself, "Well, I'll do 20 minutes." That alleviates some of the guilt of just vegging. But, it's fine to veg too. I also notice that when I'm even a little bit tired, I have a harder time doing things too. So getting as much sleep as possible really helps.

There might be some people who have the energy to power clean in that brief time, but I'm not one of them, and that's fine :)

[CherryBombMama]

i have been doing this lately. my boys arent in school, but during their major afternoon nap, i used to clean the entire house and start dinner. now i just sit on the couch, stare at the tv or computer, and look at the cobwebs above me. i just dont have the energy.

we all need a break, or else REALLY nothing will done.

[WhiteHorse]

Ahhh, to have those days again! When my DS would take a nice 3 hour nap, I used that time to write a novel. But now no such luxury. Do not feel guilty! As a SAHM your relaxation time will come and go as your children go through different phases of their lives.

[reezley]

I am totally with you! I have one in fulltime school (9am-3pm) and one who will start his second year of 3 half-days of preschool. This year it will be only 2.5 hours, actually, which doesn't feel like much, especially if I do some shopping errands after dropping him off.   This past school year I did manage to keep up bettER on dishes, and vacuuming, etc. But the house never got really great. And I never delved very deep into any extra home-organization projects like I thought I would.  I did very much look forward to my bagel and coffee and internet (only sometimes did I turn on the tv - I felt a bit too guilty on that one!)!.   I know I've felt so much better and less stressed (and yelled less at kids) with those little breaks.  I feel more ready this year to use the time better.  But I still plan to keep my relaxed coffee break when I can!!

[rkonomos]

I'm right there with ya!!! My 3 year old just started going to 2 day preschool. I always have good intentions to get stuff done, but I always end up napping or watching a show. I still have a 3 month old to tend to, but it is nice to have less responsibility when she's gone. 

[Monkey Keeper]

I'm getting ready to send my girls off to school--DD1 4 mornings/week and DD2 3. I already have my week partly mapped out, and it does NOT involve a lot of housekeeping. I use the time that they are in school for errands like grocery shopping where it is tons easier only to have the baby. But what I really prioritize is yoga! I'm a much better mommy when I get my workouts in, and while I can sweat it out at the gym since there's child care, there's not a lot of options to practice with kids in tow. I'm actually giddy thinking about getting on my mat next week!

So...no, I don't use my free time on chores :)

[*bejeweled*]

Don't feel bad at all. Rest is first and foremost. Whenever I feel guilty about relaxing, I ask myself, what would DH and most men do in this situation? The answer is always, "Relax."

You don't need a spotless home. But you do need to put yourself first sometimes.