What do you do to unwind?

[mamaofthree]

I am not only a SAHM, but we also homeschool. Dh is a bit intimidated about taking all 4 kids (Ages 11yrs to 18 months) out by himself, so I get zero time alone in my house. I hate having to GO out to get away. Plus I end up staying up super late (IE 12:30-2am) just to be alone!
What do all of you do?
I don't need a break all the time, but sometimes... (This is me! )

[annethcz]

I'm also a homeschooling mom of 4 kids

I go to the gym most days when DH gets home from work, and that is a huge stress reliever for me. DH occasionally takes the kids out by himself, but not very often. I take quiet time to myself whenever I can get it. This afternoon I read a book on the couch while the kids played in the room next to me. And I read/surf/sew/etc. at night after the kids have gone to bed. And I usually go out to dinner with friends once or twice per week. Most weeks I also have some sort of a meeting to attend in the evening, and although it's not always exciting to attend meetings, it does get me out of the house and makes me feel like I have some semblance of an independent life.

[Stayathomemommy]

Going out is really the only option. my dh is a bit of a homebody on the weekends but once our 4th baby comes i will be forcing him to take the big kids to a park to burn off energy!!!

for me lately i have been feeling like picking up and leaving the second dh gets home from work and going to barns n noble, drinking a coffee and reading books.

sometimes just going to a big store is fun but unless you have money to spend it can end up being stressful more then fun.

honestly i never seem to end up doing much for myself. i think you have to force yourself sometimes, plan ahead, arrange it with dh, and make him kick you out the door!! once i am out of the house i love it.

i think joining something that you are interested in that has meetings once a week or every other week is perfect. then its a planned event and my dh is usually more supportive of this then me saying i am just going out. i think i may join LLL and go to the monthly meetings just for something to do just me and baby.

[meowmix]

Originally Posted by Stayathomemommy

Going out is really the only option. my dh is a bit of a homebody on the weekends but once our 4th baby comes i will be forcing him to take the big kids to a park to burn off energy!!!

for me lately i have been feeling like picking up and leaving the second dh gets home from work and going to barns n noble, drinking a coffee and reading books.

sometimes just going to a big store is fun but unless you have money to spend it can end up being stressful more then fun.

honestly i never seem to end up doing much for myself. i think you have to force yourself sometimes, plan ahead, arrange it with dh, and make him kick you out the door!! once i am out of the house i love it.

i think joining something that you are interested in that has meetings once a week or every other week is perfect. then its a planned event and my dh is usually more supportive of this then me saying i am just going out. i think i may join LLL and go to the monthly meetings just for something to do just me and baby.

I am the same way! I want time off and REALLY need it, but I end up just not being motivated to at the time it is convenient and my husband has to practically kick me out of the house! Once I actually go out, though, it's nice. I went to a movie by myself once but didn't find it that relaxing. I really enjoyed going out and sitting on a park bench overlooking a lake and just reading a book. Doing that at a coffee shop with something decadent would be wonderful, too (especially if no one was begging for a taste!). Honestly, that is my fav way of getting out- going somewhere to SIT and read a book. I really like being my own boss in deciding when I am done reading, rather than having my children interupt me constantly. I also have a husband who takes the kids on errands with him (4.5 yr, 2.5 yrs and 1 yr) and I spend that time doing absolutely nothing and just vegging online. It's always everything I ever thought it could be.

[Sharlla]

I have the night time after everyone goes to bed. I do online, sometimes I take a nice long shower or bath. During the day sometimes my MIL will watch the kids and I just go off to do something for myself like get a haircut.

[Stayathomemommy]

Last night i left my dh with the kids and dinner and told him dont expect me back for a long time. i met a friend at the store and we did our shopping together, then got some dinner and stayed out till past 11pm. it was great. and i hate grocery shopping so getting that out of the way with a friend to chat with the whole time was fun.

[ladylee]

I'm never alone during the day either, so I've learned to unwind with "company." I write, garden, play with the kids, exercise, walk, get together with friends, cook, read, do yoga, etc. as much as I can. When dh is in town I do take off for a walk when he gets home from work.

[MotheringHeart]

My DH has a (usually) great schedule and so he's home by 4:30. This gives me some time to get dinner together all alone. I love cooking, so it's a big stress reliever for me to be in the kitchen and working on dinner w/out anyone hanging off of me!! My kids are also really great about playing together w/out me entertaining them, so while I do spend most of my day interacting with them and playing with them, I can sit down and crochet, sew, or go online for a few minutes without them tearing down the walls!

We also started our kids to have really early bedtimes (seven pm) and so that makes for a nice long evening during which I can do whatever I want to! DH is really awesome about me leaving after they are in bed and I could go whenever I wanted to, but I hardly ever do! I'm a hermit at heart!!!

[StrawberryFields]

Originally Posted by mamaofthree

I am not only a SAHM, but we also homeschool. Dh is a bit intimidated about taking all 4 kids (Ages 11yrs to 18 months) out by himself, so I get zero time alone in my house. I hate having to GO out to get away. Plus I end up staying up super late (IE 12:30-2am) just to be alone!
What do all of you do?
I don't need a break all the time, but sometimes... (This is me! )

Granted I only have one little guy, but dh takes him and puts him to sleep every night while I take a looooong hot shower (sorry, environment ). OK well a long shower to me is 15 min. or so. Anywho, then I have a glass of wine or a mug of coffee or hot chocolate as I read the message boards or a magazine.

Sometimes I go out shopping and stop at Starbucks for a mocha and read the newspaper.

[sincitymama]

I like getting up before everyone else int he morning. I've just started being able to do this, but having that first cup of coffee and getting dressed, or at least having all the clothes and things ready for a shower, BEFORE I'm on duty, is an enormous emotional help int he morning.
Also, I've started taking karate lessons a couple times a week. I like htis way better than a gym because it requires so much concentration and mental focus in addition to the sweat that I really can lose myself in it, which helps with my stress. There is also enough meditation/mindful breathing type stuff to make a difference for me.
However, I only have one toddler who has lately decided that daddy is the only person int he whole wide world who is worth anything, so I'm not sure how qualifie I am to give advice to all of you with multiple kids in more difficult stages

[Khadijah]

Im a SAHM too, and man when hubby come home im just throwing the kids at him.(LOL) To unwind im trying to take up sewing and i like to read, and when the kids are asleep i tend to watch a movie or something, cause thats the only ytime i can get alittle peace.

[USAmma]

I have "me" time when dh comes home, between dinner and bedtime for the kids. He is in charge of getting the 5yo to bed. I try to get our 2yo to bed so I have some quiet while he's putting 5yo to bed and reading to her. If I'm really lucky both kids will nap at the same time. On the days they don't, I take advantage of the Y. 5yo goes to a class, 2yo to the nursery, and I either exercise or curl up with a book at the poolside.

[2Sweeties1Angel]

The only thing I get that even resembles "me time" is when I go to work Mom has DS right now because DD is sick and he keeps her awake, but I still have DD. I love my kids, I really do, but sometimes I need a break from both of them at the same time.

[hjohnson]

I guess the best way I unwind is by reading a book.

[Leilalu]

I usually get both kids down for a nap for between 2-3 hours a day, Usually around 2 hours-more fi i'm lucky. Sometimes 4!!!!!Rarely, but it does happen time to time. i like to knit, sew, read, etc. I crave it!!!!!!!!!!!

[lovebug]

i take a bath.

i crack the window over the bathtub and lission to the city. light candles, close my eyes and soke. it is sooooo great. we have a fire place that backs up to the bathtub so in the winter i tune it on

[jillybeans]

WOw you women are inspiring! I hope when my fourth or fifth rolls around that I can do all that! I just have my one 3mo old, but to unwind I get on the computer and chat with all the lovely ladies that think like me. Or i check out the resale shops for steals. When i'm irritated I bake.

[pnutS4us]

I get my quiet time between the time Dh leaves for work (usually 3:45am ) and when dd gets up (7am-ish) I am a HUGE charity knitter and that is when I knit--I also knit for an hour or so at lunch time, while I am catching the news. Knitting really relaxes me, and my current project is working on newborn booties/socks and hats for the midwives that go to Afghanistan to work with the mamas in the refuge camps. Fun making all those things in wool Oh and I try and read a bit before bed--lol 10-15 minutes, tops!

[ILuvLucia&Mia]

Normally when DH gets home, I'll hit the gym for a while. Most times though I'll just grab a good book and read on the couch while DH plays with the girls. Not the most quiet time, but it helps me to unwind.

[RedWine]

I have one glass of my screenname each night, M-F. Usually that's around 6pm, but on tough days I'll have it a bit earlier.