I’m an ambivert. I can be quite social and outgoing, especially via the internet but the truth is, I need quiet downtime. I need me time. All by myself. Honestly, it’s been the hardest thing about being a mother. Once my son started school, and then my daughter began preschool, I felt so much more relaxed. Since January, Teddy has been leaving school at noon. Now that he has an IEP, we’re hoping he can go the full day at the new school. He won’t be starting for over a week, but I’m very much looking forward to it. Previously, I only had about 2.5 hours after dropping both kids off at school before I had to pick Teddy up again. And while he mostly played by himself in the afternoon, he did need me sometimes, and I just had to be aware of him, and then battle with him to leave in time to pick Annie up. Not that I was spending that time on myself. I wasn’t.
First, I began intensive chiropractic care in January. For several weeks I had appointments three times a week. Gradually, I was able to go longer between appointments. And I’ve seen huge improvements from it. There were other appointments too along the way and my freak illness. Otherwise, I spent my time trying to work. I felt like I was constantly go, go, go. Once the kids were asleep for the night, I would try to work some more or spend time on the house or with my husband. Not to mention all the weeks he was out of town.
I’m looking forward to having a few minutes of quiet to myself each day again. I’ll have to build it into my schedule because I can be such a work-aholic but I’m really excited about me time again. I need it to organize my thoughts, and I think it really affects my productivity in a positive way.
Do you need alone time? If you do, how do you spend the time and how do you create the time to have it?
Rose Fairbanks 
I’m lucky Rose. I have retired now and am loving it. I live on my own and I love that as well. Contrary to popular opinion I am not lonely. I skype my daughter and two little grandsons in Australia regularly and my son and his family including twin baby boys are about 30 minutes by car so I get to see them. I also visit my mum and take her shopping. But apart from that I please myself which gives me plenty of time to read which i have always loved. I also knit and crochet, mostly for my little boys. And I do enjoy puzzles so basically I’m in heaven 😃. Good luck with your time organisation, I know how hard it is with small children.
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I can echo some of what Glynis said. Up until I retired on October 1, 2012, I was busy with work and then what requirements house and husband and a family demanded. I rarely had time to read. Now I have even given up babysitting on a regular basis as it required 1.5 hours or one hour (depending on which grandchildren) of driving one-way alone. My husband and I babysit sometimes on weekends when needed.
But I now can spend some days in my nightgown and take my shower later in the day. I find time to read a lot and even can make frequent visits to the grocery store rather than one “get it all for the week” visit. I don’t clean as much as I used to but my husband does not seem to notice. The house is straightened up but the dust settles. Oh, well.
I did sympathize with a young mother and her 3 boys, one of whom was crying quite loudly in the store the other day…been there/done that and glad it is in the past. So they grow up quickly and someday you will look back…with memories.
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