Everyone just get out!

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/09/2008 (6398 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Have you ever just wanted to be alone?That was me the other day when I was shooing kids and dog out of my office (my new sanctuary really) so I could spend some forbidden time reading my emails, sorting through some mail (you know the real exciting kind that you read and then have to right a wrong by writing a cheque) and collecting my thoughts.It’s not that I don’t love my kids, my husband and our dog, but sometimes, just sometimes, I would like them all to hang out on a completely different floor of the house than the one I’m on.Judge me if you will, but here’s how I see it.  On days when I’m too miserable to see the humour in my daughter walking around with my son’s Spiderman underwear on her head as a hat, I’m better off surfing ebay, alone, where I can’t rain on a carefree toddler’s parade. Here’s where our babysitter comes in.  For a predetermined amount of time each week she comes by our house to give me an opportunity to do some very important things like brush my hair, drink a cup of coffee, get a little work done and even, on some days, treat myself to a morning or afternoon away from the rat race.There was a time when I felt guilty for wanting a few hours of daylight time to myself. Boy am I well beyond that point now. I once heard a teacher say that she loved teaching so much that she would only teach if she could present her best work every day.  You might call that a tall order, but these are words I really live by or, at the very least, aspire towards on a daily basis.  And let’s just say that not all days amount to my best work but the important thing is, my intentions are there to make the most of every minute I spend with my kids.Having said this, when I worked as a teacher, to other people’s children, in the school system, I had pockets of time to myself during each and every work day that allowed me to collect my thoughts, prepare lessons and even enjoy a conversation or two with co-workers.Last week I listened as hard-working stay-at-home moms at a playgroup I attended lamented about having to wait until 10 p.m. each night to unwind because they rarely have any quiet time during the day to take a breather.We moms who stay home with very young children know that breaks are few and far between. If you find yourself upset, over-tired or even a little depressed some days, please know that you are not alone.  It happens to all of us.If you can’t afford the luxury of having a regular babysitter relieve you of your kids a couple times a week, don’t be afraid to ask family, friends and neighbours for a break every now and then. Schedule time for yourself when you can, enjoy it without guilt and make known in your home that even you deserve some quiet time alone.And remember that not only you, but your entire family, will benefit from the bold move of occasionally putting yourself first…