Toddler Times
Weekends Are For Chilling Out
Being a momma that works outside of the home, I feel this huge rush of relief when I pull into the driveway at 6:30pm on Friday evenings.
I’m home. I can relax. I can focus on the boys completely.
However, I struggle every weekend with relaxing and “letting go,” with tossing schedule out the window and being spontaneous. I still feel the pull to create organization from our wild, crazy life as I run the vacuum over the nursery carpet and scrub down the bathtub. I still feel the weight of my to-do list with emails to answer and posts to craft.
I wonder, am I the only mother who struggles with down time on the weekends?
We have a general routine to Saturdays – a hot breakfast & then Harrison plays while my husband and I pitch in together to scrub the house from top to bottom. By lunch time, the house is clean and the fridge has been wiped down and macaroni bubbles on the stove. Then it is naptime and my husband usually turns on football or tees off at the small nine-hole golf course by our home. I sit down and write, both a joyous outlet for me and a responsibility. I check my calendar to be sure everything is set to go for the next week. Before I know it, Harrison is knocking at his door to be let out and we’re off to grocery shop and I make sure my coupons are ready to go.
I wonder if I will ever truly relax.
On Sunday, we roll over after a long night’s sleep (we like to go to bed early on the weekends, much to the shame of my former 19-year-old self). We hit the ground running with cinnamon biscuits and coffee. It’s a lazy morning but we know that at any moment, the phone may ring for a showing. So the boys set up the small Cars racetrack & I dust over the furniture one last time. We meet a friend at the park and it’s two hours of chasing boys on the playground and pushing swings; by the time we head home, even my muscles are weary. I feel the call of menu planning for the coming week as I tuck Harrison into his nap with a book, but I push it out of my mind.
No. I’m going to relax. So I pour another cup of coffee, kick up my slippered feet, and scratch my stories into my journal.
In an hour, I know I will have to hit the ground running once more.
How do you relax on the weekends?
Beth Anne writes words & takes pictures on The Heir to Blair.
You can also find her on the Twitters & Facebook.
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6 Comments
Amanda commented on Jan 15 12 at 2:10 pmThis is my life! Seriously. I’m sick this weekend and my husband took on the grocery shopping with our ten month old while my 2 year old naps. What am I doing? Napping? Nope. Cleaning out my closet!
Madonna commented on Jan 15 12 at 2:11 pmI have this problem too, and my husband constantly reminds me that I should take the time to relax. Thanks to the iPad the husband bought me, I can now squeeze in 15 minute relaxation moments when E allows. It might be a break after cleaning or while everyone naps… I am trying to be better about it lately as the stress from work picks up. It doesn’t last long, but it is always nice to take a break in between crossing items off my to-do list.
Jennifer commented on Jan 15 12 at 2:14 pmTwo words: cleaning service. Have them come on a Thursday so everything is perfect for the weekend and you guys can relax instead of cleaning. Also, if you are gone all week, how dirty can the place really get?
I stay home and I would seriously would be lost without our cleaning ladies…. every two weeks our house is spotless, and I can do routine maintenance throughout the week.
bethanne commented on Jan 16 12 at 8:41 am@Jennifer – the house doesn’t get THAT dirty, but with the house on the market, we absolutely have to make the place shine every week! When we’re not selling, I usually go two weeks between a deep scrub with just a vacuum & dusting & bathroom clean every week.
Unfortunately, I have had HORRIBLE experiences with cleaning ladies – one group stole medicine straight from my cabinet & the other broke something every single week. I’m just not ready to go back to that yet & since I can’t be home while they clean, it’s just not an option.
Candice commented on Jan 18 12 at 1:21 pmThose are my weekends except 1 – my husband works on weekends so I’m trying to clean and mind the toddler and the dogs by myself and 2 – I like to do the grocery shopping in the morning so I can start dinner prep during naptime. What I sometimes do, though, is sit on the couch during naptime and watch TV and then prep dinner in the afternoon, after he wakes up. Sometimes I just NEED that sit-and-do-nothing time.
Melissa commented on Jan 19 12 at 12:20 pmOnce you move and are settled into your new home, get a cleaning lady if there is any possible way you can afford it. NO, they won’t do as good a job as you, but it will be clean and you can spend time relaxing and spending time with your family.
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