Mom’s Time Out

• By supernovamommy
• 8 September, 2012
• Comments Off

Mom’s Time Out

by: Sarah Festa 

Motherhood is no joke. It’s a 24 hour a day job that requires all of your emotional and physical energy. You can’t keep go-go-going and expect to always be able to give your best. It’s important to get out and do something for YOU. Not the “I’m going out with the girls for a glass of wine” type of things. Just you! Spending time alone is something that mothers rarely get to do, but I highly encourage it. It allows you to have some peace and quiet, to have and complete a thought and to get to know yourself a little better. So, with this, I introduce the MTO—Mom’s Time Out. I have started doing this more and more; I try to do it on the weekend so that my husband can spend quality time with our daughter and I get to do something that I enjoy. I’ve included some activities that I have either done, or hope to do, and range on how much you can spend. MTO is priceless, so you don’t need to break the bank.

If you have an hour:

• Enjoy a meal by yourself. I promise, you won’t have to share your food. I like to hit up Panera—they have lots of options from healthy salads to yummy mac and cheese. I also take advantage of their WiFi and bring my IPad and get some emailing done or bring my Kindle and read a good book.
• Swing by the library and pick up a book. It’s free!! They have a new arrivals section so you can keep up with book clubs and such. I enjoy the cooking section. I have been able to add some new meals to our rotation from library cookbook recipes. It’s nice and quiet too. Jazz up your library trip with a stop for your favorite coffee drink.
• Tend to your hands and feet—get that pedicure/manicure you know you need. Make an appointment at your favorite place. This will help you and your family be mindful of the time so that you don’t keep that “walk-in” mentality.
• Go underwear shopping. You know you have some drawers in your drawers that need to go. Head out with the express purpose to remedy this problem. You can go to a number of places to keep in your price range: Target, Victoria’s Secret, Bloomers, etc. When you come home with your new additions, be sure to remove as many pairs as you bought—it was time for them to go anyway. Trust. Me. [Should you have a few hours on your hands, add in a waxing appointment to this excursion! You’ll feel like a new woman.]

If you have a few hours:

• Workout. That’s right, I said it. Enjoy a hard, butt kicking workout and a shower. You’ll feel better, I promise!
• Working out isn’t your thing? Well how about hot tubs and steam rooms? Spa treatments can be expensive, but just hot tubs and steam rooms do the trick for me! Hit up your local REC center and get a guest pass ($8). Bypass all of the machines and head right to the good stuff. You can have your own mini spa for under $10. Awesomesauce!
• If you are interested in seeking out a true spa experience, check out Spa World in Centreville. It’s open 24 hours (yes, it’s true!) so you can sneak out whenever your little ones allow. AND you can enjoy the whole place for $35.
• Take a class. There are so many options out there; I will just name a few. Check out REI’s outdoor adventure classes. They have everything from rock climbing to outdoor photography to a simple bike repair class. Prices range for the type of activities, and if you are a member some of them are discounted or even free (bike repair)! Get in touch with your inner Bob Ross at Brush ‘N Blush. It’s a two hour painting class that encourages wine consumption! They have weeknight and weekend classes and you’ll walk away with your masterpiece.  Places like William Sonoma and Sur La Table also have cooking classes for your inner Julia Child.

Again, while these activities would be fun with a friend, try them solo. We all need the time to ourselves. You’ll come back to your family refreshed and geared up for whatever tasks/duties await you. Even if this can’t be an every weekend thing, try it once a month. Now it’s time for me to get ready for my MTO—hitting up some yard sales!