| Most of us moms have little to no downtime. So any | | | | and when. Share the chores. Pay the kids a few |
| time for us that we manage to eek out of the day or | | | | dollars to pick up the toys or something "extra." |
| week is very precious. Here are 15 tips on how you | | | | 9. Write or journal in your quiet time. Schedule down |
| can find more personal time and still manage to get to | | | | time. I keep a pad and pencil by the bed because |
| the important things like having fun with your children. | | | | many of my best ideas come during rest. |
| 1. Start de-stressing on Friday night: Take a walk | | | | 10. Take mini trips: a day at the zoo, sea world, trip to |
| around the neighborhood with kids, husband, friend, | | | | the mountains, and a day at the beach. These mini |
| neighbor, boyfriend etc.or take a hot soak in the tub | | | | getaways help our general well-being and mental |
| with a good book, magazine and scented candle. | | | | health. |
| 2. Get errands done during the week so you have | | | | 11. Have personal time: get a massage on the |
| more time to play with the family on the weekends. | | | | weekend, spa manicure/pedicure, stroll into a favorite |
| Go to the park, swim, bike ride, or play basketball. | | | | bookstore or boutique, have a leisure coffee or tea. |
| What matters is do what your kids consider to be fun. | | | | The office supply store with all the colored papers and |
| They will remember your playing with them, not that | | | | pens is a favorite for me. |
| you cleaned the house. | | | | 12. During waiting times: take a walk, do bills, read a |
| 3. Let the dusting go. In the grand scheme of things it's | | | | magazine, zip open the mail, keep a file of "need to |
| not that important. After seeing a recent version of a | | | | read." When my son takes a class, most of the |
| weekly house cleaning show, my house is PERFECT | | | | parents are sitting and waiting. I take walks around the |
| in comparison!! I no longer need to feel any guilt and | | | | block several times for exercise. |
| neither do you. Family and friends are more important. | | | | 13. Share sleeping-in time: you do it on Saturday and |
| 4. Shop late at night after the kids have gone to bed | | | | your spouse sleeps in on Sunday if you have young |
| and spouse or other adult is there to watch. If you're | | | | children. |
| an early morning person, shop before everyone | | | | 14. Take your child and a friends' child to their evening |
| wakes up. | | | | class one week and then their parent does it the next |
| 5. Trade off with a friend to watch each other kids for | | | | week. |
| an evening so you and your spouse can go out | | | | 15. Take turns with your spouse reading to your child, |
| together and have an adult night. | | | | helping with homework or putting them to bed.We |
| 6. Get the babysitter to do something extra (put away | | | | can't do it all, all by ourselves, so why try? You'll go |
| the dishes, wash a load of laundry, dust the living room) | | | | nuts and then your kids will go nuts. Get help from |
| for a few extra dollars. | | | | whomever you can rope, grab, coerce, solicit, bribe, |
| 7. Take advantage of free delivery from many local | | | | pay, or plead with to help you out. Even single friends |
| shops and services. More and more large grocery | | | | are sometimes happy to play for a day with your kids |
| stores are offering shop on-line and delivery services. | | | | and give you a break. That can be the "gift" they can |
| 8. Plan the weekend ahead of the weekend. What | | | | give you next time they ask, "What would you like? |
| each person needs to do and who's going to do what | | | | |