What Do You Do for 'Me Time'?

When my youngest was still a baby I had an emergency kit in the bathroom. This kit had a facial mask, bubble baths/salts, and a mani/pedi kit complete with nail polish. I would tell hubby (just after I fed the baby) that I needed a break. I would fill the bathtub, give myself a facial and soak for a bit. When I was done soaking I would give myself a mani/pedi. Sometimes I wouldn't get as far as the mani/pedi, but I always got a good soak and a facial!

A bubble bath is about all I ever got/get to do. Every now & then I get to make it for a hair cut/mani/pedi.

I'm a book nerd, so I like to read when I can....BUT with 3 kids, you might have to take the book OUT OF THE HOUSE to get a little peace--get a coffee or a bowl of soup & relax somewhere.
Congrats on #3!

I'd invest in a really good yoga DVD and a yoga mat. It'll get your body back in shape and envigorate you. Or, better yet, get a membership at your local yoga studio so that you can get out of the house for a bit and hopefully make some new friends.

Congratulations on baby #3 and also on having such a supportive husband.

I love to read (you could go to the library for an hour to do it). But it really helps to get out and get some sunshine on your face (counteracts depression a bit). Sometimes even doing a few errands with no kids feels like a break some days.

I love to read or take a walk.

I'm sure you've gotten this answer already, but a maincure or pedicure will do wonders for the soul!

For the first couple of months you could go to a movie and take the baby with you.

Just an hour where my hubby would take over so that I could shower, blow dry my hair (my kid is terrifed of the blowdryer), straighten it, put on a bit of makeup, etc. would always (and still does now that she's 3) recharge me. I took a nice, long hot bubble bath tonight and it was way overdue!! Congrats on your new baby!!

The best things for me right after having kids were getting uninterrupted shower time (daily--I almost never shower daily now, but right after having kids it was totally needed), not having to cook dinner every night, and getting a nap in even if the baby was NOT sleeping. Later I really appreciated getting to work out regularly and usually did it with my infant in the bouncer while my toddler slept. I'm also expecting #3 and haven't been able to work out around my kids safely for some time and find that most mornings I want sleep more than I want exercise.

Going for a walk without a stroller would be great. That doesn't take long, you can go quickly, swing your arms, and look around you.

Reading in the tub without having to hear "Mommy, where are you???" or "Are you coming down soon?"

Meet a friend for coffee before the kids wake up once in a while. I meet a friend one morning a month. I am fried by the end of the day (we meet at 6:45 and I normally don't get up for work until 7:15) but it is totally worth it to see another grown-up alone.

One of my favorites is totally dorky.

I take "everything" (a book, my laptop, food, drink, phone, etc) and take my car a few blocks away and blast the heat and do "whatever" for a couple hours. Read, write, watch a movie, call friends, take over an hour to eat a meal... all wrapped up and warm and minutes away if needed. But I've got peace, quiet (or blasting music that could never be played that loud with kids nearby), and freedom. And I feel "safe" because all in a moment I can throw the car in gear and be home.

Read, get a massage, exercise, veg in front of computer or TV, SLEEP.

Reading a People or Entertainment weekly magazine. Reading the entire Sunday Paper.

Taking a long shower, taking a nap.

I go for a run or dog walk with a friend. I like to get outside and getting some exercise is a bonus. I do an art/craft activity (or part of one to be finished later!)

pedicures. you can even take baby with you and nurse. Where I go, I can also get a neck message. Thats the best!

mani/pedi, go to the gym, go to a coffee shop with a magazine - nothing too intense! Pottery painting/scrapbooking/craft projects

After having my youngest daughter, I would sometimes ask my husband to take the girls to ice cream, or to the zoo for a few hours. Sometimes, my favorite times were just staying home, alone, in the quiet house.

After baby comes and you are feeling up to it I suggest:

#1 Get a facial - a massage would be better but after my baby I didn't want to lay on my breasts due to the breastfeeding thing

2 - Yoga is great

3 - join a gym

4 - Go out with another mom for some coffee and adult talk

5 - Christmas Shopping!

Congrats on your new baby!!!

VillageMom
www.ittakesavillagedallas.com

Some times a long walk around your block can help. An hour long bath with willing husband taking over. One or two nights a week have him cook dinner. Or just hand the kids over to him and walk out the door for an hour. Go to a bookstore or coffee shop. Sit, be still.

Good luck!

I love go to the library and read gossip magazines for free! :P I also love biographies and historical fiction.

Congrats on the new baby - how exciting!

I don't have babies anymore (11 and 15), but I go into work a half hour early to walk with friends - you can maybe find a group of walking buddies in your neighborhood. I also go to book club once a month, and in our group of friends, we've had nursing newborns at meetings!

A friend and I were art lovers. So once a week we took our babies with us to art galleries and to museums of art.
We came home refreshed and happy.

My local library has a free yoga class that really makes me feel great! Any exercise class that you enjoy would be time for just you! check out your library for other activities, discussion groups, etc.

When my babies were newborn and I was nursing, I loved the chance to take a hot shower without worry about the baby crying in a car seat on the bathroom floor. Or maybe time to read a book in a bubble bath. That worked for me.