When I first became a Mom, I would get to the place of pure exhaustion where I’d wish I could get sick just so I could take a break. I would do anything to lay in bed and rest. I used to say, “Just a little more sleep… that’s all I need!”

It was hard to be the mom of young ones, work in a bank Monday to Friday, co-lead a church, host weekly meetings in our home and don’t forget about those wifely “duties” and I’m not talking about the cooking or cleaning kind…  🙂 By the end of the day, I was D.O.N.E.

I never thought my kids would sleep through the night. My first and my fourth had the WORST sleeping patterns. I nursed Quinton every 2 hours around the clock until he was 10 months old. Dave knew how tired I was in the morning so he would take Q after he nursed around 7am and let me sleep for as long as I could. I needed that break. Badly! After Q’s first week of sleeping through the night… I got pregnant with Emma.

My favourite thing to do to escape for some well deserved “me time” was taking a nice, long, hot candlelit bath. That ended when the kids arrived. Each time I would lock myself into the bathroom, they would bang and beg for me to open the door, “pweease mommy, wet me in. I baff too!” over and over again, kid after kid. {If I bathed too late in the evening, I’d fall asleep in the tub.}

My kids are now 7, 9, 12 & 13 and I admit that it is easier to get some much needed rest and relaxation, but not just because they are less dependent, because they help around the house. They each have chores they’re responsible for and no, they do not get an allowance.

Quinton (13) takes out the garbage and the recycling and vacuums. He is also our resident babysitter when Dave and I go out from time to time. Emma (12) cleans the main floor bathroom, mops the floor and loads the dishwasher. Liam (9) unloads the dishwasher and cleans the upstairs bathroom. Jake (7) is responsible for keeping the shoes tidy in the front entrance, assisting his older siblings and putting away the silverware. For the past couple years, these have been their regular chores, they’re are then responsible to do whatever we ask of them to help where needed.

I can’t do it all… well… I could but then I’d be useless to my family, to my work and to my church. I tried that route… it didn’t end up well.

Even Mommy needs a “time-out.” I take little breaks to regain my sanity because I’m worth it. My kids deserve a mommy who is well-rested and clear minded, and you know what they say is true… “a happy wife is a happy life!”

Now I escape OUTSIDE of the house to get some relaxation and much deserved “me time.”  I take that precious time to get a manicure / pedicure.  It only lasts an hour but it’s a marvelous hour.  One of these days I will learn to stop talking / tweeting to everyone while I’m there and just enjoy the moment!

What do you do to lessen the load on you in your home? If you have kids, do your kids have individual chores they’re responsible for? How do you spend your time-outs?! I’d love to hear from you.