Wanting a Little Personal Time March 25, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Church, Daily Life, Kansas, Little Man Dallin, My Handsome Husband, Princess Hannah, Thoughts , trackbackI’ve been having one of those days. You know the kind. The days when you do a lot of stuff (or so it seems) but you have nothing to show for all your hard work when the day is over?
My kids are great sleepers. This I can’t complain about. I know many women would LOVE to have their kids take scheduled naps. Or heck, any nap, for any length of time. I only feel a tiny bit guilty requesting one thing of my little Dallin and Hannah . . .
Would it be possible to take your naps at the same time?
Honestly.
I spend all day like this: (after every second item you can insert, wipe snotty noses and change poopie diapers)
Get up.
Dallin is awake.
But only for one hour.
Feed him.
Put him back to bed for an hour.
Then Hannah wakes up.
She starts talking the second her eyes open.
Get her dressed.
Feed her.
Take Paris out.
Feed her too.
Check email.
Dallin is now awake from his first morning nap.
Hannah and Dallin play while I start laundry.
Dallin is tired again.
Listening to Hannah talk all morning is tiring.
He goes down for a second morning nap.
Hannah is still talking.
And playing.
And rearranging the chairs in the kitchen.
Making a fort.
Dallin wakes up again.
They both eat lunch.
Hannah goes down for a long nap.
Dallin is up for the long haul.
He is busy.
VERY BUSY.
Always finding something to get into.
He get’s stuck standing in precarious spots.
I am tired.
Maybe I should get ready for the day.
Or at least brush my teeth.
Maybe I should wash my face too.
Hannah wakes up.
Dallin is ready for nap number three.
Hannah makes more forts.
She plays with all my kitchen utensils.
Dallin wakes up again.
Just in time for dinner.
Dave may or may not be home. (He works a light 70 hours a week at the hospital.)
The kids have one hour together before they both go to bed for the night.
And then the house is silent and I kind of want go into their rooms and kiss them.
Because I miss them.
I’m not making any sense.
But this did make sense when I explained it to my sister. You see, when I have a problem, complaint, exciting news, or nothing to talk about at all, I call my sister Jenn. We actually chat on the phone old school style. (Rarely do we email each other even though email is the preferred way I chat with others.)
We can chat for hours.
David, Hannah, and my mother-in-law can attest to this.
Where was I? Where am I going with this?
Oh yeah, I was, in essence, complaining about not having any personal time. No “Emily time.” No time to think to myself, do something for myself, or heck, enjoy an afternoon nap with the kids. (See, wouldn’t that be nice? All three of us sleeping at once?)
So, as I was describing my daily routine to Jenn, she told me a about a quote she has on her fridge by General Authority N. Eldon Tanner. ( He was from before my time.) She looks at it every day.
A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the contribution he will make to society.”
The phrases “every response” and “her attitude” have stood out to me loud and clear the last few days. This quote has made me think about my response to my kitchen being a big fort all day, and being happy about it.
That said, would anyone in the Kansas City area like to join me for a girls night out? I still need to get my “personal time” fix. 
Comments»
This made me giggle. And hate you. Because you are completely gorgeous.
How I wish I was in the Kansas City area! I would join you for some girl time in a heart beat. I love the quote your sister gave you. Charish the time you have with your kids, it will go by so fast and then you’ll wish for the days when their naps weren’t in sync with each other. Hang in there!!
What a great quote! The part about how everything I do affects my children is a little scary, but also a bit encouraging. Can those two emotions be in the same place at the same time?
I’m definitely in for a girls’ night out. I need one, too. When? Where?
Kristina, Um thanks?
Kelley, Lets go! And Michelle I wish you could come!
I hear ya! I think every mom does! I could use some R&R!! Wish I lived in Kansas!
Wow Emily, very well put. Sacrifice is what being a Mom is all about. I recently heard Kate Gosslin talk about how her kids are older and do not need her as much and it makes her feel sad and alone. I like it when Maddie needs me, some days more than others.
On a seperate note, have you made it to Deanna Rose Farmstead yet ??