When you become a mom, lift gets crazy. There’s just no getting around that fact. You may have longed for the day when you could leave work and do the mom thing, but it won’t be long until you wish you could go back to your nice and easy job. Honestly; it happens to the best of us. This is the case whether you have one youngster, twins, or kids of all different ages. Each day will be endlessly tiring, and full of STUFF. Of course, it goes without saying that it’s all stuff you’ll be more than happy to do. Nothing beats fun days with your kids which they’re young. But, sometimes, even super mom needs a break.
The good news is, you should have the chance for at least a little winding down every day. At some stage, your kids will go to bed. This will be relatively early if they’re young. Your evenings will shorten as they get older, but even kids up to around fourteen should go to bed before you. As such, you should always have space in the evenings to play with. If you want to be the best mom possible, it’s crucial you make the most of this time and regenerate for the next day.
To help you do that, we’re going to look at how you can make the most of your evenings.
Draw a line under the day
Given that this is the only real time you have to yourself, you may fall into the trap of using it to clear up. After all, you want the place looking good for the day ahead. But, using your evenings in this way most definitely won’t help you be the best mom possible. Instead, you’ll find that your free time is gone before you know it. To avoid this, attempt to do as much cleaning as possible before bedtime. While the kids unwind, let them entertain themselves and get to cleaning. Aim to have all that work finished before they head to the land of nod. It may mean working harder for a short period, but it’s well worth the effort. To make sure you finish everything, you could even employ the help of little hands. Turning the washing up into a fun game ensure you can get it done in half the time!
As soon as the kids are safely tucked in, it may also be worth changing into something you don’t wear during the day. Mentally, this will help you get into a more relaxed frame of mind. Especially if the outfit you choose is a comfy pair of jammies. It may be worth drinking something you don’t drink during the day. That doesn’t have to be wine, either, it could just be a bedtime tea or something along those lines. All these indicators help separate your evening from your daytime. They’ll ensure your evening if the best it can be.
Comfort is key
Speaking of pajamas, comfort is essential if you want to get the most of your evenings. When you have a limited time in which to unwind, comfort can speed up the process. We’re talking comfortable pajamas, blankets, and sprawling out on the sofa. If you feel like splashing out, you could even treat yourself to a bath now and again. Invest in some lavender scented bubble products which can help you get into a chill state of mind. Much like with your evening drink, only using these after dark will signify to your brain that it’s downtime. You can also carry the theme of comfort into the bedroom, with the best mattress imaginable. Something like a Nectar mattress includes a quilted cover and two additional foam layers for the purpose. It doesn’t get much better than that. As if you weren’t already relaxed enough, you’ll be able to sink into your bed and fall asleep straight away. Relaxing like this is the ideal way to set yourself up for the next day to come. It gives you a chance to ease your aching bones and rest your tired head. And, it also ensures that you make the most of every single second without your kids pestering you.
Bear in mind that you may feel guilty when you first do the relaxing thing. If there’s one thing us parents are good at, it’s keeping busy. There is, after all, always something else to be doing. Ignore those voices in your head which tell you there’s no time for this. Accept that anything which needs doing can wait until tomorrow. Then, sit back and enjoy your evening.
Appreciate your partner
This is a necessary, nay, crucial point, so listen up. Having kids is fantastic and, of course, nothing seals a relationship like it. That said, a house filled with kids can put a real strain on your love life. Time to yourself will be a thing of the past, and romance will undoubtedly seem off the cards.
Apart from…you guessed it; your evenings! This is prime quality time, and you should make the most of it. Set aside at least one evening a week where you and your man do something together. With the kids upstairs, you can’t go far, but that doesn’t matter. Simple things, such as a romantic meal, or even watching a film, will make all the difference. Admittedly, this will take you a little away from the comfortable aspect of the evening. But, some things are more important than your dressing gown. And, by only doing this on one evening, you can still relax for the other six nights a week. Though, you should make an effort at conversation and affection on those nights, too. It may also be worth laying on your partner instead of the sofa.
You may even want to take your date nights out of the house sometimes. After all, how often do you get the chance to head out without kids in tow? Perhaps once a month, turn your quality evening in to a quality evening out. Book a babysitter, and head to a nice restaurant, or to the movies. At the time, there’s a real chance it’ll be that last thing you want to do. After all, you’ve had a long day with the kids, and your bathtub is calling. But, getting out to someplace new can actually be much more relaxing than an evening in. It’ll help you get out of your ‘mom’ headspace for a while. Give it a go and see how it works for you.
Enjoy the silence
When it comes to evenings, many of us have a habit of sticking the television on and leaving it on. We’re just accustomed to the continual background noise it provides. Even if we aren’t watching it, the chances are you leave the box on while you chill out. But, that may not be the best way to a relaxed evening, especially if your kids have been watching it during the day. That certainly won’t help you with drawing a line under the day as mentioned above.
Instead, try embracing silence on some of your evenings. That’s not to say you have to sit doing nothing, but you may find that your time feels more luxurious with the T.V. off. That way, you’re free to read a book, get stuck into a craft, or have some adult conversation. All of which will go a huge ways towards rejuvenating you. These aren’t things you do in the day, so they’re sure to make your evenings feel that bit more special.
If you can’t stand silence, try transitioning by playing music instead. This is still something a bit different. It also frees you up to do other things, because you don’t need to concentrate on it as you do on television. And, again, this is the chance to enjoy something you probably don’t get when your kids are around.
Don’t think about the day ahead
Of course, us parents do have a habit of always thinking ahead. In a way, that’s a prerequisite of having kids. But, it isn’t going to help you make the most of your evenings. In fact, if you spend the whole night thinking ahead, you won’t be fresh for the next day at all. You’ll be as fried as if your kids were up all night with you.
To make sure this doesn’t happen, get everything in order for the next day beforehand. Even if you don’t manage it before the kids go to bed, do this first and THEN get into the swing of your evening. This doesn’t have to take long. A simple checklist of things you need to achieve or activities you plan on will do the trick. Then, put it somewhere you can’t see it, and forget about it. Any time you find your mind wandering to those plans, bring it back to the moment. After a few weeks of doing this, it’ll become second nature. Then, let the evenings commence.
