Scheduling Your Days When Your Children Are At School
If you are a stay-at-home mom, the last few years of your life have been consumed with non-stop work. If you have little ones who have just begun school, your days will have suddenly opened up to an overwhelming amount of possibilities. Despite the exhaustion and all the work that having kids at home provides, you are most likely a little intimidated by the idea of them being gone all day, and that is perfectly natural!
The beginning of your child’s school years is a huge adjustment, not only for them but for you as well! This is a special time where you can take part in activities for yourself again. Though the choices are almost limitless, we would like to provide a few solid options that will help to add structure, relaxation and enjoyment to your days without your children!
Take up a hobby that you have been planning on trying!
This is completely dependent on you — there has probably been a fun hobby or activity that you used to love, or that you have become interested in trying that you can now dedicate some quality time to! Whether it’s painting, photography, yoga, knitting or something else entirely, now is the perfect time to start on it. It will keep you feeling productive, but it will also be an enjoyable activity!
Schedule social time
Adult contact is crucial, and you can use your downtime to spend time with friends or family doing relaxing things! You can go for a coffee, or a walk around your neighbourhood, or even for brunch. If you have other mom friends who are dealing with the same experience, it can be valuable to spend time with someone who you can confide in that is likely to understand, and perhaps even feel the same way. However, it can also be great to get some time away from “mom-talk” and just chat about all those other things you love.
Volunteer
Perhaps you enjoy being busy, and downtime is not for you. In this case you could take this opportunity to volunteer somewhere in your community! From an animal shelter, to a senior’s home, to a food bank, volunteering is a great way to get in touch with your community and do something personally rewarding. Some schools even have volunteer positions available for things like supervising recess, lunches, or helping out in the classroom. This will ensure you are engaged in your child’s daily school life — and schools can always use the help and support from families.
Take a class
This is a great option for something that is solely dedicated to your personal growth. Taking a class on something that interests you will definitely keep your mind active, and give you the chance to meet new people. Plus, it’s never too late to learn something new.
Treat yourself to relaxation time
Finding plenty of activities to fill your days is more than fine, but some days you may just feel like you want to take advantage of the free time and relax — and that is okay too. After all, the last few years of your life have been pretty busy, and affording yourself the opportunity to get in touch with yourself is sometimes the best thing you can do. Take hot baths, read that book you’ve been trying to start, watch a movie, or take a nap! These things will give you a chance to rest your mind and body so that you can feel balanced and refreshed for when the kids return home from school. Me-time is important!
Whatever things you choose to schedule your day with, keep in mind that sometimes it is about the quality of the time over the quantity — don’t over-pack your calendar in an attempt to recreate the same level of activity in every day! Choose a few things that you can realistically accomplish or enjoy in the hours your children are at school, and you will be more likely to feel balanced and relaxed. And remember — just breathe. The school day will likely go by quickly and before you know it your little ones will be rushing home to you to fill you in on their day.