Break from your kids

[mrsg123]

I know this is relative, but what do you consider to be a "break" from your kids, and how often do you get one? Do you consider an hour here and there a break? Or does it need to be an evening or day away for it to count for you?

[KKD]

I consider a break as any time away that I am doing something for myself. So, a pedicure or a date night is a break; a school conference is not. I get a break occasionally but not as often as I probably need for my sanity. lol.

[spanikopita]

A real break, to feel recharged, would need to be 24hrs minimum. Ideally a few days. If it's just a few hours, I don't feel recharged. Instead I use the time to cram in stuff/projects.

I haven't had that kind of break in 1.5 years.

ETA- obviously I manage the break time poorly.

[irishbride2]

Is it all relative. Some days , a ten minute shower feels like a break. Others, I need a week, lol.

[zeewifeandmama]

For me, a break is anytime I ( or they) leave the house for 3 hours or more. I feel like I can get a bit of a recharge then. Overnight would be a dream come true.

[AlpineSlide]

Yes, I consider an hour here and there to be a break. I rarely get that, so that may be why I consider it a break. Not to be a total debby downer, but I have only had three 2 hour breaks from DS where I actually leave the house since he was born 8 months ago.

I'm a SAHM so I consider a break to be anything over an hour where I'm not responsible for anything DS related.

So for example, my 3 breaks have been going shopping alone twice. And once DH and I went to an open house.

I'm honestly fine with having breaks that are around 2-3 hours. I just wish they were more frequent(once a week). DS doesn't take a bottle so I have to feed him anyway, so I really couldn't do a whole day away.

[Deleted]

It "counts" even if it's just a few hours, but there's something especially indulgent about going to sleep without having to worry about hearing "mommy, mommy!" at some god-awful hour.

I travel for work, so I'm gone for about 10-12 nights a year. DH and I also go away by ourselves about one or two weekends a year (usually wedding-related).

I get little breaks all the time. DH and I take turns doing everything, whether it's daycare pick-ups or going on special daddy-daughter/mommy-daughter errands so the other can relax. So several times a week (not counting work.) Oh, and date nights, of course, about once a month (on average).

[yellowbrkrd]

It completely depends. Sometimes an hour feels great, other times I feel like I need a few days.

[imojoebunny]

Today, I went to the drugstore and to a thrift store for an hour and a half. It is the first time I have been away from my kids in three weeks, but I did have a nap on Friday for an hour, while DH and FIL watched the kids, and my kids are now old enough I can say, "give mommy a break, and go find something to do." (5&8).

[Deleted]

I consider an hour here or there a break. Now that the livestock is gone, I get to nap while DS naps, which is certainly a break. We don't have the money for overnight stays or vacations, so a multi-day break isn't even possible, I don't even think about that. When my parents babysit for an evening that is a huge break to me.

[ladygrey]

A few hours. My mom takes DD two afternoons a week and I refer to that as "my break."

[scribellesam]

I count naptime and post-DS bedtime as my break. I also get a couple hours a week when he's at gym daycare, I guess? Otherwise it means I only get a break about once a month at most and that's depressing.

[curbsideprophet]

Jul 27, 2014 20:54:02 GMT -5 AlpineSlide said:

I'm honestly fine with having breaks that are around 2-3 hours. I just wish they were more frequent(once a week). DS doesn't take a bottle so I have to feed him anyway, so I really couldn't do a whole day away.

Have you tried a cup? DD was never great at taking a bottle. So they started giving her a cup right after attempting a bottle at daycare. I think she was completely transitioned to all cup by about 8 months.

[rex]

Jul 27, 2014 20:58:43 GMT -5 mekiakoo said:

Whenever I feel refreshed. Sometimes I just need ten minutes. Sometimes I need the entire day.

exactly. this morning getting to take a shower without worrying about timing was a break. other days i need an hr when no one talks to me.

generally my best breaks are when h takes over all care for L and i can just do whatever for a few hrs. not having to factor anyone in is amazing, even if i am just at home.

[cincodemayo]

I exercised and went to Target by myself today and it was the best damn break, omg. Not loading a kid AND groceries into the car, walking around drinking my Sbux without a whiner whining to get a sip, and getting to look thru clearance racks? Heaven!

[bowies]

Right now a couple of hours is considered a break. I've gotten a few of them since DS was born. I chose to go shopping since I don't feel comfortable schlepping him around yet. I really need to get my hair done, so that'll be next.

When he gets older I will need longer stretches away for it to feel like a break. Probably a half day of uninterrupted me time.

[niq]

Anything longer than an episode of a BBC drama. Not that I live for BBC dramas, but "just over an hour" feels like a genuine break.

I don't really count time spent traveling. Like, driving twenty minutes each way to run one half hour errand doesn't feel like a break.

[jena]

I think it also depends on how often you get breaks. The more often I get little breaks away from them the less frequently I need a big break. 5 minutes of absolute quiet has been known to save my sanity.

[Deleted]

I take a break everyday from 6-6:45. It's my time to work out, relax, nap or gbcn while H finishes dinner & playa with DS. It's also good because H & DS are so much better together when I am not hovering over them. They play & have there own " thing". Honestly when H is on call like this week & I miss it I get cranky FAST.

[Deleted]

Basically when I'm not solely responsible for them. So a break for me could be taking a bath while DH watches the kids. I try to take a little time away every day. Even 30 minutes can be helpful to recharge. None of my kids really nap anymore so I can't count in that.

[Deleted]

Ditto the pp.
It's all so dependent.
I go in streaks where if I shower and fold laundry alone, life is great.
Then there's phases like now where I feel like a week wouldn't be long enough...ha.

[hocus2]

Typically we  get one full weekend off a month because my inlaws will take the kids. It is wonderful and I'm very grateful. Right that isn't happening all summer for logistical reasons so I'll book a date night for DH and myself sometime in August. I also do an event with friends 1 or 2 times a month. I find these things very helpful on an emotional level and I always come back recharged. In terms of day to day. I find that I do best with 30-60 of down time everyday where I am expected to do nothing  - not house work, not life work like calling people or paying bills and yes not caring for the kids. I don't always get it though. 

[leonard131]

Any time I am not directly responsible for him. So I do count nap time because I can normally fit in something for myself like working out or watching show as well as getting other stuff done.

[galaxy8227]

I think it can be any kind of break that doesn't include us working. Yoga on wed nights is a break for me, date nights (especially ones that aren't planned and just happen), or just when DH takes them to the park. We don't often have more than that just with our schedules.

[gibbinator]

I consider any time that my kid and I are in separate locations for around an hour a break. So running errands alone in town is a break. If dh takes ds for a stroll leaving me home, that's a break. Obviously sending ds away to his grandparents for a night is a much better break :-)
I don't really consider nap time a real break (though it's nice down time) just because they can end at any time and I can't do whatever I want.
Eta: there's no such thing as me getting a break when ds knows I'm in the house. As much as dh might offer to be in charge, ds doesn't comply.

[qcinoct]

I am on an 8 day break from my kids. Currently in the Basque region of Spain for a conference! I hope to be caught up on sleep by the time I return.

But typically, an evening out where I don't have to wrestle one or both to bed is a break for me. Or, when I don't have to take care of the morning routine all by myself (DH goes to work earlier than I do, and is often out the door as I'm making breakfast)