Mommy Burn-Out!

I don't have any suggestions for you but please let Katie K know that while her husband is deployed she can join the YMCA for free. She and her children are welcome to attend and they offer up to 2 hrs of FREE daycare each time you are there to work out, enjoy a steam or the hot tub or having some one-on-one time w/ one of her children in the pool. It is a fantastic program for all families w/ a deployed family member.
My Grandson is living w/ us while my son is deployed, he is mildly disabled and we are busy w/ his medical therapies 5 days a week, this membership has kept me sane and it keeps him more active.
Hope this helps someone else.

Your husband is a parent, so once a week, schedule at least 1 evening or part of a day that is always his full time parent time..

Your kids will love it and you need the time away. This will make you a better mom, cause you will have outside interest and you will not be so tired and stressed.

This is not time to go to the grocery store, this is your time to go do what you want to do. If you need a new bra, go to the mall and let them really sell it to you. If you want a mani pedi, go and take gossip magazines and read...

Call up a friend and go and have a coffee or glass of wine where there are no children and force yourselves to talk about something going on in the world. Take the daily paper with you , it will give you ideas.

Go to a movie YOU want to see and eat the popcorn and drink the drink you want.

Go and donate blood once a month and then remind your husband you are supposed to rest and not lift anything for the rest of the day! They give you free cookies and a drink!

Twice a month, the second and fourth Tuesday of the month my friends and I meet for dinner. No husband and no children. We have been meeting for dinner since 2003. It is someplace different every time. And my husband has it on his calendar so he knows he has the kids those nights. It is a great time with my friends and we talk and laugh and when I get home I am so relaxed and happy just after those few hours away.

Lisa

Take some time off- book a mani/pedi or a massage.

Go out for a girls night with friends.

Being a mom is hard, give yourself a break!

Currently my husband is deployed so there really isn't much "Mommy Time" in my house right now. I love my job so that's kind of my break, but I will wait until she's asleep and go and draw myself a bath light some candles turn the bedroom tv so I can see it while in the tub and relax. I add that this is usually only once a week as I work 24 hour shifts, and have 48 hours off at a time.

Usually my husband gives me breaks from the kids each day. When we first started it, he would grumble and complain, but then he realized it was his time to play with them where I didn't hover and tell him he's being too rough or whatever...so he started getting into it. Sometimes we use it to give our oldest mommy or daddy and me time as well...we also have neighbors and family close by who allow us to get out once a month to have a "date" night...all of this helps us to recharge our batteries...

With my husband being deployed some of the other wives and I switch off tkaing all the kids for a couple of hours to give each other a break, or do things together as a group so we have adult time together while the kids get to do something fun...

good luck... ;-)

I also have "mommy burn out", the only way for me to unwind is to take a long bath or shower after the kids go to bed, get in my jammies and read a book or watch some tv. Perhaps a night out with the girls is possible for you, i'm sure that would work well also.

You get a sitter or a relative to keep your children a day & be alone! Quiet time refreshes me & I know its hard to get with 3 small children,even with teenagers. Or let your hubby watch the kids on his day off or even one afternoon when he gets home & just get out with a friend. Go to the tanning bed, or shopping or to a movie,just something to give you a little "alone" time without your babies. Some church daycare have a moms day out program, where they care for your children a day (don't charge you for a full week,which is usually their policy) Good luck.....but get out of the house ALONE for a little while, or get a sitter & spend time at home alone.

I've been walking at 9 during the week while hubby is watching tv and kids are already asleep. He has been cleaning the kitchen while I put the kids to sleep. I have 30 minutes to walk and talk with my neighbor and it's like therapy for both of us. Last night I ran to the store by myself and just that is alone even though I'm not relaxing I'm at least not referee to the kids. On a weekend jsut wake 15 minutes before everyone else and start a cup of coffee in peace helps me as well. Reading mamasource is fun too!!!! Good luck but yes being a mom is exhausting and I too feel like I wish I could check into a hotel for a weekend!!!

I had to find time myself...I kept waiting for my DH to give me some, but he just doesn't get the whole draining 24/7 thing. The most economical thing I found was a Mother's Day Out program. Two days a week both my kids go from 9:30 to 2:30 to a wonderful church based program. That gives me 10 hours a week that is MINE. I go home and sleep, make my doctors appointments, go to lunch with girlfriends, do the weekly shopping...anything that I need to do or is easier to do with out the kids in tow. If two days a week isn't feasible they also offer one day a week as well...and they are currently enrolling for the fall. The only bad thing is they are closed June through August. But in the summer there are other options, join a gym that has childcare and go workout alone...take a book or magazine and read while peddling a bike or walking a treadmill (get healthy and some alone time). You don't say the ages of your children, but some churches have free Vacation Bible School programs in the summer most will take four year olds. Some evenings I tell my husband in advance that I am going out for coffee...I go up to the closest coffee shop buy a coffee and just sit and people watch, read, if you have a laptop you could surf the web, and some nights I even ask a girlfriend or two to join me. We sit, talk and laugh. These are some of my ways I have learned to find some alone/me time...I understand the burnout, been there and done that!! HUGS!!!

I'm anxious to hear your responses. This site can really come up with some great responses.

My kids go to day care and when I need to, I come home and sleep. I'd look for a caretaker or babysitter for the day and take your time that way. That's the only way I've found to do it, which lately my days are so full that hasn't happened. But I still dream of the day!!

I went back to school. My homework is my escape, and I feel like I'm at least setting a good example. I can't enjoy mom nights out. Relaxing isn't really my thing. LOL.

I run...alot! That's my me time. Sometimes, I head to the YMCA with the kids when I need a break and other days I have my shoes on when my husband walks in the door. Running not only saves my sanity, but I feel great when my husband looks at me too.