Mommy Talk Show Candid Conversation with a TV Mom
Everywhere you turn there are back-to-school season commercials featuring backpacks and school supplies. Doesn’t it seem like back-to-school season is just for the kids? It doesn’t have to be that way.
Ever since A.J. started five days a week public school, I’ve noticed a change in my work habits. Maybe you’re in the same boat if you’re transitioning from half-day to full-day school for your little ones. Or you’ll be left with a baby at home while your big kids head to kindergarten and first grade. What do you do WANT to do with your time? I say maximize it, mommies! Here are my suggestions.
SLEEP IN
Take a day off, a day to yourself or just the morning off the first week or two of back-to-school season.
Get your spouse, partner, neighbor or friend to take the kids to school for you and stay in bed. This is easier than it sounds. But I feel that whenever I’m at my breaking point I remind my husband to pitch in or wake up earlier than usual. I take the time to recharge or just do something that’s important to me.
Now if you don’t need extra sleep you’re my hero. All this summer A.J. woke up before 7:30 a.m. every.friggin.morning.
“MPM”
That’s my cute name for a mani-pedi-massage. They’re definitely in order after the kids go back to school. If you can’t afford all three services at once, get one or find a deal site like Living Social or Groupon to book one that’s at least half off.
For a high-end spa experience in Atlanta, my go-to spot is Natural Body Spa where I reviewed the blueberry manicure and pedicure or the Bliss Spa Downtown where I turned a visit into a three-hour mom escape.
JOIN OR START A GROUP
One of the ways I got motivated to start a blog and a business was through the Meetup group for Atlanta moms with babies born in 2009 and 2010. The ladies in this group became my first friends in Atlanta since I was a new resident, new wife and new mom. I found out about family-friendly events, places to shop and enjoy with my family thanks to them. They also became my test audience for products I was reviewing here!
You can join a group based on your interest, age group, etc. If you don’t see a group that fits your fancy, create one! A group called “Gluten-Free Moms Who Play Kickball” would attract someone I’m sure.
GET ORGANIZED
With the kids in school all day you can have a moment to yourself at home if you stay at home. If you’re in corporate America, have you ever thought about taking a half-day or full-day off just to organize a room or area of your home?
Personally, I look at my workspace every day and say I’ll tackle it. But I really just move piles around. My goal is to take a few hours to fully purge my desk area of stuff I haven’t used in the last six months.
For the kids’ rooms and play spaces, take a moment to throw out their broken or unused toys while they’re in school. Believe me, they’ll never miss them.
MAKE EXTRA MONEY
Some of the stuff you’ll find when organizing can be sold for a nice piece of change. During the Summer Survival Series I shared, Easy Ways to Sell Unused Items for Extra Cash.
Another suggestion is to finally launch that business idea that’s been rattling around your head for months…or years. There are dozens of business ideas and in-depth interviews with successful mompreneurs I met here in Atlanta in the e-book, Use What You Know: A Business Idea Guide for Moms I wrote back in 2011. You’ll also get a better idea about how I turned my journalism skills into a parenting talk show.
I also tackled this topic on the Mommy Talk Show Facebook page and asked moms:
These are all great ideas, Joyce! Since I’m returning to school and work this fall, I hadn’t thought of “back to school” time as just for my preschooler. I did, however, think of it in terms of book bags and school supplies lol. A little time to myself in the mornings, and an MPM are definitely in order!
I’m definitely ready for the kids to go back to school, but they are too!
These are great tips–getting organized is so tough to do sometimes-my .02 is break a big project into smaller pieces–easier to tackle and then you also feel accomplished!
I wish I could sleep in! But with a husband who goes the opposite way to work and 1 hour earlier that’s impossible. But I could totally get used to the extra hours I have to work peacefully from home without interruption.
I’ve never even thought about making the kids going back to school about me! I love those ideas. Normally I’m thrilled they go back so I can attack my to-do list, but I’m going to use a day or two to reward myself for keeping everybody going all summer long.
I’ve always been a proponent of self care and being good to myself so I can be good to my family. With me having a 20 year old and now a 10 year old, I’ve had my share of Back to School moments. As much as I love my kiddos, having some alone time is good for all of us. No guilt here!
Organization is key to s smooth back to school experience. I love the idea of having the garage sale, I have to do this.
I’m so with you on the sleeping in! It’s nice to have those few hours a day where no one needs you. It’s just about you!!
Lord knows I need sleep, I’m still recovering from the past school year :/ I like the idea of going to or starting a group … I”ll be a new wife soon and hopefully a new mom shortly after. I read your book a few years ago and I’ll need to revisit it. With the cost of daycare being as high as it is, I might have to start my own business. How exciting!
There will be no “me” time for me since I work during the day. Only thing now is that I have to get up earlier, make sure dinner is cooked sooner in the evenings, work on homework with the girls after work, and so on. During the school months is pretty hectic for me.
This is a great list. This year I plan on trying to get out more while my kids are in school and definitely focus more on my blogging. I am amazed at how far I have come so far. I am learning to focus on me a little more because my kids only have a few more years in school before they are off to college. Time to start doing something for me.
This is sooo adorable!! I totally need to get my life like this and I dont even HAVE kids!!
Once Ayva starts school, I’m taking swim lessons during the day (as long as my schedule stays the same!). I’m looking forward to it!
Great ideas! I look forward to having time to do these things. Maybe thinking about them will help me not feel so sad about my kids getting bigger and going to school all day. 🙂
Great ideas!
Some wonderful ideas listed here. Last year I had a high school graduate transition to working full time, a new freshman and an 8th grader. During the last half of the school year our 5 year old started preschool so he was attending 5 days a week half a day and then I was home with our 3 year old. This year I’ll have a sophomore, a freshman, a kindergartner (not the half day kindergarten but the full day!) and my 3 year old will be in preschool 3 days a week during the same school hours as the rest of the kids. This means A LOT of alone time for me! I will definitely be scheduling a MPM, and something I discovered just recently is the local beauty college does a great job at manis and pedis for almost half the price as the expensive salons! I’ll also be organizing the house and cooking meals ahead of time while the house is empty. It’s all about maximizing the time I’ll have and I can’t wait!