We all know that famous scene in "Braveheart" where Mel Gibson's William Wallace character raises his arm and yells "FREEDOM!" That's kinda how most parents felt this week when the kids headed back to school. Maybe you heard the collective sigh of relief? Perhaps you felt the ground shake as 100's of moms shut their doors in triumph at the sight of a retreating backpack? Summer may be at an end, but the "real vacation" starts now!
For me, as a work-at-home-mom, I can now get stuff done without actually ignoring my kids. I don't have an excuse once they come home from school/daycare because I've had time during the day to get some stuff accomplished. (Granted, the little one is only gone three hours but it's better than nothing). But figuring out how to use those few precious hours of freedom is the key. And using them wisely, not wasting them is the challenge.
Should I clean? Should I workout? Should I work? Should I relax? Read a book? Watch television? By the time I make a decision, my time could have elapsed. Figuring out how to use that alone time isn't as easy as it seems. I'm not complaining, far from it. I'm just wondering what the best use of that time is.
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Cleaning, I can do with the kids here and still interact with them. (Maybe they can even help!) I hate working out, but it has to be done. Reading? Relaxing? What are those things? I love when people say, "You need some 'me time.' Sorry, I'm a wife and a mother and I run a small business. There is no such thing. There is always SOMETHING to do. And that's fine. As the saying goes, I'll sleep when I'm dead.
So to parents - particularly ones who are at home during the day - I'll let William Wallace leave you with the last word on kids: "They may take our lives, but they'll never take our FREEDOM!"
