Toddler mums - what would you do with a whole day to yourself?

[walkwalk]

DH and I have agreed that he will look after LO one Saturday every 8 weeks so that I can go off and have a day out for myself. Haven't been feeling great in myself since birth of LO for various reasons including physical and mental health so would really like to get the most benefit out of my one "day off", to help me feel better in general, if that makes sense. So far all I can think of doing really is go for a haircut! Mosey round the shops maybe and perhaps go to a cafe for a lazy coffee... but I'm thinking surely there are other ways to spend the time which would be more beneficial? I guess those things spring to mind as I used to take better care of myself and feel really scruffy since becoming a mum. I can save up a little but won't have endless cash to splash.

What would you get up to? I can be out the house from 9-5.30 and live an hour from central London.

Thanks!

Check into a hotel. Sleep and eat junk food. Alllllll daaaayyyyyyy

Ah that is a great idea!!!

Omg what about one of those hotels with a spa. Get a massage, have a nap, get room service, have a nap. A little steam in the sauna, have a nap.

Jesus that's gotta be the dream.

Read. Read, read, read and read

See friends.

Depending on were you live, you can get some quite cheap spa deals on groupon. Generally the ones I’ve been to are smaller and there is less to do in them, but could be a place to go, just to relax, read, do some exercise, have a rest etc.

Honestly, most of the time I like to be in my own house but alone! I'm hardly ever in by myself any more and just being able to "be" without anyone else being there is lovely.

Otherwise, personally I like taking the dog for a long walk with my headphones on. I'm a bookworm too, so going round the library or a bookshop and having a read with a nice coffee is lovely. If there's a nice pool near you too, you could go for a nice swim and a sauna etc.

Tbh I think I'd rather dh take dc out for the day. I'm all touched out and don't want to make small chat or have anyone touching me. And most of my friends have children so I don't really want to spend my child free time with other children (inthe nicest possible way). I'd sit in the sofa and play in my phone or read or just do nothing and relish in the fact I don't have to stay mentally alert or be running after anyone.

Sleep.

Do it every four weeks instead! 😂

Go for a mooch round the shops get nails done, eyebrows threaded. Buy a book. Take book to cafe, read. Go to art gallery. Cinema. Go to local museum and walk round it slowly instead of rushing through!

Missing the point obviously but why only every 8 weeks?? Can you add in at least a lie in / morning off every week???

I go to my local gym and swim, soak in the jacuzzi and sweat it all out in the steam room.! Then I have a nice shower, dry my hair and come out 4 hours later for lunch in the cafe feeling all refreshed! I do this once a week (when I get the chance) the uninterrupted shower is priceless!!! Check out local leisure / health centres in your area and book yourself a day pass.

Thanks for all the ideas!

I don't know why reading hadn't crossed my mind - will def pack a book for cafe lounging :)

Would love to see friends but both my besties have moved abroad :( and I can't be arsed making the effort with anyone else..

Def can't afford a hotel although great idea!

@FusionChefGeoff I do get other bits and pieces of time like that sometimes, but this will be in the calendar and I partly wanted to use the time to spruce myself up somehow, maybe go clothes shopping and get hair done as I will feel the benefit of that even after the day has passed. Still thinking of other ways to sort of 'recharge' and 'refresh' but maybe the hair, clothes and an afternoon with a good book/people watching will do the trick. Just want to feel back out in the world a bit really and feel like myself again (ie not in 'mum mode')...

Thanks MN! Hope you all get some time for yourselves too :)

I'd go somewhere quiet - possibly a library and just be quiet with no one talking at me or grabbing at me. Reading a real book is also nice...

I would probably have a list of tv shows I want to watch and a bottle of wine

I also reacted to the “every eight weeks”. It’s great you have agreed on this with your DP, but honestly I think you should be getting a day off every second weekend. Every weekend would be best, but that might be already reducing your time as a family too much.

I don’t have regular agreed days off myself but can usually always get out alone when I just ask my DH. Typically I’m out some hours though, not all day. What I do is I go walk around the city center, go for lunch and coffee, sit reading with a cuppa. Sometimes swimming. I would also love to be home alone more. Need to talk to DH about him taking DS on outings alone sometimes.

But as for hairdresser etc appointments, this is simply to be agreed with DH, so he is able to come home from work on time to let me go that day. In my opinion we shouldn’t have to wait for a designated day off every eighth weeks for stuff like that.

8 weeks??? he's responsible for the child half the time at the weekends. I'd say 50% family time, 25% he gets a break, 25% you do. That's half day each weekend or one day every 2 weeks.

obviously you might want to not be so prescriptive & be more flexible but you need more child free time to yourself than this.