Do you make time for yourself?

[londongirl4]

I just read this article about parents of autistic kids having low immunity due to stress:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7513661.stm

The usual stuff was wheeled out about how we must make time for ourselves. It made me wonder how many of us actually do this- I don't and if you do, how and what do you do it? Any tips?

Rae

Like Sphil says couple time is important

It's also important to watch how me time id divided: sometimes you get one parent taking it all forthemselves (football, or girls nights out), it needs to be divided. From my pwm perspective |I know that becuase DH gets a break when he's at uni I struggle not to seer that as his 'me' time iykwim and I hvae to make an effort to remember to give him some too. I think if you've given up work or study yourself you can be vulnerable to that because you can see it as another thing you cannot have.

Luckily in season (now) DH gets Sundays to himself (takes one or otehr of the odler 2) ewhich he loves, and he can pretty good at fiding time for me- Holby (yes I know) is considered sacred for me, the rest depends naturrally on whether DH has a quiet or busy week of work.

I find it really hard to do this but dh is much better.. golf, watching football with mates, etc. I have lunch with friend once every six weeks on a saturday and this is quit sacred although was cancelled today as school fair and party clash meant 2 of us needed to be around.

I tend to go out in evenings after kids gone to bed but am often so tired I end up regretting it and it never seems to feel worth the hassle..( i manage one thing a week at the moment - other nights I'm on here ! )

Would love to be able to do a regular yoga class or swim once a week but never any time. Maybe when dd2 starts school in Sept I will have mornings free. ( apart from the two days I work.. THAT is time off for me, but it's very stressful job too - so mixed blessing..)

I used to get 2 mornings a week til her nursery closed 2 weeks ago. I used to spend it cleaning/washing/admin/food shopping so not what you'd call me time but I
loved playing music at home then or sometimes would have a good cry. With no nursery I am suffering, and so is the house/admin etc coz I don't have that time..

I worry about my body too. I am an older Mum and had dd at 40 so feel I've got to stay fit for as long as poss to stay around for her..

BUT - I can't get to grips with it at all. I'm overweight due to comfort eating and eating to offset being so tired all the time. 4 years of sleep deprivation and stress have brought back severe migraines. ( had 2 in one day when I couldn't go to bed after the first aura and had to keep going.. was very scary.. )

I get backache from constantly lifting dd and IBS symptoms too - probably all from stress.

I'm scared that a more serious lot of illnesses will come later, e.g Heart problems ( both parents heart disease ) stroke ,cancer etc.. If I think too much it scares me a lot but I never seem to be able to make time for myself to tackle it..

I recognise that feeling that you can't even have a pee coz you need to be with your dc..

Hope things will get easier when she starts school but I'm not holding my breath..

Sorry for long miserable post.. feeling bit shit today.

I don't get much me time - 3 kids, DD2 has SN, DH away at sea for 5 months, no family around, part time job.

I get some time when they are in bed but that doesn't really count as I can't go anywhere or do anything! Well I watch TV, read, MN and drink tea

I am lucky in that I have some time for me whilst DD2 is at school, but that involves me paying extra for DD3 to have extra sessions at preschool so that I have some time without the children. My last job was school hours term time only and I nearly went doolally as I was either at work or with the children. No time for me at all.

Now I have about 7 hours per week completely child free which is essential for my sanity - I go to the gym, meet friends for a cuppa or even get some housework done (oh and some studying, am doing a professional diploma).

DH and I get very little time just the two of us but I am determined when he gets home to arrange a babysitter occasionally, we have so little adult time. (Unless you count flopped on the sofa each evening!)

I'm dreading the summer hols too.....I never go out in the evenings- after a day with DD I'm exhausted. Yesterday she climbed a bathroom cabinet and brought it crashing down on her twin sister at 5.30am....later she tried to jump out of a 3rd story window (because she 'likes climbing')...it's too much.