This week, I haven’t had the energy or enthusiasm for much blogging. I haven’t had the energy or enthusiasm to do much at all really. After my last post, the girls came down with colds and so since the weekend, I’ve been looking after two snotty little ones and trying to rest myself as I’ve been under the weather too.
In general though, finding time to be online lately has been more
challenging. For the past few
years, my blogging session has always been when Grace napped. The first half of my precious two hour or so block
of ‘mama solitude’ is my ‘me time’ – time for recharging my
batteries with a cup of tea, to put up my feet for a while and to write a blog
post or read a few others. Sure,
allowing myself to have this online time rather than using it for chores means beds are occasionally left unmade and dust can be left sitting on
shelves, but for me, I am able to do my job better as a Mum when I have a bit of
down time each day and that takes priority over other tasks. My girls are with me 24/7 and since I can literally
count on my fingers the number of times I’ve had a few hours here or there to myself over the
past year, I feel I can fairly justify me prioritizing my hobby over housework during nap
time.
However, it is now a rarity if Grace has an afternoon kip. If I’m lucky, she’ll be exhausted mid-week
and there’ll be one or two snoozes, but generally, she’s still full of energy
come one thirty when Sophie is due to go down.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.
I know I’m lucky she’s napped past the age of three and I honestly love
her company. It’s just that now, I feel
I can’t dedicate as much of my usual time slot to blogging and online browsing the way I used to.
At the moment, I encourage Grace to have some quiet play
or a rest in her room with an activity that isn’t too loud or disturbing for
Sophie next door (books, puzzles, dress-ups etc.)
However, after a while of that and once I've had a cup of tea, it’s time to do something together and so we have our crafting sessions, play a game or spend time pottering in the garden... and hence my online time has become more restricted. But for now, spending time with my big girl is my priority and what makes me happiest... it just means I have to be more creative
sneaking in my blocks of ‘me time’. Nowadays, in the evening, when the madness of the tea/bath/bed routine is over and I
can finally put my feet up, I allow myself an hour of online time to catch up on my favourite blogs or to browse a bit on Pinterest.
I’m really interested to hear when you all find time to be online? Do you get up early? Are you a night owl? Do you browse in your lunch break at work? Do you browse on your phone or iPad while commuting to work? I’d love to know what works for you…
I’m really interested to hear when you all find time to be online? Do you get up early? Are you a night owl? Do you browse in your lunch break at work? Do you browse on your phone or iPad while commuting to work? I’d love to know what works for you…
I am a bit of a night owl so I spend some time online at night I am finding though I am spending too much time online and need to moderate it more. Now that my girls are so big it isn't as difficult to go online but when they were little it was very rare that I would even turn on the computer. One of my friends couldn't believe that I hadn't checked my emails that week and I couldn't believe she had her computer on all day now I find that mine is but it's not healthy. I think you've done so well to blog as often as you do but your girls are really so very important they will be both off to school before you know it so hanging out with them rather than online sounds like fun to me I know how much fun I had when my girls were little crafting, drawing and playing together. Have a wonderful weekend lovely. xx
ReplyDeleteJust a bit here and there inbetween other things. I've been getting over the flu for the last couple of weeks and had mr w at home too, recuperating after his op, so have had extra time to sew and blog. It's not always like this though. Other things come up and have to be attended to, people can't always blog consistently.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same as you Amanda, now that Jacob doesn't sleep during the day I don't have computer time during the day and at night I don't like to sit in the office away from everything as I don't feel like I'm unwinding unless I watch tv! S my solution was the iPad! I watch tv and read blogs all night every night, including yours!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge TV watcher, (it's never on during the day and there's only about three shows I watch each week) so at night, I sit on the couch browsing on the laptop while Paul watches TV. I just don't like to be on it too late as I find the flashing bright screen makes it difficult for me to unwind so after an hour, I flick through a magazine or read a chapter of a book instead. Glad to know I'm not the only one with this dilemma :)
DeleteAmanda, you sound like such a great mommy! You're devoted to your sweet girls, as you should be. I don't have children, so that leaves a lot more free time for me to blog, browse other blogs, enjoy Pinterest, etc. Sometimes I feel guilty when I'm on the computer and my two sweet dogs are laying on the floor staring at me as if to ask, "Can we please go for a walk?" This is a good thing -- it prompts me to log off and get outside with them for some exercise!
ReplyDeleteClaudia
A bit of downtime for us Mummas is important each day - as you said - we're with them 24/7. We don't get to drive anywhere on our own {except maybe to the grocery store every no & then....yes, exciting!}, we don't get to shower solo most days, we don't even get full night sleeps to ourselves. So an hour relaxing online with a cuppa is well earned I think.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, Ella dropped her day naps at age 2. And Ryder is a very short day napper - about 20-45mins each nap 2x a day. Since I started blogging & Ella was about 2, I have encouraged her to have 'quiet' time in the afternoon for about 40mins while I do work, or blog. Sometimes she'll play, other times it's a movie. As she gets older, she is becoming a little more independent with that time slot. Some days it doesn't happen due to Ryder having a bad day etc, but when it does...it's lovely. In the evenings, once everything is clean & the kids are in bed. I spend another hour online browsing, reading etc. Some watch TV, others sleep....but online time is what I do for 'ME TIME'. It relaxes me. {Today, Ryder was up at 5:30am - so the 2 of us came downstairs - I enjoyed a coffee while he had a bottle and then he started playing happily with some toys....which gave me a moment to come online from my laptop while sitting with him..... So with that said, I guess I try to steal moments here & there as well :)
Hope the runny noses clear soon.
xx
You so 'get' what I mean Claire :) I don't watch TV really either and so for me, browsing online is my 'hobby' too. It sounds like we fit in our computer time in a similar way :)
DeleteOh you are such a good Mum, I can't remember being so diligent with craft etc when mine were little. I blog in the dark in the mornings, before my run, before the school lunches, before the school run and before I get to work at the shed. It's so quiet and peaceful and my mind is clear and fresh. Can I tell you, now that my boys are 10 and 15... I can't remember one thing that I did with them in a typical day, when they were little!! A typical day's activities are not the things you remember clearly. You tend to remember 'difference'. Cherish these moments as one day you will yearn to have them again. I do. I miss my boys during the days... I might be busy at work but I miss their company, I miss little tacker activities, and kiddy music and finger foods and toys strewn everywhere. I miss Duplo and Golden books and primary coloured toys! It all goes in the blink of an eye. Sigh! Happy weekend! A-M xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for your words of wisdom A-M. I appreciate you taking the time to share them x
DeleteReading your post Amanda reminds me how the rhythm of parenting changes so regularly as our children grow. In addition to being full time mama to my two boys and blogging, I work as a freelance writer and since starting blogging I have become a night owl which in truth doesn't really feel good missing out on too much sleep. My eldest boy started school this year and I have recently employed a friend to be with my youngest for a few hours each week so I don't have to stay up late too often and also so that I can give my work full attention and know that my little one is also receiving full loving attention. I would never have dreamed of having me eldest minded but as the years of mothering progress I find my needs are different and I find new ways of making things work that still feel right. Good luck with finding your new rhythm x
ReplyDeleteIts so hard isnt it. Will is the same, mostly not sleeping in the day. So I work and blog in any spare chance, at night, or if he's happy watching abc2 etc. I keep thinking how quickly they are growing and will be at school before we know it! :( I hope you all get better soon!!! Its so tough when they're sick. Sending you big hugs from Sydney!
ReplyDeleteJxx
Amanda...i can so relate to this post! I get most of my blogging down while the twins nap at lunchtime or sometimes at night once the chaos is over! But some days i just need to get into the garden or get some cooking done at nap time so blogging has to take a back seat for that day! At night i find i have to be strict or i sit up way to late reading fav blogs and commenting...hmmm much like tonight lol!
ReplyDeleteOverall...time with my girls and having the house and activities ready for them takes priority over blogging and if that means some weeks there are very few posts then so be it....so you are not alone! I know how tough colds can be so i hope you are getting some Mummy time too!x
You understand exactly what I mean Jode :)
DeleteYou are a great mum !!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful artist little Grace is.
Hope you are better soon , take care of yourself.
x
It's tricky, Amanda. I do it at night. But I need to reduce the number of blogs I follow again as I spend too much time online! J x
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to be strict with the number of blogs I follow too Jane - I'd rather follow less blogs, but be a more consistent follower and commenter on those ones :)
DeleteHi Amanda, you're doing a brilliant job with your gorgeous girls! I remember that zone well and just about cried when the twins finished their daytime naps (around 2.5) and I lost that guaranteed 2-3 hour block to do whatever I wanted or needed to. I installed the "quiet time" after that as well but it's not quite the same, is it? Now that my youngests are 4 I find I can do a lot of things and they are happy to entertain themselves or potter alongside me (which is tricky when they are 1-3). I think it's totally healthy for them to see mum have a cup of tea and do a spot of reading (or knitting or whatever or read a couple of blogs like I am now) for an hour or so when there are so many hours in the day devoted purely to them since I stay home with them full-time. But I generally don't get the laptop out for blogging etc until all the kids are in bed, 7.30 onwards. I'm a night owl though. Whatever works I say. I wish there were more hours in the evening to read/comment/do blog post/get lost in the internet as I find it very enjoyable and relaxing. It will be interesting to see how things change when the new baby arrives as I dare say I will be rather tired by the time evening falls so blogging may have to take a back seat. Have a great week. Mel xx
ReplyDeleteOh I hear you Amanda, it's hard juggling so many balls at once isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI steal little pockets of time when I can which lately due to working on a little project isn't much. I find when I spend less time online I am so much more productive but at the same time I miss the online community.
Every once in a while I go through and cull my blog list otherwise I find myself spending far too much time online, I think I need to do another cull.
Good luck findi a balance that works for you.
Xx
I am in this exact space too Amanda. They twinadoes just won't sleep during the day anymore so I tend to be online at night. But I can't keep up with everything and everyone. Then I just remind myself that I just read the ones I like to keep up with, and that my little blog is a simple journal of life for my boys when they're older to ease the pressure.
ReplyDeleteYou're a beautiful mama, and you will never ever regret taking the time to enjoy them over blogging. Not ever :) x
Lately I don't find the time...there seems to be so much to do when I get a moment to myself. I end up cooking, cleaning, folding laundry and sometimes a bit of sewing. I do allow myself 15 minutes after I put the girls down for their afternoon nap for a cuppa and a little blog reading. But that's all. And sometimes 10-15 minutes at night. It feels balanced like this. I enjoy having online friends...but my life beyond the screen takes absolute priority.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you though...it's really important to have some time to nurture yourself :)
Thanks so much for all your links/recommendations on natural makeup. It's so kind of you.
I hope you have a beautiful week.
xx
PS. Your garden is gorgeous! Mulching is on my to do list with Cam comes home...
I love Nicole's outlook (above), but in reality, I'm a little more all over the place. Sometimes I read blogs during Sass' naps - sometimes at night. But lately with all the party prep, it's just been quick flicks through my favourites (yours included, of course!) with hardly any time to comment. I've just allowed myself a half hour or so tonight to catch up on comments before I start on some sewing...I can be a little guilty of just reading and not commenting if things are busy or I am trying to do other non-comupter related projects! x
ReplyDelete