Getting a Break

I was really interested to know about how often you get a break from your kids to see some friends or pursue an interest or do something you enjoy?

I don't have a great deal of family support and my husband is often working, so it is rare. Has been once a month for a few hours at a time at the most. My goal is to have it once a week but it doesn't seem to happen.

Just wondered what others do to get a break - how you organize it, whether you get one, and how you spend it?

Daycare is a god send for me. but we didn't start that til well after 2. I simply left Daniel with DH sometimes. I figured it was his son too therefore he should cope fine and he did. Daniel often goes off to both sets of grandparents.

last year i was going out maybe three times a week in the evening after hubby came home, just to the gym or the pool for an hour, or maybe with the girls for a hot choc night...

sometimes you dont have to go out to have break, have some good girlie friends over after bub is asleep and eat chocs and gossip and stuff.

Im at uni 12 hours a week which i love heaps although that isnt at all helpful for what your asking. lol. between me and DH the house is clean and baby in bed by 7. he eats with us so we've had tea too so i can just bugger off to my sisters, friends, gym, running etc... and come home when i want. we dont have family on the scene that can help out either so one of us has to be home.

there isnt any organisation as such. DH will ring me if he wants to stay late at work or give me warning if he has something on at night or is going away for a weekend so he can double check im not out or we have plans already but he is very rarely out so its normally a case of "hey im going to my sisters for a coffee, love you bye" lmao and off i trot. once ive had this baby ill be going running at night and probably something like circus school one night a week just to get some personal space that isnt child or carreer related.

if its a weekend and one of wants to go out its just a case of saying hey babes can i go to blah blah for a few hours and either of us might take of to do something

I go to the Gym, and Jackson is booked in for 4x 2 hour sessions at the creche there, that's my time. He loves it too!
Other than that I don't really go out too often.. I have a wine with a friend on Friday, usually she will come here after the kids are in bed or I'll go to her place.

hmmm I dont really...
Except for the odd time I go into town in the evening for ice cream or something with a friend and leave the kids with DHthey are usually asleep at this time though).

I sometimes go out with just DD and leave DS with DH, as DD is easier to handle when out at this stage lol

I know I do need more time to myself though, so after DS turns 2 which is next month(omg) I am going to think about putting him in daycare for a few days a week and then eventually DD aswell.

One week out of every 5-6, Sam is with his dad and grandparents so I get a break from him, but I'm with Jamie 24/7.   Up until recently he was fully breastfed and didn't sleep well so not much chance of me going anywhere really. But now that he takes a bottle at night and sleeps better, I get a break in the evening, and although I'm still at home, I can just muck around on the computer or have a bath and just relax.    

Iv had one whole day off to myself and a few couple of hours breaks probably once a month.

maybe I'm weird but i needed a break..E has bene going to care since he was one for 8 hours a week an dhas loved it after he settled in.. and DH is happy to look after Ethan whenever..and once Liam is FF it will be easier but in the last few weeks i feel like i can go out after he is fed though he settles better for me often.. but once they are bigger i will be able to go out when i want really...i am lucky that Dh doesnt work weekends or nights so we can have breaks when we need too.. as for a hobby i do need one.. even DH says that so looking to find one that is a couple of nights a week or one maybe..

and when Liam is one he will prob be going to care for a few hours too..i find it important for both of us...

often its just to go to supermarket or something though cause we live far away from our friends:(

Edited by ElfsMum

I was so good in the beginning. but hav really slacked off recently for a number of reasons, but mostly cos im too lazy to express and wont give him formula.

I was going out with my friend to either the movies or just to the shop etc. But obviously only when DH was home cos I too dont have any family support up this way, the closest is 1hours drive away so that never happens