Book the Saturday Morning Sitter

I’ll tell you what…..I had no idea how selfish I was until I had a kid…then again when I had my second. I don’t mean that I was selfish in a negative, mean, only care about myself way. But, more like I didn’t realize how selfish with my time I could be until I had children and it was taken away. 

I want to continue this blog post by first saying that I wouldn’t trade my non-selfishness for anything right now- my kids are two of my greatest blessings.

I remember when my son was about 18 months old and my mom and dad had kept him overnight so my husband and I could go out on a date night and sleep in- you know one of those things you have the choice to do before children. We arranged that we would pick him up around noon the next day. Dinner was wonderful that evening and not having to put another human to bed before myself for once was pretty nice as well. But, let me tell you what the best part was…..Saturday morning!!! I slept in, I got to drink my coffee without heating it up two or three times, I got myself ready for the day and didn’t even have to clean up lipgloss smeared all over the floor. Then, my favorite part of the morning, is when my husband and I had the opportunity to run a few errands and do some light shopping without the toddler-in-tow. It was for just one morning, one four hour period of time, I got to be selfish again, I got to do what I wanted to do without any distractions or interruptions. 

I am absolutely an advocate for planning time with your partner whether that be date nights out, or creative date nights at home. But, I also am an advocate for some time alone on Saturdays too. My parents and in-laws have kept my children over night a handful of times so it’s not a luxury I am afforded often. I am sure a lot of you reading this right now don’t have the help of relief you wish you had. So, my advice is to do what I did; hire the babysitter. Not only for date nights, but for Saturday’s too. I promise, it’s money well spent. 

Heather Hibbard - LPC and Work Mom Repeat -Education Director