Making Time for Me

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How does one put family first without sacrificing herself in the process? I ponder this from time to time, and I’m not always good at doing it. However, over time, I have found a certain level of balance that allows me to feed my inner self along with taking care of the family.

Field Trips:
While this may not qualify as just "me" time, I love to see new things! While we always travel as a family, I think of going on field trips as a "me" thing as well. Learning about new places, cultures, time periods really excites me. While the boys might be downtrodden over our third lap through the museum, I'm eating it up!

Friendship: I think friendship is a key to keeping my perspective. Friends come and go. I once read about friendship being defined in stages. Some friends are for a moment (like when you talk to someone while your child is practicing a sport), some friends are for a season (those times in our lives when we have toddlers, teens, colleagues from work) and some friends are for a lifetime (those that just transcend life’s moments). I value all of them.

Having like-minded women around to talk to, mull things over with, and commiserate with feeds my soul. Of course, it’s the lifetime friends that mean the most, but a light conversation over tea while the kids are at play is always a great way to pass the time.

Work:
Yes, work! I love to teach. It’s what I was designed for, I think. Not that I’m amazing at it, it’s just that it is what suits me best. Whether it’s teaching online classes to college students or English classes at our local co-op, expressing my passion for education through teaching feels good. I know that’s why homeschooling has grabbed my heart, who better to share my passion with than my own children?

Writing:
This blog or Facebook or wherever I can write is for me. Putting thoughts down on the page is cathartic. I’m an English teacher, so it’s a good thing. I used to spend a lot of time grading and no time writing. That seemed very out of balance. A writing teacher that doesn’t write? Hmmm… I’ll never produce a novel – I’m neither creative nor patient enough for that, but a blog post can relieve stress in a heartbeat.

Reading:
It’s great to get lost in a good book. The mind gets to focus on the topic or story and get away from what’s for dinner, is the laundry done, what do the kids need to learn, where do we have to go to tomorrow? I’m not good at putting a book down, however. A weakness that can result in lost sleep.

Just a few ways to make time for me. Nothing revolutionary, but a way to keep my identity as I get the honor of helping my children develop theirs. I can honestly say I dread the day when the kids are grown and all I have time for is me. I’ll take these little snippets in amongst the joys of family and children any day!

What do you do to take care of yourself while raising a family?

Remember, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight  to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors. I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.