I miss them... but I love the time alone!

Young Mummy Diaries

with T Talitha

Monday, August 08, 2011

I was in bed last night and it felt so strange. I didn't have a problem with space in my bed, my four-year-old was not begging to sleep in my bed and there was no baby waking up asking for her 'tea'. That's because my older daughter is in New York with her grandma, the baby is spending a few days with my mother-in-law, and my stepson is gone to spend some time with his mummy. The house is empty for the first time ever in my life, and oh how I wish this was happening next week when I'll be on leave!

I took leave guys, remember I promised that I was going to take leave, well I did! I took a week's vacation and I'm so excited and proud for having made that step.

But I have been having mixed feelings about my daughter being away and the baby out of the house for a couple days. While I feel happy that I have a few more minutes to myself to just do what I want to do, I feel guilty that I'm not seeing them.

As mummies we normally feel guilty when we do anything for ourselves that excludes our children. You know, like when you go to buy yourself a treat like some pastry it's as if you have a little 'Remember me angel' on your shoulder saying 'Remember to buy something for the baby'.

We need to know that it is OK for us to indulge sometimes. It's OK to have alone time; the only way we can keep sane is if we keep ourselves balanced and happy, so we must do the things that we love.

We seriously need to schedule time for:

*Alone 'mummy time'

*Time in solace (prayer, church, etc.)

*Time with our spouses

*Time with the family (immediate)

*Time with family (extended)

*Time with each child as opposed to the family times (each child needs to know that he/she has a special one-on-one relationship with mummy).

*Time with friends.

I just wanted to share how free I feel and how blessed I am to have the break and this is a really good time for me and hubby to just spend time together, and for me to relax. Yay, summer is here and I can have fun too! Do the same!

T Talitha is a 28-year-old full-time wife and mother of three beautiful children. She is a business executive and an entrepreneur with a passion for sharing her life's challenges to help encourage, inspire and empower other mothers. Share your stories with her at allwoman@jamaicaobserver.com.