Mine All Mine

I don't get much time to myself.  On the weekends, instead of going out shopping alone, I'd rather have Marcus and Dean tag along.  I'm also pretty fond of hanging out with them at home.  Since we don't really have a huge cash reserve for babysitters, most of our weekends are spent at home, just the three of us, usually playing in our tent.  I get a few hours a day during nap time and after Dean goes to bed, but those are often filled with household chores, grading, writing and planning. 

One of my goals for the coming year is to carve out more "me" time.  Because I don't get time to myself very often, I forget how exhilarating it can be.  Today I left work right after my class.  Marcus and I grabbed a quick lunch, then I dropped him off to teach his afternoon class.  I had 2 hours before time to pick up Dean, so I headed to Target.  I don't even remember the last time I went to Target alone. (Maybe NEVER since we've lived here!)  I took the entire 2 hours, browsing through the Dollar Spot, checking out toddler clothes, testing toys (translation: Standing in the middle of the aisle playing "Lean On Me" on a keyboard shaped like a cat's head), enjoying the Christmas displays and comparing coffee prices. It may seem like a silly, maybe even boring way to spend some free time, but I can't tell you how  I feel refreshed now.  I didn't have to worry whether or not Dean was about to have a screaming meltdown or get annoyed when Marcus wandered off. (He's bad to wander off in stores.)

2009 has FLOWN by.  A lot of my friends who had children when Dean was born told me that time turns onto warp speed when you have a child.  They weren't kidding.  In the past week, Dean's started trying to speak in sentences (and by sentences, I mean "hi, Mama" and "Daddy's choo choo" aka the lawnmower), hit a growth spurt (will we finally be out of 12 month pants???) and has really started to become a little boy.  Marcus and I are looking forward to what the coming months will bring.

As we start preparing to welcome a new year and I start preparing to turn 33, Marcus and I are setting some long-term goals both individually and as a couple.  Several of my blog friends have done dream lists recently and I've started working on one, too.  Some of the things that made my list surprised me while others have been there all my life.  I'm looking forward to tackling some of them in the next year or two and continuing to work toward others.

We are staying home for Thanksgiving this year.  My turkey breast is thawing in the fridge as we speak and we'll head out tomorrow morning to shop for all the trimmings.  I'm looking forward to having no set schedule, watching football and hanging out with my boys. And maybe, just maybe, I'll sneak in a little Jen time. If I do? You'd better believe it's going to involve a pumpkin spice latte.

Comments

[rkmama]

I always feel like I'm missing a limb or two when I venture out of the house for alone time. (When really I've gained the use of both my arms, which are usually used to coral little people.)
Target is home away from home for me, and the ultimate time suck- I swear there is a gap in the space/time continuum there!
I hope you post your list when you're done! (I'm a total wuss and not brave enough to do one yet!)

[Papa]

Welcome to "Real Life"! And it don't get no better. Enjoy any hour you can because you're a Mom, Wife, Professor and have no time left.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I told you it would be this way someday ;>)

Papa