Dear Diary,
The pleasures of “me time”, that I once relished as a single woman, are now reduced to stolen moments of drinking a cup of tea in peace, blow drying my hair without someone asking me to do something or indulging in a home face mask when the kids have gone to bed.
Last weekend, I was hoping to start reading Custody by Manju Kapoor. It is a short book and I know I could have finished it over the weekend. But then all my responsibilities kicked in. I became every woman.
A diary of my weekend went something like this:
- Daughter: Pick up parents from airport at 4am. Make breakfast.
- Mum: Kids wake up at 6am – feed and clothe.
- Granddaughter: Do some household chores for my grandparents and make them lunch.
- Daughter-in-law: Drop off a bag of bits and pieces to my mother-in-law.
- Wife & Mum: Hold hands with husband whilst playing with the children in the park. (this was cute though).
- Wife & Mum: Make lunch for everyone.
- Housewife: Put clothes onto wash, tidy up, load dishwasher, iron clothes.
- Friend: Meet friends for dinner in the evening .
- Mum: Play with children at dinner in a pub.
- Wife: Drive home as husband has had too much to drink!
- Mum: Put kids to bed.
- Me: Shattered and to bed!
- Mum: Wake Up in the middle of the night to attend to child.
- Wife: Fend off sexual urges from husband who wants a quickie before the kids get up. I’m too tired.
- Mum: Get kids ready after breakfast.
- Housewife: Do food shopping.
- Wife & Mum: Get lunch ready.
- Mum: Play with kids.
- Wife & Mum: Cook dinner whilst kids and husband are having a nap.
- Housewife: Do some gardening with husband and kids.
- Sister: Take time out for brother’s visit.
- Mum: Feed kids. Play, bath and bed
- Wife & Mum: Plan and prepare for camping holiday the following weekend.
- Me: Bed.
Throughout my entire weekend, I seemed to be servicing someone else’s need. Whilst I do not begrudge this, I find it is so easy to get caught up and be neglectful of oneself.
Next weekend, I am taking my book and I am damned if I do not finish it. A little quality time for me is needed. If my husband is taking his golf clubs, I am most definitely taking my book.
I don’t doubt that many women who have partners, husband and or children end up being “every woman”. How do you manage to get me time?
Bunty
