“Mukha ka nang Toni ulit (You look like Toni again),” a friend of mine told me two months after I gave birth. I asked myself if I really did look that terrible easing into Mommyhood. Ouch. Then again, he was right. I didn’t really look like myself. Heck, I didn’t feel like myself. I was trying to understand the whole task of Mommyhood that I parked self time aside. It was only after two months that I finally got a haircut, finally fit into some of my non-baggy clothes, finally remembered to put on a little lipstick when going out.
When Timmy’s playing with his grandparents, I would usually use this free time to organize the baby’s closet, clean up our bedroom, fix his bottles, etc. But by the time he was back in my arms, I’d remember that whoops, I hadn’t showered yet. Gross I know, but hey it happens. Reality check!
And so the past few months I’ve learned that when Timmy’s with his grandparents for a few hours, I go for ME time first. Like what things? Oooh, just thinking about them excites me. It’s usually one of the four things:
1. Shower Happy!, 2. Sims 3 Addict, 3. Sinigang na Baboy, 4. Gimme the remote!
a. Take a looooooooooooooooooooooong shower. Bad for the environment, good for Mommy. I take out my favorite vanilla-scented body wash and relax under the shower.
b. Play The Sims 3. It’s my all-time favorite game, and I used to spend hours immersed in it! I love creating homes and making up characters. It’s a great escape.
c. Eat leisurely. Oh, to savor a meal! Yum yum yum. I even get dessert if there’s more time. It’s a joy eating dinner seated!
d. Watch TV. I usually do this while eating leisurely. I watch re-runs of How I Met Your Mother, Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune. Relaxing.
If I’m lucky I get to do all four things in an hour. It’s bliss. But what’s even more blissful? Your baby excitedly wanting to get back in your arms. While I’m certain he enjoyed playtime with his grandparents, there’s nothing like him being in Mommy’s arms, his huge smile and his arms around me proof of that.
So yes, to my fellow new Moms, go for that ME time. You can fix the baby’s closet while he’s fast asleep, or after you’ve done all your Me time. You can take better care of the baby when you feel good about yourself too. Which reminds me — I need to get a haircut and some new lipstick.
Hey Mommy, what do you do for your ME time?