*Sigh* Please Tell Me I'm Not the Only One up This Late...

Are you kidding I go to be way later than my 4yr old for some quiet time with my 3rd love PS3!! If that is taken then it is computer time lol.
PS3 is play station 3 .. daddy though it was HIS present HA HA HA he learned real quick that it was for ME!!!!

We all need something that helps us "reset" at the end of the day... for me it's time on the treadmill watching Real Housewives (yes, I love it). I could go to bed earlier, but I would still be wound-up and feel like a slug!!

Haha! I just watched 3 shows on a network website as my 3 (plus hubby, plus dog - make that 5!) are snoozing away - never mind that I have to get up early for work in the morning! I just needed to zone for awhile without anyone asking me for anything! You are definitely not alone!

That's when I get most of my projects done: at night when the kids are in bed. Of course, I use the time to iron! I love having ironed clothes. And, with 8 people to iron for, it takes awhile. I put in a good movie and just enjoy the evening, still being productive. But, I stay up too late most nights.

ESPECIALLY when my husband is out of town, and the kids are tucked in, I used to climb into bed and read...I'd rather come here now to Mamapedia and see what you all are talking about and see who's up and read the great advice...I tell myself every day I'm only going to check twice, once in the morning, once at night....I've lied to myself every day thus far....and I'm never disappointed with the smart, insightful gals here :)

Happy chasing your toddler around tomorrow!

It could have been me that typed this question! ha-ha. :)

That is exactly what I am doing right now! I should really get to bed, but I kind of enjoy this quiet time to myself! I don't usually get a single minute of time to unwind during the day, so I am stretching out these evening hours as much as possible! This is my "down time"!! If I could get my hands on a good book, I would probably be reading right now!

You are not the only one to want a minute of time to yourself.

No you are not the only one. But I've always used the morning as me time. I've always gotten up WAY before I have to, just to sit in peace and quiet to sip my coffee, watch the news and talk myself into being a nice mommy/wife.

I STILL do it, even though my kids are teenagers now. Makes for a very peaceful drama free morning!

Enjoy whatever scrap of time you can get!

:)

Def normal!! My hubby and I put the kids to bed around 930 and we stay up til around midnight or one just hanging out, getting on the computer, relaxing! Some say we're crazy for stayin up so late but we love our alone time to catch up everyday! We started dating when we were 16 and ever since then we would just sit up all hours of the night talking... it still hasn't changed!! I know what you mean tho! I can't get on the computer during the day bc my 13 month daughter thinks its a toy to bang on and pull the plug out of the back!! haha Love em to death but it sure is nice when they are sleepin!!

haha, anytime you can get some "me time" take it.

You are SO not the only one!

I have stayed up many a night...for longer than I normally would, for no other reason than I wasn't willing to give up the 'alone time'!

I think its healthy and good for you...I know its good for me, I need it sometimes! :)

~Just you wait...eventually you will start waking up early in the morning for the same exact reason, just try to get in the habit of setting up the coffee pot before you go to bed...as to not wake anyone and get your coffee in the peaceful morning!!

OH good heavens no!! You are "recharging your batteries"....so that you can be the very best Mom that you can be when you need to be. Don't every feel guilty for needing a little "me" time!!!

Obviously you are not the only one :) I need my "me" time too. It can be while my kid is napping, or my fave is late night when everybody else is sleeping. I even can chat with my friends at 2 in the morning, she's doing the same thing... Looking for me time and getting the work/hobby done (we do photo editing). I think we need time for ourself. I will help us wind down, and will function better as a happy mother when we have our needs fulfilled.

Looks like with 24 responses already I'll be Lady Redundant Woman but -
Absolutely not! Everybody needs time off!! Do keep in mind that Maslow's hierarchy is fairly proven and not much of a theory - adequate food, water and sleep are *required* for your body function properly and that includes being a good Mommy. However, you also NEED child-free grown-up time ALONE to maintain sanity and sense of self, also needs for being a good Mommy - just a tad below the former three! My husband and I understand the need for time off - and have planned accordingly. Hopefully you can implement "alone-time" in your schedule as well with your dh's help. At our house that looks like 3 hours to a full day off weekly per parent. 3 hours is minimum tho. If your DH is unavailable or unwilling (or when mine is!), find a sitter! I try to find someone OUT of the house so I can sleep if I want, sit and read a book, or go out. We're consistently shopping around for couple friends who are willing to trade kids for nights off and date nights. It's the easiest and cheapest way to do it.

Also, it helps my attitude and patience level ALOT when I make a conscious effort to be present, instead of playing the game or whatever whilst wishing I was doing something else.... Being present is a great gift to your children, and so much easier if you know alone-time is already assured.

Good luck!! Go grab so sanity!

I think that you have at least 18 other parents proving that you are not the only one, just by responding to this question! :)

lol. i was exhausted all day after being up the night before with a sick kiddo, then working all day. i was literally about to fall asleep at my computer all day. i get home, make dinner, continue dealing with sick kiddo (daddy stayed home all day with him - do ya think he made dinner? NOPE!) finally get him to sleep (after an hour of fighting it for some reason - hello, you're sick you're supposed to want to sleep MORE! not less!) collapse on the couch thinking...i'm right behind him....and just couldn't make myself do it. i watched dvr'd general hospital and house instead. and still didn't get to bed early. dumb moms! lol

nope. That's sometime I have always done too. Or sit watching mindless TV. Or reading a stupid "parenting" magazine that is full of PC junk I don't agree with 100%... anything that I can do with "freedom". lol

I still do it, and mine are 12 and 9. lol

I'm still making up for all the "me time" I didn't get when my kids were little. Here I am...almost midnight and I'm still online (dh went to bed a few minutes ago) lol!

Hey, my daughter is eight months old, and I am sitting here RIGHT WITH YOU!! :) That is so funny! I know I should have went to bed about half an hour ago, but I just want this little time at night all for me.

Now, in about half an hour, my husband will come upstairs and say "Go to bed! I don't want to hear you complain about how tired you are if you aren't going to go to bed!" hee hee...he just doesn't get it. But you do!

I'm with you one hundred percent...and mine will probably wake up soon too. :)

doing it right now ......but prefer in the morning after the bus pick up my DD at 7:20 ....so I can have a cup of coffe before fixing my DH his lunch bag, baby wakes up around 9 so is heaven for me.....

No, I am right there with you...I'm on here, on Facebook, etc., and stay up later than I intend to. My hubby complains about me not sitting with him downstairs to watch TV but really, he's the one that puts stuff on that I have zero interest in. We all need our breaks and some downtime and just things just for US. It can be addicting though...as soon as I get done typing this, I'm heading downstairs and try to get some reading done while DH is watching another something dumb on TV...

Psssssht! Heck no you're not the only one! It is now 12:15 and my DD is in bed snoozing away. House is clean. Nothing I need to do. But I would rather lose a little sleep now and keep my sanity. I love my Emily to pieces but I need a little me time. How else can I talk with such fantastic Mamas like yourself??? LOL! My hubby is a truck driver & gone most evenings/nights so it's not like I'm missing time with him. It's great!

I'm there with you Mama! It's not stupid to "play" on the computer, like you said..."me" time.

When I know I should be resting..I find myself doing some other chore, or finding something to clean or do around the house. I've "learned" to take some "me" time...or go to bed when my children go(that's easier said) to bed. If you can't go to bed right away...catch up on some reading material..that might just do the trick. :) A WOMEN'S JOB IS NEVER DONE! :)

You mean I'm NOT supposed to stay up late on the computer??? haha

I do it pretty much every night... and pay for it the next day...and do it over again haha

Part of it though is that my husband is in Egypt, so I can usually talk to him at some point between 10 pm & midnight my time. Plus I get involved with whatever I'm doing online or talking to a friend lol

Good for you! Every parent deserves a little time to themselves even if you have to sacrifice a little sleep to do it. I never feel guilty when I go online or sneak out to get a mani and leave my son with my husband. I think it helps keep me sane sometimes after running around doing laundry, cleaning, cooking, working full time, etc. I used to feel so guilty when i would sit down to watch T.V. or just log on FB. But I enjoy that time to myself now since it's a luxury I don't always have as a mom.

i like your question. one i never thought to ask. but yay! we all do the same thing! haha

i hate it though. i wish i had some will power. :) i always get carried away with watching some tv/movie on netflix or researching something on the internet. then i'm so tired the next day. its true though. its the only me time i get. :(

No you are not the only one! It sux but sooooo worth it.

Was just about to say 'nope' when you got the call. Good luck! But it does pass and one day we have too much time on our hands. Like now. My babies went and grew up.

I usually don't go to bed until after midnight! I too like my quiet time, even if it's just playing on the computer or watching TV. Some nights I have to force myself to go to bed. Way different from when my son was younger and I went to sleep as soon as he did. Guess I realized I can survive with a minimal amount of sleep :)

heck yes i do everything i can to get my me time

I have "me" time every night after my little one goes to bed. I love the peaceful nonintrerruped quiet time...where I can get on here and just relax :)

I do the EXACT same thing! It is my only 'me time' too and I haven't found a better way. I do know that you are not supposed to be on the computer b/c it wakes you up and stimulates you but...that doesn't seem to stop me either. Good luck!

me except i waste more than an hour. i sometimes find myself watching a movie i have already watch...play soduku...linger here at mamap...just about anything to savor the me time. and i too love my little one =).

You are not alone. We have four kids (13, 12, 10 and 5). Plus, my mother with Parkinson's lives with us and we provide her night time care.

I am tired first thing in the mornings, but get going fine once I get a shower. I have to have time where I am not needed by anyone and it is always this late at night.

Good luck!!

no,not alone.i do it too.But since i got four small young children (8 and under),i often now multitask and do my mindlesscomputer or T.V time for me while holding the baby or nursing s .
Nursing take up to 15mn each breast,so it is like 30mn of quiet time for me at night while the baby nurse and the 3 other ones are asleep.With a 1 monthold and a 2 year old and a 5 and 8 years old ,i can't aford to loose any sleep rigt now .However i still need my me time like 30mn to an hour a day .And for me it happens during night nursing or a long shower in the very early morning after my youngest one nightime feeding.:-).So ,it is 1.58 am and i am doing this while nursing he he :-).Absolutely not the only one.

well its 4:23 here and i'm up after my husband's insomnia resulted in him moving a bed and about 500 lbs of firewood (huh?). he's asleep now. gag.

Yea the computer and internet are very addictive and time consuming!! Check out these ideas that you could possibly start getting into for some different "me" time (but you are definitely NOT the only one):

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/question/q/2216?utm_campaig...

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/question/q/2089?utm_campaig...

I'm getting me time right now! :)

I do it too...but I get up before the kids for my peace and quiet. The minute I have all 3 in bed and asleep I can barely get the last light off and get myself under the covers before I'm out like a light. I usually end up getting up after my youngests morning feed to have a little bit of time to myself, watch some TV that's not kids shows and poke around on the computer doing nothing in particular. Sometimes I even do something useful like make phone calls for doctors apts or balance the checkbook LOL
I don't always do it, sometimes that sleep calls louder to me ;)

No, you are NOT the only one who sacrifies her sleep! I do it every single night of my life. I MUST have my downtime, and if that means losing some sleep, then so be it. This is daily struggle for me. You are definately not alone.

you are so not the only one....I am doing the same thing all the time! :-) I get frustrated with myself because all day I am exhausted and can't wait to go to sleep, but the minute my daughter is asleep, it is like a switch goes on and I just can't go to bed.