Today I’m continuing my series on moms making time for the things they love. Did you miss the first post on Moms Making Time for Meals?
This time you’ll hear from Kelly from the blog, Tiny Sophisticate.
I’ve known Kelly for several years (our husbands used to work together) and I’m constantly amazed at how much this working mom fits into her days! She’s got two (beautiful) young daughters and she still makes time for girls night out with her friends? Awesome.
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I think every Mom has the same feeling of “Who Am I?” after she has children. Suddenly “Mom” is your title…but you can’t forget about your other roles as an individual, a wife, and a friend. I could go on and on about each role, but will focus on friends in this post. Since I had my first daughter 2 ½ years ago, I’ve found staying connected to friends increasingly difficult for many reasons.
First and foremost, my world stopped revolving around me and began revolving around my daughter…and around my two daughters. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but it was a drastic change. Secondly, many of my close friends are scattered around the country. Friends and former classmates and roommates now live in New York, Florida, California and even some overseas. And then, my friends who live close by are not married, not dating and don’t have kids. Plus, I love being with my babies…I truly do…and often just don’t want to leave them. So mix that all together and it makes it tough to see my friends.
It’s necessary though to make time for your friends and keep up with those relationships.
Here are some tips for finding time for your friends:
- Put it on the calendar. Pick a date for a girls night out (GNO) and put it on the calendar in advance so you can coordinate schedules, make sure the husband is home or get a sitter. If it is on the calendar, you are more likely to keep the date.
- Schedule your GNOs surrounding an event. If you and your friends love music, find a jazz lounge or go to a concert. If you love art, the museum. If you love to run, weekend running outings on a new trail or route is a great way to hang out.
- Create your own “event.” Create a dinner club one Saturday night every other month. Get a group of friends together and each month someone picks the restaurant.
- GNO doesn’t have to be at night. Breakfast and lunch provide great times to catch up too!
- Glam it up. Buy a new top, bag, or piece of jewelry for your GNO. Don’t be afraid to get a manicure or even wear some false eyelashes. Looking good = feeling good…so go all out! (Umm…don’t do this is you are going running with your friends as suggested in #2.)
- Talk about things other than babies! If you’re meeting up with single friends or those without kids, don’t talk on and on about your husband and babies all night. Think of other things you have in common with your friends and make sure to keep the conversation flowing with all sorts of topics.
- Don’t cancel just because your baby has the sniffles. Babies get sick. As long as they are not REALLY sick, they will be fine without you for a few hours. Go. Enjoy.
- Encourage your husband to have GNO too. Although, hopefully the “G” stands for guys and not girls :). It’s important for both of you to have time with your friends, and if he has his time, he’ll be supportive of you having your time.
- Stay connected in between GNO and outings. With Facebook, Twitter and even email and texting, take 30 seconds out of your day here and there to send your friends a little note or comment on a photo or post of theirs.
- Pick up the phone or have a Skype call. It is so great to pick up the phone or have a Skype call to connect with our friends and loved ones. There is something about hearing them and seeing them that does wonders.
Are you good at making sure time for nights out with your girlfriends? Where do you usually go?
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