It’s our first Win-It Wednesday… every Wednesday throughout the summer we will be giving away something from our store. All you need to do to be eligible to win is to answer the weekly question, either on the blog, our Facebook fan page, or on Twitter (use hashtag #momagenda)! Winner to be chosen at random on Friday!
This week, the winner will receive a momAgenda Desktop–your color choice.
Here’s this week’s question:
Do you have a favorite activity or hobby that you engage in, that makes you feel like the old (pre-having-kids) you? If so, please share… many of our readers are looking for ideas and suggestions for how to get that old feeling back!
Good luck everyone!
When I can get away to walk – without a stroller, without kids on bikes – and it’s just me and my music. That’s good times for Mom – and I am energized, too!
Taking a walk on the beach….ALONE. It is peaceful and you can forget for a minute the crazy life that is normally going on.
It doesn’t seem like much, but my best friend and I have been friends since we were 4 or 5. When we were in high school and college, we would get Taco Bell and see a movie, usually a Chick Flick. These days, it isn’t as often as when we were in high school and college, but when we do get the break, we often do the same thing. Feels like nothing has changed until its time to go home!
Shopping! Shopping for me that is, not for childrens’ clothes!
My favorite non-mom activity is to pack my small, cute purse with girly essentials: wallet, lip gloss, etc. ABSOLUTELY no kid stuff! Then, I head to a late night movie – either alone or with a girlfriend or hubby! Staying out late reminds me of my pre-mom night owl life and the little purse provides a brief respite from the diaper bag! Its a tiny glimpse of my pre-mom life, but its a quick salve to a weary-mom soul!
A few different things, any type of exercising, but mostly the Wii active. Reading a good book with either coffee, tea, or a glass of wine, depending on the time of day.
Scrapbooking. I use to have time to scrapbook but now with 3 kids I have no time to scrapbook all our vacation, school, everyday photos
It was also my stress reliever.
Bunco–Every month a group of girls get together to play bunco at somebody’s house. It’s a great time for good food, drinks and companionship. Lots of times we don’t even end up playing. Just a great time to get away from it all and be our own independent selves. Not somebody’s mother or wife, but just an individual
Honestly, just going out to dinner with friends without the children reminds me of the pre-kid me. Just sitting around chatting without having to worry about cutting up little people’s food or wiping mouths is just such a simple and fun time for me!
We get together once a year and have a slumber party at a hotel – its like old times where we sit around and giggle and pull pranks on each other
Traveling. Pre-children we planned two big trips a year. We have not done this in about 3 years.
I get a pedicure every month, winter, spring, summer, fall. It’s an hour that’s just for me. I’m forced to slow down and relax.
Going on a date with my husband, sitting at our favorite restaurant’s bar and flirting (with each other) while having cocktails, then meandering on to our next destination…without worrying about the kids or schedules!
Running (by.myself) is my happy place and in doing so it reminds me of my sexy-prechild-self … unfortionately I don’t look as good running NOW as I did before… but I don’t let that negative self-talk stop me.
A good friend of mine and I always go out to dinner for our birthdays, just the two of us. It’s really nice to just get away for an evening. We also try to go out to one of the clubs once a month. Doesn’t happen very often anymore, but we try.
Me and some of my best girl friends get together for dinner without the kids or hubbies. I have a 3 year old and a 2 week old, so its hard to get out right now, but that is my favorite thing to do from “the old days”.
This might be crazy but we love going to Disneyland or World without the kids some times, we totally feel young and free and pre-kid!
A cup of coffee and a good book usually do the trick. Time away with my husband is nice too!
When I read, I feel the most like myself. Making the time to read whatever I want to is a luxury that is also a necessity for me!
…I enjoy a nice bubble bath, glass of wine and a good book…now if I do that I see 4 children poking their hands under the bathroom door!!
Going out to dinner and to a movie with my husband. It rarely happens now but it’s glorious when it does!
Sneaking in time for a pedicure is my thing I like to do. Not much time to do it, once you have have kids.
Honestly, I love to just read. Without interruption and a book of my own choosing.
mine is listen to my music, my old cd’s. it takes me back to high school, what wonderful memories. i hear kids music so much it is a treat when i get to listen to my music.
Driving alone…anywhere! I can turn up the music and not have to worry whether anyone ‘needs’ me. Feels like having freedom again
My book club reminds me of my pre-kid days. It started before I had kids and even though it was difficult sometimes, I have managed to keep up with our monthly meetings. This is the one thing that I do for me, and it is so worth the effort.
I love watching grown-up movies and not having to share any snacks!
Date night! My husband and I don’t go out very often these days, but when we do, it’s always a trip down memory lane.
Reading! Sounds crazy but when I am truly engaged in a book, I can not be bothered and the world around me disappears!
Working out does it for me!
I started competing in triathlons… being able to train and then complete a race makes me feel like my old pre-mom self because I do it just for me!
Going to the gym or getting out for a walk by myself. Makes me feel strong and energized!
A close second would be reading a book in bed. I don’t think I have managed to complete a non-parenting related, fiction book since having kids. I am too tired to read at the end of the day!
Running alone! Now that my daughter is old enough, she likes to run with me. Miles alone make me feel young and free to explore my own mind.
Through the fall / winter I play volleyball in an adult league. I loved volleyball in my youth and I guess that makes me feel young-ish again.
I actually started blogging this year. Taking an hour or so a day to write is calming. Plus, the blog is about frugal living which is a hobby for me. The blog forces me to do frugal things, so that I have something to write about. It is forcing me to be more truly who I am.
Taking an evening every now and then to sit at the kitchen table and have a couple drinks with the hubby. We get lots of uninterupted time to talk about all things not related to the kids. It reminds me of when we were dating.
One Tuesday a month one of my girlfriend and I go out to see a movie without the kids or husbands. The movie does not have to be good as long as we can talk and relax. Husbands and kids are jealous and last time we got shushed during the opening credits by teenagers!
Work on a handmade Quilt.
Before I was married and had kids, my husband (boyfriend at the time) was in the ARMY and would go away to drill sometimes. I’d usually spend my time happily alone in our apartment. I’d make myself some popcorn, curl up on the couch with my coffee, book, and remote control (to watch my guilty pleasure of choice) and just enjoy spending the night doing absolutely whatever I wanted to do. Precious “me” time. Now I rarely have the house to myself for five minutes let alone an entire uninterrupted evening or weekend, but when I do it’s absolutely marvelous. I don’t care if I have an hour or a day, if I can force myself to forget the endless housework and take the time for me I can feel like a carefree college kid who has only herself to worry about again. The calm it brings is the absolutely best thing to rejuvinate me.
Me and Hubby like to take off in his truck and just goof off maybe hike around the lake, get ice cream, turn off the lights and watch scary movies.
We sneek out to the rv in the drivway and turn on some music and the fireplace for some romance *giggle*
it’s not much but when we were dating 16 yrs ago we did these kind of things often.
Setting aside a night each month to go out with a group of friends for dinner and games. Feels like before we had kids.
My husband and I have booked a date night once a week all summer with a babysitter. Sitting at dinner thinking only about what I want to eat is a great and relaxing feeling! I hope we can keep this year round!
Dancing!!! I loved going out dancing. I usually went with my girlfriends, and I did not care if I danced with anyone or not. When a song came on that I liked, I was on that floor in my own world dancing my butt off! Every sweet once and a while, I will get the chance to go out with my girlfriends and we will hit just the right spot – uh, yeah, many times we feel out of our prime when standing next to our younger, hot and hip generation. But, we are always given a certain level of respect. I believe it is how we carry ourselves, we walk in like we run the joint and that in itself is connecting with that “watch out world” attitude of our earlier days. And just like my earlier days, partner or no partner when THAT song comes on – you know where to find me – in my zone dancing my butt off in the middle of the dance floor!
I have a sweet friend from high school and we try to catch as many of the area country concerts as possible. Its just me and her like old times. No kids, no husbands. Just girls having fun!!!
I like to go get my hair done. My place is great with wine, shampoo massages, mani/pedi. I love it. I look like a hottie when I am done and it doesn’t make me feel one ounce like a soccer mom with a crazed schedule!
I wish I could Scrapbook more..and surfing the net..
I’ve just started to take a dance class.
Watching movies, reading and listening to music.
Curling up in front of the tv with my husband, while the kids are over a friend’s house.. just enjoying each other’s company and the quiet…
My second favorite thing to do is something I treasure because it gives me a few minutes to focus on those dear to my heart… sitting down and penning a note, letting them know I’m thinking of them, while enjoying a glass of iced tea, and soft music.
getting away by myself for a monthly pedicure and getting a babsitter and having dinner out with my husband feels like “ol times”..not a care in the world #for a few hours# LOL
Get away for a weekend with girlfriends. This year for the first time since I had my son 6 yrs. ago, I went away with some girlfriends for a scrapbooking weekend. We had a blast. Staying up until the wee hours of the morning just talking. I don’t think it is so much a matter of what you get away to do, just getting away with your girlfriends can put a little zip in your step.
I play tennis once a week with my girlfriends – we’ve all played for years and it’s such good therapy to hit a ball. .
Every once in a while I sneak into the basement and turn the tv on for a few minutes. I keep the lights off and for a few minutes it’s like I’m by myself.
Going shopping by myself! No one hanging off me or asking for anything!
Hanging out with the girls & not worrying about the time, pickup, or dinner for anyone else besides myself!
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I have just started running again (Couch to 5K program) and it has done wonders for me, physically AND emotionally!
Coffee/lunch/dinner with friends – when we don’t talk about kids at all!
When alone – reading without interruptions! When with my husband (after our tiny ones are asleep) – watching tv with the lights low and not having to worry about whether what we are watching has even mild language we don’t want our two year old to repeat; it’s just like when we were in college!
Running does it for me. A pretty, quiet place and I’m by myself. I have 3 kids so I have to do it early before anyone is awake but I love that time to myself. I’ll even go in the rain bc quiet moments are hard to find.
A girl’s night out! Our new favorite activity is going to painting classes with a twist. We enjoy wine, laugh, sing, and leave with a suprisingly good painting.
I’m assuming you gave this away already. But considering that I just found you and want to purchase a desktop agenda, I’m going to answer…just in case! Fingers crossed! LOL! I used to have time to be creative and loved creating cards for friends. Every once-in-a-while when everyone’s asleep, I choose to let the dishes sit in the sink and avoid late-night chores and make a card or two, instead! :-# It makes me feel like i’ve accomplished something #not to mention the thank you for the work…unlike the lack of thank yous from my kids) when the receiver mentions how much they liked the card.