I have a confession. Some days I don’t want to be an adult. There are days when I’m just so over everything.
I don't even feel guilty for admitting that. My truly uninterrupted "me" time amounts to less than 1 hour a week. There are people (and animals) draped on me at all times. And sometimes, it's simply more than I can handle.
Most days I'm happy and positive, and I feel like I CAN do it all. I feel like Supermom. But I'm not afraid to admit that it's not always rainbows and unicorns over here. Those "other" days often sneak up on me. I'm cruising along, feeling like I'm in my mothering groove, when BAM...it hits me. I suddenly realize that I can't take much more and I'm going to snap if I don't do something soon.
I'm sure many moms know exactly what I'm talking about. It's one of those days
when I’m so over dropping kids off, picking kids up, and waiting around during their many activities. One of those days when I couldn’t possibly sit behind
the wheel of my car for one more second. One of those days when I’m tired of wiping butts, preparing food, and cleaning up all the messes. One of those days when I don't want to clean or handle one more responsibility. One of those days when the noise level and constant chaos in my home is driving me batty. And most of all, one of those days when I just don’t want to be touched. One of those days when I want to scream "JUST STOP
TOUCHING ME!"
I don't really mean it, of course. I know how blessed I am, and I am so thankful for the gift of motherhood. But all moms have these moments. We can't do it all, and when we do, it's only a matter of time before we burn out. We’re on call
24/7 and rarely get a break, and after a while, it takes a toll. Don’t get me
wrong. I absolutely love my kids and wouldn’t trade them for anything, but
every so often I just need an hour to myself.
Sometimes...just sometimes...I have to cheat on motherhood, marriage, and adulthood, and do something for myself. Sometimes I need to forget that I'm a wife and a mother. Sometimes I need to pretend that I'm not actually an adult with many important things to do.
Ideally, that would be leaving for a night out with friends or a run at the park. But I can’t really leave my house while it’s full of kids,
so I have to get creative with my me time! So I “cheat” on my family and escape adulthood for a little while, in my own home.
{Little White Lie}
STEP ONE: Claim I have a headache. (This isn’t entirely untrue. I
usually do. It's called lack of sleep and four little humans. Story of my life.)
STEP TWO: Conveniently tuck my iPad under my arm, and make a run for the bathroom.
STEP THREE: Lock the door. This step is crucial.
STEP FOUR: Fill the bathtub, sit the iPad
on a stool, put on Netflix, and soak away my frustration, all while trying to ignore the fingers reaching under the bathroom door. (They are like zombies. I swear.)
{The Not So Dreaded Chores}
STEP ONE: Notice the mountain of dishes that need to be washed and the empty lunch bags sitting on the counter.
STEP TWO: Let out an extremely audible sigh and announce loudly that these dreaded chores are going to take forever.
STEP THREE: Shoo the entire family out of the kitchen.
STEP FOUR: Set up the iPad, turn on Netflix and get to work!
STEP FIVE: S L O W L Y complete these not so dreaded chores, while letting out the occasional annoyed sigh to show them that you aren't really enjoying yourself. (HA!)
{Laundry and Chill}
STEP ONE: Make a comment about how much laundry there is to do. (It's true. The never-ending pile of laundry is unavoidable. And 6 human beings create a ridiculous amount of laundry each day.)
STEP TWO: Stomp down to the laundry room with the iPad tucked safely between layers of clothing.
STEP THREE: Let go of all worries. As soon as husbands and kids hear the word laundry, they avoid it like the plague.
STEP FOUR: Binge watch favorite shows on Netflix while you wash, dry, fold and repeat. And repeat.
And repeat…. (I did mention it was never-ending.)
{Mama's Gonna Snap}
STEP ONE: Scream “I JUST NEED SOME TIME ALONE!” at your husband, with that crazed look in your eyes.
STEP TWO: Stomp out of the house with all the essentials. You know...a drink, a snack and a mobile device.
STEP THREE: Climb into your car and LOCK THE DOORS.
STEP FOUR: Recline the seat, kick up your feet and escape into the world of Netflix. (Bonus points for curling up in the back of the car with a blanket. There's a reason why I keep several blankets in our SUV and it's NOT just for the kids! Shhh...)
{TGIF}
STEP ONE: Set a new rule. Late Friday nights are my binge watching night and everybody in my family knows it. After a super long week of being on the go non-stop, I just need to unwind!
STEP TWO: Put on your comfiest pajamas, put Netflix on the TV, turn off the lights and curl up in bed.
STEP THREE: Choose a show (NCIS is how I roll) and start binge watching it from the beginning. Just keep watching until you fall asleep in all your exhausted, drool-covered glory, only to be woken by your husband laughing about how you can't make it through a single episode without falling asleep (not true). No shame. No shame. Even if it does take two nights to make it through one episode.
Just to set the record straight, this doesn't happen often. My TV/Netflix watching is minimal. I'm one of those weird people who hates to have the TV on all day, so I have a No TV until evening rule. But sometimes I just need to relax and lose myself in a show!
In case you’re wondering, here’s what *I* think you need to be watching on Netflix right now!
*The Crown - Incredibly well acted and it will leave you wanting more!
*Cuckoo - A British Comedy that keeps us laughing!
*Lovesick -Another British comedy that's incredibly endearing and very funny. (Obviously I have a thing for Bristish shows.)
*House of Cards - One of my all time favorite shows. I could watch it on repeat!
*Peaky Blinders - A bit too violent, but it has a fantastic story line and even more fantastic eye candy. Ahem...did I actually admit that?
*Santa Clarita Diet - This Zombie comedy is absolutely hilarious! I didn't think I would like it, but I couldn't stop laughing! *Gilmore Girls - If you missed that train, get on it now! There's a reason why I've watched the entire series five times through!
*NCIS - There's a reason it has a million seasons. I'm hooked!
Here are a few more cheat-worthy shows:
Do you ever "cheat" on motherhood? What are YOU watching on Netflix right now?
DISCLAIMER: I am a member of the Netflix StreamTeam. I receive service and other promotional products in exchange for my monthly review. All opinions are 100% my own.