Bubbling in the bathroom: 5 mothers confess how they create time for themselves

This article was written before the corona measures.

Sleep time, wine time

Judith (29): “My son is only four months old. I enjoy motherhood. But at the same time, I crave some time to myself, in between breastfeeding, walks and cuddle sessions. So I always flee to the neighbor during his late afternoon nap. I put my son to bed fed and well, and recently allowed myself one glass of wine at that moment. That tastes better than it ever did in ten years.”

Shopping under ‘working hours’

Carol (34): “Working for me means recovering. With three children under primary school age, the four days a week that I take care of them at home is a lot of work. My husband works in the oil industry and is usually away from home for a long time. The childcare is open until half past six. When I’m done with work, I always grab an hour at the pub, on the couch watching Netflix, or in a home improvement store. To run into the crèche one minute before six-thirty. Hey, mom has a busy job.”

Party in the traffic jam

Judith (39): “I deliberately take the traffic-prone route home on working days. Then my husband picks up our two children, ages five and nine, from school, feeds them in advance, and arranges what needs to be arranged. In the meantime, I chat with friends in the car, listen to the news and read up on social media. By the time I get home, I’m charged, and the kids are ready for books, cuddles, and bedtime.”

Also read:
‘Mommy wants some rest’: this is how these mothers provide me-time >

Silence, mommy shower

Yasmin (33): “My daughters are five and seven. Old enough to manage on my own while I shower, hang up laundry, or take something to the neighbor. So also old enough to enjoy myself for a while while I refuel. Literally. In the bathroom. It was a tip from a friend, and on the two days a week that I’m alone with the girls, it’s sacred: I grab a glass of wine and snack, and then disappear into the bathroom with my phone for 15 minutes. No one who misses me, and a little peace of mind before the whole evening rush starts.”

Instagram until the kitchen timer goes

Michelle (40): “Me-time with children, what is that? Since my three-year-old son chases me to the bathroom, and recently refused his afternoon nap, I had to come up with something to catch my breath halfway through the day. So I tell him that Mommy will take an afternoon nap. I park it on the couch with the iPad, while I lay down with my phone in our other sitting area. He is only allowed to come to me when the kitchen timer goes off: it is set to twenty minutes by default.”

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