After a rough week last week, I needed time and space. So, this weekend…
On Saturday my husband brought the kids to gymnastics in the morning and I went to my usual Korean sauna in Edison, NJ. I was there for a while, from about 9 till about 3pm. I toasted myself and also got a foot reflexology massage.
It’s not my first time getting this kind of massage, in fact, foot reflexology is my favorite massage. The therapist only focuses on your feet, and your feet have a lot of reflexology points. I had a rough week last week, felt like I could not shake the negativity, so this massage was so needed.
Interestingly, I am rarely ticklish during the foot reflexology and I am very ticklish during pedicures. Go figure.
On Saturday night we got together with friends to celebrate my sister-friend 50th birthday. It was seven of us and we ate, drank (in moderation), and were merry. The girls later went out for more drinks but I couldn’t. I was so tired! Heck, when I got home it was almost midnight.
On Sunday morning T had an event to go to so I wo-manned the kids while picking up the house. Neighborhood kids came to play, and I half-supervised, mainly listening for major screaming (not good) or for complete silence (also not good). I moved between house chores such as laundry, dinner, vacuuming, mopping, and reading my book or blogs.
On Sunday afternoon my friend Kristina came to tea (Russians love tea) with her kids so we caught up and had some friend time.
On Sunday night T left for this week long work trip. I cleaned up after dinner, read with the kids, tucked them to bed, then tucked myself to bed. Because….
On Monday my school was closed for Diwali but my kids’ school was open. Sometimes the stars align and I have the house to myself! It’s rare, but it happens.
The whole house, to myself, for the whole day. Oh, the silence. Oh, the tranquility.
I made myself a list so that I don’t fart time away on my phone. “Limit phone use” was on that list.
So, with my phone is the kitchen drawer, I did yoga, took a nice walk, and took a nap. I read my book, and meditated, and mopped floors. I made dinner. I rested, as much as I could. I also did lesson plans for the next two weeks. I did not “get” to lifting but, honestly, I think I just got lazy.
I did feel guilty at some point in the day but I really needed that quiet day.
Sarah reflected poignantly on her kids’ weekend screen time and that post made me think. In the end, everyone is different and different things work for different families. I recommend reading the comments, too- lots of great ideas.
I wish this was a world with no screens. I wish I could send the kids outside, give them a tray of snacks, and lock the screen door. Wait a minute… 😉
We don’t really have big rocks in our weekends. They have gymnastics on Saturday mornings and that’s it.
Most weekends, it’s nice out (in NJ it’s May to October), and the kids play outside a lot. We have an outside trampoline that they sometimes jump on. I hear them invent games, drag toys outside. Crafts – also outside. Neighborhood kids sometimes come over to play. We can go for walks around the block.
When it’s not nice out, they play in their rooms, mostly together, sometimes separately. They play dress up, family, school. Legos. It’s as unstructured as can be. They are at that magic age (7 and 5) where they can entertain themselves. The only thing for my daughter is her daily piano practice, 15 to 20 minutes every day.
During the week, there are no screens at all. I know they use screens at school (especially the 2nd grader) for assignments so they do not need more screens when they get home. During the week they also have activities: BJJ for my son 3 times a week, an hour of piano for my daughter in 2nd grade. By the time I bring them home we all are cooked- it’s just dinner, bath, low-key play, snuggles and bed.
On weekends they get maybe an hour of TV (usually some show, one kid watches 20 minutes, then another switches to their show). Sometimes they agree on one show and watch it for about an hour or 40 minutes.
Sometimes on Friday nights, we would watch a movie together, usually a seasonal choice. Or, they watch a movie with T and I read my book.
All in all, the kids don’t really get a lot of screens. I like our set-up for now. As they’ll get older, perhaps we can increase the time but for now… no screens on school days and around 1 hour on weekends.
On the front: second grade picture of my daughter (taken by my husband). We decided to not purchase school pictures but took our own. Much cheaper.
Mom of Children 