Why It’s Okay To Take Time Away From The Kids – Occasionally

Of course you love your kids.

Just like most parents, you probably center much of your life around them. That’s how it should be.

However, there’s no harm in hiring a babysitter once in a while, and your in-laws are probably only too happy to have your kids for the occasional weekend too. 

You see, there are some very definite reasons why a little bit of space from your children is okay, and these include the following.

---

#1: You can catch up on some me-time

If your child has ever said to you, “mom, you look tired,” you have probably given them the reasons why. You will explain to them that it’s because you have been running around after them all day, picking up their toys, mopping up their drink spills, and ferrying them to and from their various after-school activities. And this is as well as keeping up with household chores and the demands of your job if you are also working part or full-time. 

But you need to give yourself a break. So if that means taking time away from the kids, then do so. You will then have time to do those things that relax you. This includes catching up on your sleep if you are in desperate need of some shut-eye. Like me!

After catching up on your me-time, you will feel refreshed, with renewed energy to continue in your role as a parent.

---

#2: You will have time to reconnect with your partner

When did you last go on a date night with your partner? When did you last have a conversation with your partner that didn’t revolve around your kids? If your answer is something along the lines of ‘I can’t remember,’ then you need to make time for your partner as well.

You see, it’s important to cultivate your relationship. If you don’t spend time together, then the love that you once shared might diminish over time. You might drift apart, and in a worst-case scenario, this could result in separation with the aid of a family attorney. It’s unthinkable, I know, but you do need to work on your relationship, and this means finding time to be together to ignite those sparks of love and passion. 

So, make time for date night. Consider going away for a romantic vacation together once in a while. But most of all, spend time communicating with one another. Spark up conversations that are based around one another’s needs, and not the needs of your children. 

---

#3: You will become a better parent

Now, I am sure that your parenting skills are second-to-none, but you aren’t perfect. There will be times when you lose your temper at the kids. There will be times when you wish you could reclaim a little bit of your life away from them. And there will be times when you feel guilty for moments such as those. We all do it; it’s part and parcel of being a parent.

• 

But by taking time away, you will have the opportunity to escape the daily grind of being a parent. You will be less prone to bad tempers because you will have had time to de-stress and gather your thoughts. And as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, so you might return to your children with renewed love and care, and that can only be a good thing. 

Thanks for reading!

x, Dijana