This past Shabbos we went spent the afternoon at the park and it was AMAZING! With 3 active boys, staying inside all winter has been quite the challenge. I honestly don’t really know how we survived.
Shabbos pre-kids was truly my day of rest. I used to sleep though the night, wake up late, and take an afternoon nap. By the time I returned to work on Monday I was really well rested.
Fast-forward to life with kids and all sleep has gone out the window. I cannot remember the last time I slept through the night, cannot sleep late with kids who are wide awake by 6:30-7am and a nap? What’s that?
Shabbos has actually gone from being my day of abundant rest to the day I work the hardest. With all the kids with me the entire time (and no technology distractions allowed- aka DVDs), I spend the entire day keeping my kids busy, which means that I am busy along with them.
At first this change in my Shabbos schedule was really really hard to adjust to. I mean really hard. Now that it’s 4+ years later, I can say that I am still working really hard to appreciate every Shabbos and look at it as an opportunity to spend time with my family no matter how tired I am.
What can I say? I’m not perfect. I love my kids to death, but I still miss my Shabbos nap!
Until next time,
Shaindy
When my son was born, I remember being struck at how babies don’t switch to Shabbos mode. Feedings, naps, fussing, and all the rest still went on as usual. It does take getting used to (and I’m still not near the stage you’re in!). What I love about Shabbos is that the time the three of us spend together is of such higher quality — no phone, no email, no work-related anything, etc.
I totally agree about the quality of family time on Shabbos!
Great post Shaindy, I too reminisce about my long forgotten Shabbos down time routine, however with the long afternoons now sometimes me and my husband take turns so we can both get naps.
yay! Misery loves company 🙂
I enjoy the quality family time as well, and that there is less to do to prepare for the next day, so I do get to go to bed a little earlier. I turned a bit of this time into my Friday Night Treat, which consists of dessert, a cup of tea, and reading Divrei Torah in my rocking chair. However, I sometimes end up falling asleep in the middle and dragging myself to bed later!
For the nap, seriously it’s an exercise in bitachon. If they don’t get to sleep at the same time, then that’s what Hashem wants for me at this moment. And we do take turns in that case 🙂
your Friday Night Treat sounds awesome!