One Hour Difference

It’s amazing how much difference an hour can make.

Since this past Sunday (when we changed the clocks back one hour) my kids have been waking up an hour earlier than usual. 5:30am is quite different than 6:30am.

Especially for those of us who are not morning people.

The only benefit I see to waking up an hour earlier is that they’ve also been going to sleep an hour earlier. My kids have been so tired at night that they just melt into bed. Tired kids, means a shorter bedtime routine, which means more “me” time for mommy.

As a person who is almost the walking definition of introverted, time to myself is what keeps me energized. It gives me time to think, time to blog and time to do whatever I feel I need to do without constant interruptions from the little people in my house. Alone time is something I crave when I go for long periods without it.

Last night, as I was putting my kids to bed, I couldn’t help but smile. I remembered how last spring I was so nervous about the summer months to come. I knew that my kids would be up later at night than they had been in the winter months. Forget the dark-out shades I bought for their room. My kids always knew whether or not it was light outside. They just knew. They didn’t have to see the sun to know that it was out. And they knew that when the sun is out, it was not time to sleep. No sleep meant losing out on some precious me time.

(Don’t get me wrong- I cherish the time I have with my children and am grateful I get to put them to bed every night, BUT that doesn’t mean that I don’t also want to veg out too!)

So why was I smiling? Somehow, even with the late bedtimes, I made it thought the summer. With flying colors, if I might add. I learned to appreciate alone time even if it was for only 5 minutes at a time. My long commute to/from work became alone time. The 5 minute drive to/from the train station was my alone time. Even my 5 minutes in the bathroom was my alone time. I knew I didn’t have a lot of time in my day, so every minute counted. And it had to be enough.

Now that long summer days are gone I have a new confidence in myself. I know that when my kids get older and their bedtime naturally gets later, I will still be ok. I will manage with the time that I do have to myself. I know I will!

Until next time,
Shaindy