Where is Dating on your priority list?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-28-2008
Where is Dating on your priority list?
25
Tue, 09-16-2008 - 3:42pm

I'm curious. It seems like extra time is vanishing as fast as the daylight hours now that it is fall.


So, putting aside the 8-10 hours of the day that we all have to work/go to school or whatever fill the bulk of the day...how much time is left? And what do you squeeze into that time? When do you date? What would your priority list look like...the top of the list being most important? Mine is something like this:


I get home from work about 5:30pm. So I have approximately 5 hours of evening time.



  • Work on homework or school projects with DD.
  • Disc golf on some days. Sometimes bowling or walking. Occasionally go out with BE or friends on dd free nights.
  • Grocery store or other needed shopping.
  • Make dinner/clean up.
  • Catch up on news or watch a bit of TV to unwind.
  • BED! (oh I love bed!)

I would like to make more exercise a priority but find it hard to work in when DD is with me. How do you all manage to get fitness time in? What else do you work in? An extra job? Night classes? Kids ball games?


I realized also that I don't seem to make my physical appearence a priority anymore. Gone are the days of shopping malls, highlighting hair and working on the make up. I just don't seem to work it in anymore. Poor BE! Maybe I need to work that in a bit ;o)


pacificsun2-1.jpg picture by samsigs
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2008
Tue, 09-16-2008 - 8:50pm

Thanks!


Right now, I am a high school Chemistry/Biology teacher. I am working on my master's for Education Administration (principal). When I finish this master's I'm going to work on my master's to be a school counselor...my ultimate goal. If you want the name of a most excellent online college, let me know. I am really impressed with the one I am using right now.


Hmmm...maybe our long phone calls will blossom into nights with each other when the kids are gone. I would just love cozying up to his fireplace with him. I could deal with that. ;-)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2008
Tue, 09-16-2008 - 9:11pm

Well...most days go like this:
Drive kids to school between 7 and 7:30 (too close for the bus, too far to walk)
Work 8:15 to about 4:00
Two days a week tutor 4:30 to 5:30
Two nights a week teach adult ed 7-9
Walk the dog for 30 minutes every day religiously
Try to squeeze in homework, dinner, chatting
8 or 9 to 11 watch tv, work on MY homework, talk more with kids

I try to make from 4 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Sunday 100% work and school free.

Keeps me out of the fridge!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2007
Tue, 09-16-2008 - 9:27pm

Let's see...
we get home between 5:30 -6:00
get DS started on toys/games
Start dinner (sometimes he likes to help)
Eat dinner
30 minutes of play time together
Bath time/unwinding (slow down)
DS to Bed at 7:30 with 3 books
Mommy time from 7:30 to 10pm
Mommy time consists of bath/clean up/ and vegging on the couch

Weekends
Saturday morning errands
Park or other outdoor time
lunch
nap time
Afternoon is all about DS

Sunday
Big breakfast
Chores
After nap time grocery store
Unwind playtime

Dating can be squeesed in with advance notice but I have yet to do that (working on it) I do get a sitter a couple of times a month so I can make it out with the girls. Sad that lately, I choose staying in.

Ex is away this whole month so I am on my own (as I typically am)

But I applaud those with kids rushing to their activities. I really think I have it easy right now. I can't imagine having 2 games in one evening (mmoon). That just makes me tired

Exercise: I try to ammend my schedule 2-3 times a week to meet a friend right after work. DS goes to play area which cuts into our Mommy and me time for those evenings.

I have to add that my favorite time has become an early morning ritual. He can now climb into my bed and he has been my alarm clock since I had him. Now every morning he wakes up, comes to my room and crawls into bed. he cuddles in my arms for oh 2 minutes and then proceeds his wake up Mommy rotuine. (but it is the only time he truly cuddles with me so I will take it)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2008
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 8:23am

A lot of runners move indoors for the winter. Is there a gym with an indoor track nearby. Some colleges have them and let you join for a fee. Then there is always the weekend for outdoor runs. I hate the treadmill (dreadmill) but its an option. Some runners switch to weight workouts for the winter to built muscle strength and work on abs. Then switch back to mostly running outside in the spring, summer and fall. Thats what I do due to new england weather. I am not a cold weather person. So winter is my muscle building season and the remainder of the year is my miles building season.

Can DD join you in the gym? I bring mine and she does well there. I taught her racquetball and now she kicks my butt. Then there are classes you both can do like spinning and yoga.

Laurie

anonymous
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 10:21am

BTW...you re looking at one year anniversary soon with SEV aren't you!


Well, yes we are!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2008
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 10:33am

wow I'm such a slacker!!! and my life is way too easy except fitting in study time.


Kids start school at 735 so they are out the door around 7 and on some Mondays, and every Tues and Thurs I'm out the door too to go to school from 8 to 1130. I'm also taking an online history class. And on Fridays starting Oct 17th I start Clinicals and have to be at hospital at 645. I'm so not a morning person.


I go walk my 4 miles after I get out of class or anytime on Wed and Friday. Monday I usually don't go. I also go on weekends but my mom watches kids...I live with my parents. However its hard to get them to babysit since we are here all the time. My ex takes the kids alot since he travels, but sometimes I have the kids for a whole month and don't get a break.


DS has cub scouts on Mondays and every other week(happens to be the same week) DD has activity girls on tues and scouts on Thurs. I'm also the assistant leader.


I fit dates in whenever I can. Lately EHS has been coming over and we will just watch tv, talk or hang out with my friends. My ex likes taking the kids every weekend so that helps. But this weekend he will be gone.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 10:37am

I am soooo ashamed of myself right now! Yall make me look lazy. At this very moment I'm cursing myself because last year's pants just don't look OR feel right. I swear at lunch time I'm going home to change my pants!!! I just live a hop and a skip away. Hmmm, maybe I need to hop and skip home instead of driving!!!

Seriously, dating has been very low on my priority list. Just working, taking care of my daughter and my parents takes up quite a bit of my time. I'm glad when I have time to walk my dogs which I use to do religiously in the mornings and afternoons. Lately, I just take them out in the back yard and down the alley. Since DD is getting older, having her own social life, I do need to take better care of me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2008
Wed, 09-17-2008 - 11:09am

the whole reason I started exercising again was because of this board. Everyone was talking about bike riding and kayaking and such. Which I still want to try kayaking. Biking is NOT my thing. I had broken my tail bone a few yrs ago so biking is out.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2008
Thu, 09-18-2008 - 8:29am

Please explain what CLINICALS is. I hear it a lot on these boards.


Laurie

anonymous
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Thu, 09-18-2008 - 8:32am

I haven't read the replies yet, but for me dating is so low on the list it's not even there. I don't want it to be that way. I want to get out and date, but I just don't.

I leave work at 5, pick up dd from after school care. Mondays, for now, we don't have anything. Every other Tuesday we have Brownies. Wed. gymnastics from 5:15-8, which means I leave work early. Thursdays, nothing now. Fridays, gymnastics from 5:15-8, which means I leave work early. If she competes this season, we will add more gymnastics either Mondays or Saturday mornings. I can't afford that, so she may not compete. I hate that she can't do it because I can't afford it. Damn.

I was going to an awesome bootcamp class on Tues. and Thurs. I took a break for Sept., and now with my gymnatics price tripling, plus much much more, I can't afford that either. Pretty much sucks because I liked it. But for now, my life and money will have to go to keep dd in competitive gymnastics. Didn't think I'd have to do that at 7.

I have very few sitter options, not many friends, basically, no life to get out. I hate that, as I need to get out and meet people. I'm in Meetup groups, but without sitting I can't go often.

How do I balance it all? I can't figure it out.