As a doctor, I often reflect on how life has changed since the arrival of my children. Lying in bed at night, I review my to-do lists, which seem to grow longer by the day, and I can’t help but marvel at the concept of “free time.” It almost feels like a distant memory—like a word from a foreign language. What is this “free time” you speak of? Is it even real?
Even on the rare occasions when both of my little ones manage to nap simultaneously, I find myself tackling chores like dishes or laundry instead of enjoying a moment of peace. It seems like there’s always something that demands my attention, whether it’s the dirty dishes from last night or the endless piles of clothes that need washing.
Looking back at my life before kids, I can’t help but chuckle at how I used to spend my free time. It’s almost comical when I remember the moments I spent lounging on the couch with a glass of wine, watching dust float through the air as I daydreamed. Ah, life was so tough back then—talk about stress!
Here are some of the amusing activities that occupied my hours before embracing parenthood:
- Nail Painting: I could easily spend an hour painting my nails and letting them dry. Now, I can barely sit still long enough to use the restroom, let alone watch nail polish dry.
- Hair Styling: The round brush I once used to style my hair is now a toy for my toddler.
- Spray Tanning: I used to walk around in my underwear, waiting for my spray tan to dry. Now, I can only imagine the mess my kids would make during that time.
- Trimming Split Ends: I used to meticulously trim my hair one split end at a time. Nowadays, I’m just trying to keep my hair from being pulled out by my children.
- Hand-Washing Delicates: I used to hand-wash delicate items, but now I’m washing my kids, myself, and the fancy dishes—there’s no time for anything extra!
- Alphabetizing Everything: I would organize books and DVDs in alphabetical order, but my children have cured my mild OCD.
- Ironing Baby Clothes: At 38 weeks pregnant, I ironed baby clothes for photos. I can hardly admit that now!
- Ironing Anything: Ironing is a thing of the past. Wrinkles are now just part of our family’s aesthetic.
- Hanger Swapping: I once spent two days switching all my hangers to wooden ones. Now I just wonder why we have so many hangers at all.
- Cooking Lengthy Meals: Preparing meals that take more than 45 minutes is a luxury I simply cannot afford. Microwaves have become my best friend.
- Makeup Application: I used to spend an hour applying makeup while listening to music. Now, I’m lucky if I can slap on some mascara before my kids need me.
- Expensive Face Treatments: Extensive skincare routines are replaced with a quick wash and moisturizer—done!
- Morning Stretching: My morning stretches consist of reaching for a clean coffee mug while my patience stretches thin by 10 a.m.
- Sleeping In: I look back at the days I could sleep in and think about how much I could have accomplished. Sleeping is now a rare luxury.
- Casual Movie Dates: Going to the movies is now a meticulously planned event. We’re excited for the next Star Wars film, but only if everyone stays healthy!
- Organizing Grocery Lists: I used to organize my grocery lists by store sections, but now it’s a chaotic scramble through the aisles.
- Filming My Dog: I once recorded videos of my dog, thinking she was the center of my world. Now, I’m capturing precious moments of my children giggling together, which makes my heart melt.
While those past activities seem trivial now, I’ve traded them for priceless moments in motherhood. Just yesterday, I spent an hour with my kids working on puzzles. I witnessed my son’s hilarious phrases and my daughter’s first attempts to walk. Those moments, once unremarkable, have become my new treasures.
Perhaps I don’t need to revisit those 17 activities after all. I never really enjoyed face masks anyway.
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In conclusion, life as a parent may mean sacrificing certain activities, but the joy of motherhood makes it all worthwhile.