What do you look forward to on a general basis?

What do you look forward to that doesnt involve your child/ren?

A comment was passed to me the other day that I should have something to look forward to every day of my life because I have a beautiful, healthy baby. Of course I look forward to every day with Megan, every milestone, EVERYTHING..but I am still an individual person too no?

I meant that I myself, Noreen, not Megans mommy, bascially has not had anything to look forward to in a long time. I try to make the best of each day..a trip to the 99 cent store can become exciting if they have new Valentines decorations. An hour of american idol has become my one hour a day to get excited over..but is that enough?

I know life isnt all about fun..but dont you need something to keep yourself going? I am very simple. I dont like to go shopping and even when I do, its either for Megan or the house, never myself. I dont have a huge group of friends that I can get together with. I dont work anymore. I honestly dont have any hobbies or anything like that.

I am just wondering, what do you look forward to that doesnt involve or center around your child. Whether it be weekly things or solo once in a blue moon vacations? Can you give me some ideas of what keeps you going as a person and not just a mother and wife?

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

After Connor was born I lost myself and life revolved around him. Going back to work helped but not enough. After I had Ryan I vowed to start doing things for me. I started walking and am getting myself back into shape. I am starting kick-boxing tonight. When I am at work I really focus on my carreer. We try and do vacation 2x a year so I look forward to that. I am just trying to focus on me some of the time. Getting out with friends isn't always easy but I try and make that effort. Maybe take a class or start a new hobby.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

At the moment I am really enjoying going into work everyday! I am working on a really nice project with a really nice client and to be honest, although the project is busy, its not difficult and I am just enjoying it!

Other than that, I usually look forward to Friday nights, nothing exciting, just my hubby and I having a chinese takeaway and watching Lost and/or American Idol.

And sleeping, I sure do like sleeping.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

I'm sorta still trying to figure that out totally..

I spend way too much money on hair products and on my stylist, but it's special for me and having great hair makes me feel good.

I have girls nights with my friends every Monday night.

Once or twice a week, dh comes home and i take my magazines/books and go upstairs as soon as he walks in the door, he's on baby duty, make dinner and has instructions to not bother me. that's my time alone to regroup.





Dh and I do yoga together, and we have a movie night. that's what i look forward too the most. ALone time with the hubby

Message edited 2/7/2008 3:41:56 PM.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

I look forward to every night at 6:30 -- don't get me wrong - I love Jack to pieces - but I can do whatever it is I want to at 6:30. That is MY time.

I can come onto LIF -- I can clean - cook - go out shopping -- read a book or a magazine, SLEEP, catch up on all my shows. Anything I want. I SOOOO look forward to 6:30.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

I'm like you: a very simple person, so I know what you mean about the 99 cent store. Things like that are "good enough" for me. But some other things...

I look forward to 6:15 every day--that's when my DH comes home. It's not just that he's there to help with the girls, it's because I get to spend the rest of the night with him.
I look forward to Friday night dinners out with my parents and DH and the girls...and the wine that goes along with it!
I look forward to watching Antiques Roadshow and American Experience on Monday nights...what a dork, I know!
I look forward to my monthly lunches with my friends.
I look forward to reading.

You see where this is going...all everyday type things. You know, I'm going to the Outer Banks in August with 3 other families and one of these people asked me about 2 months ago whether I was looking forward to it. I told him no and he replied that he was "already there." I said, if I'm going to live my life looking forward to something 8 months in the future I might as well end it because I can't sit around waiting for the "Big Thing." I want to live my life in the now. Now, don't get me wrong, I am going to have a great time in August and I know it will be a blast, but I think you've got to try to see the joy in everyday things and I think it sounds like you're doing that!

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

Posted by Eireann

I'm like you: a very simple person, so I know what you mean about the 99 cent store. Things like that are "good enough" for me. But some other things...

I look forward to 6:15 every day--that's when my DH comes home. It's not just that he's there to help with the girls, it's because I get to spend the rest of the night with him.
I look forward to Friday night dinners out with my parents and DH and the girls...and the wine that goes along with it!
I look forward to watching Antiques Roadshow and American Experience on Monday nights...what a dork, I know!
I look forward to my monthly lunches with my friends.
I look forward to reading.

You see where this is going...all everyday type things. You know, I'm going to the Outer Banks in August with 3 other families and one of these people asked me about 2 months ago whether I was looking forward to it. I told him no and he replied that he was "already there." I said, if I'm going to live my life looking forward to something 8 months in the future I might as well end it because I can't sit around waiting for the "Big Thing." I want to live my life in the now. Now, don't get me wrong, I am going to have a great time in August and I know it will be a blast, but I think you've got to try to see the joy in everyday things and I think it sounds like you're doing that!

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

I think in the beginning it was very hard to separate me from my children. Mainly because the beginning is so overwhelming. I felt like all I ever did was wash bottles, nurse, get up in the middle of the night & sleep walk while changing trains at Jamaica to my office. My only "me" time was getting my hair done once a month.

Now that my kids are more independent, I try to have my own things -

-hobby (photoshop/photography)
-career (going very well)
-friends (LIF certainly increased that aspect because I've found a lot of people I truly like to hang out with)
-DH time (trips this year & nights out alone)

It's a hard balance, but I think it's worse if you don't have something for yourself. It's a disservice & a burden to my children to have my entire life revolve around them. I want them to grow and have their own interests. I feel like the only way to encourage that is to have my own.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

Weekends, when DS takes over more of the childcare. Also going out to dinner with my friends (only did it once so far). So nice to see them, and to eat a meal slowly while it's warm!

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

after putting my knitting on hold, I've picked it up again. It's something simple, but something that is for me. When DD goes down at night, I make sure I do a little. I look forward to my knitting time, and I treat myself to some fancy yarn every once in awhile. Since I have no time for yoga, knitting is my relaxation. It helps.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

I am still trying to figure it out. I was on track when it was just DS. I was doing things for myself more on the weekends but then when I had DD it really through me for loop. For me going food shopping alone is exciting for me these days.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

Seriously, not to be a mush, but since I work long days, I look forward to going home and seeing DD, plus I appreciate weekends more than ever now. I only get to really intereact with DD maybe 1.5 hours a day between morning & night, and that's sooo hard.

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

I would say socializing with adults...

I love when friends and family come over or we go over...just spending time with people I enjoy..I love talking so I call my friends often and look forward to social events like baby showers, parties, going out to dinner

Applebee's just opened around me and I was really excited about going this past week...

I also love eating...so a boring day becomes exciting if we order out

Re: What do you look forward to on a general basis?

I look forward to having dinner with friends on Friday nights and I look forward to going to the movies with DH like twice per month. I also look forward to taking my Fashion Styling class at FIT that I just signed up for. Its going to be fun.