Few parents start a family with the expectation that the kids will be dividing their time between two separate households. However, divorce is an unfortunate reality for many families that requires some major adjustment. At first, your weekends spent without the kids will be difficult. Without them, the house will likely seem too empty and too quiet.

Being a good coparent means being able to recharge when the kids are with their other parent. If you’re not sure what to do with yourself during your weekends off, the following list is a good place to start.

  1. Sleep in – Turn off your alarm and let yourself sleep in. Spend your morning lazily lounging in the comfort of your bed, coffee in hand, and birds singing in the background. By the time the kids return, you’ll feel refreshed and ready for them.
  2. Pamper yourself – Take a long bath when there is no one around to pound on the bathroom door, preferably with lots of deliciously scented bubbles. Put on a face mask, deep condition your hair, paint your nails, or spritz yourself with your favorite perfume.
  3. Eat what you enjoy – Do your kids refuse to try anything new? Take this time to experiment with some unique recipes or order take-out food from a local restaurant with flavorful ethnic cuisine. Eat a meal of nothing but veggies or binge an entire box of cookies in one sitting.
  4. Read – You likely haven’t picked up a book without pictures in a long time. Check out the new releases at the library, look for deals on your Kindle, or finally pick up that book you bought ages ago and haven’t even cracked the cover.
  5. Go for a walk – Few things are as invigorating as a brisk walk, especially during this time of year. Dress appropriately for the weather, grab your tunes, and spend at least half an hour strolling around your neighborhood. The phrase “stop and smell the roses” seems like a silly cliché, but if the house across the block has a fragrant flower bush, stop and smell it!
  6. Learn something new – Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit or speak another language. Now is the time. There are a variety of universities that offer free online courses in everything from accounting to zoology with hours of browsable content.
  7. Bake – Bake cookies, muffins, homemade granola bars, or anything else your heart desires. It’s a recognized fact that chocolate is a mood booster. You can share with the kids when they come home or have it all to yourself.
  8. Meet a friend for coffee or cocktails – Social distancing is important, but so is your mental health. Get out of the house and grab a cup of coffee or a cocktail with a friend to chat, catch up, and feel like a person again, not just a mom. Even staying six feet apart, you can have a great time.
  9. Clean and declutter – Accomplish your to-do list of household tasks without anyone there to upend a toy box or spill a glass of juice forty-five seconds later. Take the time to clear out specific parts of your home that breed clutter, like the entryway, coffee table, closet, and medicine cabinet. Throw out anything expired and donate items you don’t like or clothes you can’t remember the last time you wore.
  10. Exercise – There are lots of fun, simple workouts you can do from the comfort of your own home, with nothing but your body or a few pieces of equipment, like a resistance band or an exercise ball. Get your endorphins pumping, tone your muscles, and gain new confidence.
  11. Meditate – Meditation is one of the absolute best ways to relieve stress and improve your focus and concentration. Check out your phone’s app store for innovative programs that guide you through a meditation routine, step by step.
  12. Volunteer – Think of a cause you’re passionate about and find a local chapter of a charity that focuses on that. Helping others is not only a benevolent act; it’s also extremely rewarding on a personal level. It can also serve as an important reminder of all the great things in your life you can be thankful for.

When You Need Custodial Modifications, Call Our Firm

Self-care is often neglected by busy moms, but it’s vital for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. During your next kid-free weekend, focus on yourself. However, when it’s time to readjust your childcare routine with your former partner, contact the Law Offices of Dorie A. Rodgers.