Finding time for us

Being a family with two working parents can be tough. Mark and I get limited time with Colin during the week so most mornings, evenings, and weekends we focus on him so much that we end up losing sight of ourselves and us as a couple.

Recently it hit me that I was missing something from my life: alone time with myself. To remedy that, I joined my local YMCA. I go early in the morning and either run or take a fitness class. It is blissful. It's so refreshing to have time where I'm just me. I'm not "mama" or "hon" to anyone at the gym :) I can't tell you how much it helped my mood. I'm handling stress better...I'm in a better mood...my tush is tighter. It's a win-win for everyone - ha ha!

Since I've carved out some time for myself, I turned my attention to finding time for Mark and I to be alone. We work for the same company which just so happens to give all employees 40 hours of Volunteer Time Off each year. That's 5 days a year when Mark and I can hang out together and help our community while still getting paid (!!!!!!!!!!!!).

So earlier this week we volunteered together at a local Goodwill store. We were able to talk and joke around while sorting through racks of clothes. At lunch, we talked about our hopes for the future. It was just what we needed: time to just be together. We also decided to have regular lunch dates - yay!And bonus, we didn't miss any extra time with Colin like we would have had we gone out on a Saturday night.

I can't figure out how it took us 15 months to realize we have all this extra time right under our noses that we weren't utilizing!

I need therapy

This blog is cheaper than a therapist, right? I sure hope so because I've got a lot going on and I need to hash it out. Please, feel free to leave a comment (even if you tell me I'm completely crazy!).

So here's what's up. This time of year brings lots o' time spent with the in-laws. I do like my in-laws, I really do. But I find them extremely annoying when it comes to Colin. My MIL always makes comments about how I spoil Colin and I feel like she's silently judging my parenting skills. She doesn't understand that Mark and I, together as Colin's parents, made a decision to follow the attachment parenting technique. Which means *ding, ding, ding* HE IS ATTACHED TO US. We are his safety, not a blanket or a toy. Yes, it is usually me more than Mark that he "wants" but every child goes through this stage.

In a few weeks, we'll be traveling 8 hours to Michigan to spend a week with them. I honestly do not know how I am mentally and emotionally going to get through it. I sincerely hope I don't have to get harsh with my in-laws but I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm going to have to put them in their place. I hate saying that because my personality is so anti-confrontation but they are pushing the limits.

So I'm curious...how do I learn to let my in-laws love Colin as much as I do while also getting them to understand that I am the parent, not them?