Anonymous wrote:My job is a part of my identity, but I also seek escape from that definition. I work full-time, but telecommute almost every day.
Took up painting a couple of years ago because I felt like there was a lot of yellow, red, and orange inside me trying to get out. I do abstract acrylics.
Take very long walks by myself while listening to NPR - I'm training for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
Read the newspaper every day and novels every now and then.
Active in my synagogue, serving on the education board. I also enjoy going to Saturday morning services -- very meditative.
Serve on the board of a charity that raises money for medical research.
Yoga, but not nearly often enough.
Occasionally I treat myself to a massage or a facial.
Date nights with my husband at least monthly, and we go away overnight at least once every few months.
Went away with my mom for a spa week a couple of times in the past few years.
Keep up with scientific advances related to the effect of nutrition on health and lifespan, a special interest of mine.

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting and I don't mean to hijack, but I have a bit of a different perspective b/c I don't find I struggle too hard to "maintain an identity outside of being a mom". I have a 19 mo old & am preg. with #2. I work full time. While I admit that I definitley have less "me time" than I did before having a kid, I can't say as though I feel my whole identity has shifted to that of "mom". When I'm at work all day I feel the same as I always did - just professional 'ole me, not a working mom per say, just a working woman with a few extra concerns (like needing to leave in time to let the nanny go home, etc.). On the weekend, I'm still me, I just have a little someone along for the ride a lot of the time. I wonder if its more in our heads (the shift in identify) than an external thing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting and I don't mean to hijack, but I have a bit of a different perspective b/c I don't find I struggle too hard to "maintain an identity outside of being a mom". I have a 19 mo old & am preg. with #2. I work full time. While I admit that I definitley have less "me time" than I did before having a kid, I can't say as though I feel my whole identity has shifted to that of "mom". When I'm at work all day I feel the same as I always did - just professional 'ole me, not a working mom per say, just a working woman with a few extra concerns (like needing to leave in time to let the nanny go home, etc.). On the weekend, I'm still me, I just have a little someone along for the ride a lot of the time. I wonder if its more in our heads (the shift in identify) than an external thing?

I'd say it's real for people who had a full personal life outside of work - I used to read novels, travel to different countries for fun with just a backpack and a guide book and no room booked prior to arrival, go to movies with friends, go to the gym 5 days a week, go to plays and jazz clubs, window shop on the weekends. Then there's the freedom - not always needing to be prepared for anything, not needing a set of activities for the weekend, not having to schedule activities around naps, nursing, potty training, going to bed and getting up whenever you want. I'm the PP who just took up running and hoping to do a marathon in the next year. Now that my son is 4, I take him to a lot of kids' theatre and music events - we go to a kids classical music series and he likes jazz and rock. I'd like to start attending the symphony and theatre with adults soon. I'm a single parent and the first few years with my son were definitely centered around him - even when at work, I had to deal with calls from the daycare, making sure I got my work done so I'd pick him up on time, making sure I had him booked for peds and dental appts etc., making sure I had my cell phone just in case I was called about him. I now have a nanny and I am so relieved that those days are over. Kudos to anyone who can keep up a personal life outside of being a parent and outside of work.

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting and I don't mean to hijack, but I have a bit of a different perspective b/c I don't find I struggle too hard to "maintain an identity outside of being a mom". I have a 19 mo old & am preg. with #2. I work full time. While I admit that I definitley have less "me time" than I did before having a kid, I can't say as though I feel my whole identity has shifted to that of "mom". When I'm at work all day I feel the same as I always did - just professional 'ole me, not a working mom per say, just a working woman with a few extra concerns (like needing to leave in time to let the nanny go home, etc.). On the weekend, I'm still me, I just have a little someone along for the ride a lot of the time. I wonder if its more in our heads (the shift in identify) than an external thing?

zumbamama wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My job is a part of my identity, but I also seek escape from that definition. I work full-time, but telecommute almost every day.
Took up painting a couple of years ago because I felt like there was a lot of yellow, red, and orange inside me trying to get out. I do abstract acrylics.
Take very long walks by myself while listening to NPR - I'm training for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
Read the newspaper every day and novels every now and then.
Active in my synagogue, serving on the education board. I also enjoy going to Saturday morning services -- very meditative.
Serve on the board of a charity that raises money for medical research.
Yoga, but not nearly often enough.
Occasionally I treat myself to a massage or a facial.
Date nights with my husband at least monthly, and we go away overnight at least once every few months.
Went away with my mom for a spa week a couple of times in the past few years.
Keep up with scientific advances related to the effect of nutrition on health and lifespan, a special interest of mine.

Interesting..I do abstract acrylics also and all my paintings turn out to be in the warm tone range. Also enjoy yoga (working on certification for that) and also like to read about health and lifespan issues around the world.

Anonymous wrote:[

Hey Zumbamama -- I'm the warm-color-abstracts painter/sometime-yogi/lifespan-extending poster... maybe I'll take your zumba class and introduce myself. Where do you teach?

Anonymous wrote:I find this thread really interesting and I don't mean to hijack, but I have a bit of a different perspective b/c I don't find I struggle too hard to "maintain an identity outside of being a mom". I have a 19 mo old & am preg. with #2. I work full time. While I admit that I definitley have less "me time" than I did before having a kid, I can't say as though I feel my whole identity has shifted to that of "mom". When I'm at work all day I feel the same as I always did - just professional 'ole me, not a working mom per say, just a working woman with a few extra concerns (like needing to leave in time to let the nanny go home, etc.). On the weekend, I'm still me, I just have a little someone along for the ride a lot of the time. I wonder if its more in our heads (the shift in identify) than an external thing?