“I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. If you like something, like it. That’s what’s wrong with our generation: that residual punk rock guilt, like, “You’re not supposed to like that. That’s not cool.” Don’t think it’s not cool to like Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” It is cool to like Britney Spears’ “Toxic”! Why not? That’s who I am, damn it! That whole guilty pleasure thing is full of ****.”
― Dave Grohl
I love the quote, but decided to edit it for my post to remove all the swear words, just to make my point. There has been so much controversy lately about moms on phones at the park, I would have to say my Guilty Pleasure fits in here. I shouldn't feel guilty about it, and I don't want to feel guilty about it, so I think I will shed the guilt here.
I catch up on my phone with the adult world while my kids are playing at the park. I call another adult while my kids play at the park just to hear a grown up voice. I read my latest book at the park while my kids play. I catch up on my latest Photo Magazine while my kids play. Phew… I said it!
I consider myself a pretty involved mom. I limit technology time in my house. I attend every single practice, game, lesson that my kids have. I read stories and tuck in every night (except on the few nights my husband is home -- I delegate that duty to him). I plan bucket lists for every school break with my kids where we pick out activities from Pinterest that we want to do. (Plenty of people have told me I am crazy for some of the things we have done.) While I am awake and with my kids, every waking moment is focused around them and my time spent with them.
With that being said, I am not immune to getting cranky, feeling like I need a break, or hiding in the locked bathroom for a few minutes to let my sanity return. When I need a break, the park is my friend. The park provides me with time to de-stress, relax, talk to other actual grown ups, and sit down for a few darn minutes in the day. It provides my children with much needed socialization with other kids. Time for them to make friends, problem solve when they disagree with those friends, yell, scream, run, and play. When my daughter was learning to swing, of course I was there teaching her how to push her legs in and out. Of course I was there when they were young and needed help up and down the steps to the slides. But as they have grown and can socialize on their own, the park is now my little escape.
I shouldn't feel guilty about enjoying a book while my kids play, or sharing a conversation with another grown up, so I won't!
Do you have any Guilty Pleasures that you want to shed the guilt from??
As a stay at home (and work at home) mom, my guilty pleasures are facebook and reading. I send my kids outside to play and I sneak a few me moments while my oldest is keeping an eye on my 2 year old. I also sneak a few minutes when she's taking a nap. More recently my guilty pleasure has actually been researching my business either while she is napping or while my mom can watch her. Those are the moments I shut my "office" door and dive into the world of digital marketing. I'm going to follow your example and not feel guilty about the moments I spend on facebook. When I'm not working, I spend time with my kids and even when I am working, I take breaks through out the day to be with them...and always when they need me.
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