Category: Me time

Mommy Time Out!
General musings · Me time · Mommy Time Out

Mommy Time Out!

Paula Medronho5 Comments

The first few year of motherhood (for me anyway) has been all about the kids. Yes, I have worked to varying degrees, from full-time to Brewer to full-time Mum and some in between, but at the heart of it, my days have still revolved around kids. Feeding kids, changing kids, caring for kids, playing with kids, shopping for kids. Kids. Kids. Kids.

overwhelmed mom

Some may say that is/was a mistake on my part and on some days I am the head someone, but each to their own, and it is only relatively recently that I’ve started to look forward to (read…crave, need, desire) some Mommy Time Out. Some time to remember that, believe it or not, there was life pre-kiddies and that person is still somewhere in there clawing her way through gag-worthy diapers, perpetually filthy PE shorts and stinky socks to a world where adults can have a conversation that does NOT involve schools, school runs, school pick-up times, after-school activities and how exhausted we are! Where mums can explore Dubai and all its offerings outside of soft play areas, birthday parties and play dates (I’ve heard there are quite a few).

During Mommy Time Out, you will not hear a single whisper of children or the multitude of options to entertain them in Dubai (for that, you have the rest of the blog). This space is just for the Me in Mommy (it’s invisible at first glance, but I promise it’s there). You will, however, learn more about interesting and fun products for Grown-Ups, spots for a great meal that do not serve chicken nuggets and activities that do not offer babysitting or childminders. It will hopefully become a little corner just for us.

Seeing as I am still dusting off the laundry and stuffed toys and reminding myself how to be more than just “Mommy” again, I thought I’d tap into my UAE Mom Blogger village and find out what other mums do for a good Mommy Time Out around here!

The first and probably the best advice I got, was from Meghna at Life, Love and the little one, and I keep her post “I deserve my “Me” Time” as a necessary reminder that yes, I do deserve/need the time to myself. As the saying goes……

You can't pour from an empty cup

Here are some of the amazing recommendations from fellow Mom Bloggers that I have added to my list:

  • Keeping it simple, healthy and cost – effective by spending some time outdoors and enjoying all things Nature! No better person than Amruta from Sustainability Tribe to advise on her favourite spots to soak up some Vitamin D and find your inner calm.
  • If you’re arty – or heck, who cares if you are, do it for the fun of it – what about the peace and tranquillity of The Lost Chambers combined with an art class, unlimited grape and canapes? Yes, please!
  • We all take pics (by the gazillion) of our kids but what about widening our horizons (if not our lenses) and experiencing a Photo Tour of Old Dubai as Latika from Stars in the desert tried out?
  • If you are feeling particularly brave (I say this only because I took 3,5 years before I could do this), you could even consider a quick getaway with your parenting partner in crime like Tani from Our Big Dubai Adventure did.

I look forward over the coming weeks to go on this journey of finding the perfect Mommy Time Outs so if you come across something, please let me know, and if you’re new and need a co-pilot then let’s chat!

MommyTime

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Put on your positive pants High Fives & Happiness: Put your positive pants on!
General musings · High-Fives & Happiness · Me time

High Fives & Happiness: Put your positive pants on!

Paula Medronho10 Comments

Put your positive pants on! Unknown.

I recently listened to a Building a Story Brand Podcast suggested by Rachel Hollis from The Chic Site around making decisions when motivation fails you that I found to be such an eye opener. Mel Robbins talks about the 5 Second Rule which a surprisingly simple concept that she has used in her life to see a dramatic turnaround. It’s one of those that you’ll slap yourself silly for not having thought of it yourself. It works to counteract the fact that 95% of decisions you make on a daily basis, from big to small, are based on the way you are feeling at that specific moment in time. That your decisions and ultimately your life path, no matter how logical or calculated you think they may be, are mostly dictated to by your emotions. Pretty scary if you think of all the times you’re at less than your best, have had a horrid school run, missed out on an opportunity or simply woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Continue reading “High Fives & Happiness: Put your positive pants on!” →

A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose High Fives & Happiness: A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.
General musings · High-Fives & Happiness · Me time

High Fives & Happiness: A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.

Paula Medronho1 Comment

A smile is happiness you will find right under your nose – Unknown.

I will not lie, it has been a trying couple of weeks and a time when I could probably have done with some extra reflection on the very many positives in our everyday life and yet, ironically this is when I am least able to do it. But it is a trying time that has passed and berating myself over things I can no longer change or impact is a grand waste of time so onwards we must go! One step (albeit a baby one) at a time, beginning with the moments that made the last week or so a happy one: Continue reading “High Fives & Happiness: A smile is happiness you’ll find right under your nose.” →

If you want to be happy, be High Fives and Happiness: If you want to be happy, be.
General musings · High-Fives & Happiness · Me time

High Fives and Happiness: If you want to be happy, be.

Paula Medronho1 Comment

If you want to be happy, be – Leo Tolstoy.

In the age of all things Google, there is a vast amount of information at the touch of our fingertips and I’m sure I am not the only one who gets caught in the miasma of checklists, how-to guides and “expert” opinions that do nothing more than cultivate our innate tendencies to over think EVERYTHING. I’ve become more prone to getting stuck in the planning and information gathering phase of anything and everything since becoming a mom, probably because the stakes seem higher than ever. The truth however, is that the stakes are the same, life decisions I make for myself are no more or less important than the life decisions I make for my family and honestly, not making a decision is probably much worse than making the less than perfect one. You can always change something if you do not like it, but you have to start by choosing the something and then doing that something. So this week, I’m aiming not to look for how and what to do to be happy. This week, is the week to just be it. Be happy. No pressure, no goal, no checklist. Just happy. Continue reading “High Fives and Happiness: If you want to be happy, be.” →

High Fives & Happiness: Some beautiful paths cannot be found without getting lost.
General musings · High-Fives & Happiness · Me time

High Fives & Happiness: Some beautiful paths cannot be found without getting lost.

Paula Medronho2 Comments

Some beautiful paths cannot be found without getting lost – Erol Ozan.

We don’t normally plan our holidays to death. The last few have been last-minute, spur of the moment decisions and while we have a general idea of options to explore and activities, we don’t really make firm plans until we are there and immersed in the holiday. Last week we ended up in Switzerland, simply because we knew Willie would be in Geneva for work and it made the most sense to meet him there. Continue reading “High Fives & Happiness: Some beautiful paths cannot be found without getting lost.” →

Today is a #RockingMotherhood kind of day.
General musings · Me time

Today is a #RockingMotherhood kind of day.

Paula Medronho14 Comments

As moms we are über critical of everything we do and say relating to our offspring. I think it’s in our genes or perhaps it is something in the slimy gel they slather on your belly just before your ultrasound. Where ever it comes from and whatever the reason, the fact remains that we spend an awful amount of time focussing on the things we perceive to be lacking in our parenting repertoire. That’s why I love the idea of the #rockingmotherhood hashtag challenge. The concept came from Patricia a fellow Porra mom of 2 who blogs on White Camelias and I’m quite happy to say has spread the blogger world over. Continue reading “Today is a #RockingMotherhood kind of day.” →

High Fives & Happiness: You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
General musings · High-Fives & Happiness · Me time

High Fives & Happiness: You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

Paula Medronho3 Comments

You must do the thing you think you cannot do – Eleanor Roosevelt.

Earlier today, at one of the many Spring Break play dates that have been organised to keep the monsters semi-civilised, one of the moms shared that she was starting art classes. There was polite interest and the immediate assumption that she had an artistic streak and was finally pursuing it while a Stay At Home Mum in Dubai. We were wrong. She is not an artist, it is not an unnurtured passion of hers, it is actually a fear. Something that she had held back on for her entire life because she was shy, scared and intimidated. She had spent her life avoiding art because she assumed it was a “weakness”. Incidentally, she had also spent her life avoiding taking a pole dancing fitness class for the same reason and turns out she really enjoys it. It got me thinking about how many things in life we steer clear of because we have a preconceived notion about how good we would be at it? It also made me think that maybe we are creating those preconceptions in our children. How many times have you said, “Oh, little X is more artistic than sporty,” or something as simple as “You’re not ….. enough to do…..” So this week, I’m aiming to put away those preconceptions, about myself and those around me, and try out at least one thing I think I cannot do. Here’s hoping it ends up as one of next week’s High Fives and Happiness moments 🙂 Continue reading “High Fives & Happiness: You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” →

High Fives & Happiness: A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.
General musings · High-Fives & Happiness · Me time

High Fives & Happiness: A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.

Paula MedronhoLeave a comment

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.” Irish proverb.

I’ve just had 4 days with a mountain of laughing (and a couple of actual mountains) and while not as much sleep as I would have hoped for, it was all uninterrupted and with no alarm clocks were set! Last year, was the first time ever that I had ventured off anywhere sans kids for some much-needed me-time, last week I did it a second time and while wedding celebrations were again the motivation, the two experiences could not have been more different. It was a crazy long weekend that involved missed flights, almost being blown off a mountain and so much nostalgia I may actually have become 5 years younger! It also made me take stock again of all the things in my current life that I am blessed with! Continue reading “High Fives & Happiness: A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.” →

Attitudes are contagious, make yours worth catching.
General musings · Me time

Attitudes are contagious, make yours worth catching.

Paula Medronho16 Comments

Attitudes are contagious, make yours worth catching – Unknown. 

Seems like there are loads of contagions out there at the moment and they all seem to make us feel down and downright yucky. Over the last month, I think at least one person in our household has been ill and finally it’s me 😦 We’re all mostly still chirpy and optimistic. Some days are harder than others. Some days you simply need to take some meds and fake it til you make it. On those days, I’m either loading up on probiotics and Vitamin C or I’m physically fine but emotionally and mentally forced to stop and make me-time a priority. Because, like most mums I know, it is not always a priority. We will happily drive around like lunatics to get from karate classes to violin lessons in time, but will not let the washing pile up so we can get to the gym or have a routine health check-up.

Continue reading “Attitudes are contagious, make yours worth catching.” →

High Fives & Happiness: People often see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.
General musings · High-Fives & Happiness · kids activities · Me time · Things to do in Dubai

High Fives & Happiness: People often see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.

Paula Medronho2 Comments

“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for,” Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird).

This week has been full of some really fun and exciting moments but mostly made up of many a power struggle between the parents and the 5-year-old. So suffice it to say it has been a tough week. This quote in particular speaks to me this week because it is really easy for me to get trapped in monster mom mode where instead of reacting to each situation and scenario as a new event, I enter into it expecting drama which creates this vicious circle of destructive and negative behavior that helps no one. And sometimes, instead of a parent and two children in a discussion, we end up with 3 children and tears. So this week, I’m aiming to be more mindful . To pause just for a minute longer before reacting and to not anticipate the outcome. I’m sure it will also help that the monkeys are back at school this week 🙂 Continue reading “High Fives & Happiness: People often see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” →