I write this piece as I sit under the hairdryer at my salon.  Every two weeks on Saturday, I have a standing hair appointment with Kim, who makes my hair look fabulous.  But that’s not the primary reason I am here (granted…it’s a huge perk!).  This is my “break” from life. Break–probably not a word most mothers use a lot because let’s face it, we don’t often get them!  But last night as I reminded my husband that I had my standing hair appointment the next day, he commented that he dreaded hair appointment Saturdays.  Being careful not to completely overreact and fly off on a tirade about how he dreads one of the few times in two weeks that he has to spend alone with the kids, I inquired as to why he dreaded it. “I just feel like I never get a break.” Really?  So I calmly reply back, “Well neither do I.” 

I am nonstop from the time I wake up at 6 AM to when I go to bed at 11 PM. Oh, and my 15 month old still thinks it’s fun to get up and play at 3 AM. I usually put her in bed with us (I know…bad habit and her sister slept in my bed until she was 3) and try to drift off to sleep only to be awakened by a whack across the face from her. She usually leaves Dad alone to sleep, probably because she’s terrified by his snores. So even as I sleep, there isn’t much of a break.

I give my husband credit for recognizing that he needs a break, which is something we mothers never do and frankly should do a lot more. As I look at my schedule, it’s obvious that I don’t have enough breaks. But this appointment is in fact a break for me. I am protective of it and organize my weekend schedule around it. I need to work on creating more of these “breaks,” but as it stands I will make the most of this one. And I will look fabulous afterwards!