Take em, or Leave em?

United States
January 22, 2009 6:14pm CST
I am thinking of joining a volleyball team that meets up every Monday night from 7-9pm. This is very exciting for me! I haven't had much of a life since my twins have been born, don't really have a lot of people I socialize with (offline that is) and don't really ever go anywhere, so joining this team really means a whole lot to me! The problem is that my husband typically works until 9pm on Mondays. Now he's already spoken to his boss about this and is capable of getting out at 7pm MOST Mondays, but there are still a few times he may have to work till 9. This coming Monday would be one of the times he works until 9. What I was thinking was, on the nights he's out at 7, I can just take the kids with me and have them just sit there until he comes to pick them up 15-20 minutes later, not a huge deal. But what about the nights he works until 9? The baby is used to going to bed at about 7pm, and will be horribly miserable if he stays up too late, not to mention the 3 older kids have school the next day and shouldn't be kept up so late. They're usual bed time is between 7 and 8pm. I don't know anyone who could watch the kids for free for those couple hours, so my options are to hire a sitter or keep them with me and cope with them possibly being miserable from exhaustion, which my teammates may not appreciate. If I have to keep them with me, the 11 year old will be there as well, and he's very good about helping me out with the little ones. He can make a bottle for the baby, or push the stroller around to try to calm him. Then my other dilemma is, for the next few weeks my oldest is still in basketball, and he has practice from 7pm until 8:30 on Mondays. Now this is 1 of 2 practices per week, plus a game. When my husband is out at 7 it's not a big deal, I will drop him off before I go to my game, and hubby will pick him up later, and I'll just have the 4 younger kids, and the twins are very good about helping with their little brothers too. But on nights I have to keep them until 9, there's a conflict with my oldest son's practice. Even if I just hired a sitter, I'd still have to find him a ride home, which is possible. But I wouldn't be able to keep the little 4 with me for 2 hours while my oldest is at his own game, I'd need him to be there to take care of the little ones, the twins are only so good for so long. I guess my only option is to hire a sitter for the nights hubby has to work until 9. (It took me actually writing this all down to realize that, lol) Boy, us moms sure do have to jump through some crazy hoops just to have some form of a life, huh? Would you go through this much trouble for something you really wanted to do? Have you had to do it before?
9 responses
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
23 Jan 09
I'd try hiring the sitter. Sounds like you need some me time. It would be worth the expense. Reset the batteries so to speak. I don't go too many places without my kids. So it hasn't become an issue yet.
• United States
23 Jan 09
Back when I just had my 1 son it wasn't as difficult. I had plenty of life back then. Tons of friends, even some who I could go to their house anytime I wanted even without notice, and could bring my son because they had kids too. Once my twins were born though, I lost touch with a lot of friends, well, all of them actually. Life got too hectic to think about doing things anymore.
@GreenMoo (11834)
30 Jan 09
I think I'd postpone joining the team until the younger kids were older, or until my husband was able to be home each week. If I was stressing about how the kids were doing then I'd not enjoy myself anyway. If you can find good sitter, go for it though! There's nothing like getting away from the house and the kids occassionally, however much you love being a Mum.
@lovesummer (1162)
• Malaysia
23 Jan 09
wow, i actually read that long post.. i think it is good to have a sitter to take care of the little ones till you come back. and yeah it is ok i think is good to get something to do besides family. it is life it is call a balance it would make good for ya life :)
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
23 Jan 09
That does sound like a complicated situation. I don't really have much of a life now that I have kids. Right after my son was born I still had a life, but as he got older the less I went out. Now I have a second child to find someone to watch. If it was something I really wanted to do, yes I would go through all the trouble you are going through to do it.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
23 Jan 09
I can't really offer advice from experience but I think that it would be a great idea to join and team and get out there if you can swing it. Maybe you could find a teenager close by to sit for cheap on the nights you need it? Even ask some of the other team mates if they know of anyone, someone might have an older kid that would like to do it. Hopefully you can work it out, I think it would be a great opportunity. Good luck!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
23 Jan 09
Yes, I have gone through somethings that are similar to what you are going through. I used to do aerobics and it was always a bit of a hassle to get there for 3 nights a week. Think of the upside my friend. When a wife and mother who is at home can get out for a few hours to do what she likes then the home will be a happier place. Enjoy it and get out and do something that involves other people. It will be like a breath of fresh air to you and it will give you something to look forward to each week that is JUST FOR YOU. YOu deserve it, you eed it, go do it. Blessings
@gemini_rose (16264)
23 Jan 09
Gosh it is a bit of a dilemma but if it is what you want to do and you can work around all the obstacles then I would go for it! I have been asked to join the darts team that my mum in law is on. They play once a week on a thursday, at the moment I just go to watch and have a few drinks with them and my hubby comes too. Well he takes me as he drives plus it is also a way for us to get out together for a few hours alone!. Anyway, I would like to consider playing because like you I have no one I socialise with plus I dont go anywhere and it would be a life of my own, BUT and there is always a BUT in April my son (who babysits for free) will be going in the RAF so I will lose my babysitter, my hubby might be changing his job and as I do not drive I might not be able to get to the places that they are playing, so not sure if I will be able too. I dont know if I would go to loads of trouble to be able to join them or not I will see nearer the time I guess.
@JHEZ924 (119)
• Philippines
23 Jan 09
i understand that you also need social life, if joining that volleyball team will make your life healthier then go on. but be sure that your children will not be at risk of anything. i believe that we moms will think first of our children over our own interest. right?! : D
@savengt (89)
• Singapore
23 Jan 09
With Children, it is difficult to time anymore. Even if there is time, you might want to spend it with your Husband. Well, if the volleyball team can help to make your life more healthy, then yes, employ a babysitter, keep them safe at home. make sure you install webcam. And the older children can help to keep an eye too.