just me

Before I Had Kids

Sheri (When the Kids Go To Bed)

I was reading on Shape.com the other day about the newest celebrity fitness trend…Scuba diving. It seems that celebrities like Nina Dobrev and Katie Holmes are all getting their PADI certifications. Back in spring of 2004 my husband and I got our PADI certifications. We took the classes, passed our open-water tests, and started scuba diving. We went on a few excursions with my dad and some other members of the dive shop. I really enjoyed it. There is just something about exploring the unknown, even in these not-so-scenic New England waters. In winter of 2005 I became pregnant with my first child and my world changed forever. I never went scuba diving again. Not that I don’t want to, it’s just there are other priorities.

This got me thinking about all the things I haven’t done since I had kids (6 years).

1.) I haven’t flown on a plane.

2.) I haven’t been on a vacation.

3.) I haven’t colored my hair.

4.) I haven’t skied.

5.) I haven’t gone scuba diving.

6.) I haven’t come home from work and crashed on the couch.

We’ll plan a vacation at some point. For the past 6 years every extra dime we’ve made has gone into our house; new furnace, new boiler, new electrical panel, new windows, amongst other restorations/renovations.

I haven’t colored my hair since I found out I was pregnant with my first, and according to my friends I only have a couple of gray hairs. I think they are just being kind.

Skiing and scuba diving…leisure activities don’t seem to exist for me. Although I would really LOVE to teach my boys to ski. We just have to leave daddy at home because he’s a hazard on the mountain. The scuba diving…I probably need a refresher course because it’s been so long. I hope I still fit into the wetsuit. I definitely want to make some time for scuba this summer. I’m putting it on the “list.” AND according to the article I read you can burn 400 calories in just 3o minutes!

Crashing on the couch…yeah, maybe when the kids are a little more independent and don’t want to hang out with me anymore. So what’s on your list?

11 thoughts on “Before I Had Kids”

  1. I feel ya although I am VERY gray and have made that one thing I can’t live without. I am too young to look old.

    I am proud to say the past 3 or 4 years I have taken a girls trip and I highly recommend it. Doesn’t have to be elaborate but just giving back to yourself and feeding your soul with some good ole girl talk and giggles is worth the commitment.

    As for crashing on the couch…pretty sure that will NEVER happen again. Oh well.

    Scuba diving…never had a chance to do it BEFORE kids and certainly have not since. Definitely on my bucket list though!

  2. I haven’t left the country since my eldest was 9 months old. It’s driving me nuts. I want to escape. Even if it’s a drive into Canada and back out. I want some reason for this silly passport besides the ultimate photo i.d.

  3. My eldest child was eight before my husband and I actually got a weekend away from the kids. My folks took them to the cottage so we could have an escape for our fifteenth anniversary, but that was only to spend time in local hotels with room service and a hot tub. Before we had kids we were fortunate enough to vacation in Hawaii and Mexico. In 2000, when our oldest was 13, we had saved enough for a Florida vacation with the kids and on our 25th anniversary we managed to get away to Vegas for a few days. Travel has been the one thing that I wish we could afford to do more. Scuba diving sounds like a lot of fun. I love the water but have a terrible time with my ears, so I don’t think the pressures of the deep would work for me. Maybe using one of those fancy little mini-subs would make it possible for me to explore the ocean depths. By the way, crashing on the couch usually only happened when the kids were at school & I was sick, although now that they’re older, I often fall asleep in my recliner after dinner!

  4. I haven’t slept in – and I mean REALLY slept in – on a Saturday morning. I haven’t partied until dawn and then gone out to get breakfast before going home (may not have done that since college tho); I haven’t been on a vacation for more than 1 night; I haven’t gone on any shopping trips – I don’t really shop anyway… but I miss having the luxury to shop at my leisure w/o having an agenda.

  5. Nice to meet you. I came via Boy Mom Blog.

    I have not skipped anything since I had children, but I did decide to do something when the children are old enough to not need me home all the time (like I can spend a few days in the hospital if need be). I want to take my 21yo sky diving 🙂

    Cheers,
    Red.

  6. Not one weekend getaway or vacation since Chloe arrived. But…we have a cruise coming up in April!! WOOT WOOT. She is coming with us 🙂

  7. Oh, this is a real tough one. I have been a parent for sooooo many years and will continue to parent Johnny hands on for at least 10 more years until he is solid in college.

    I have been away 1 timesand I was a basket case. It was a scrapbook weekend retreat and it was in the mountains. My Cell would not work unless I climbed on top of the porch railing and it was snowing and so cold outside. But I missed my young son so much I climbed up and called every three or four hours and cried like a lunatic both nights I was gone.

    So, I reckon I need to make a list because if I don’t work a little Me in there someplace soon my Life Clock is going to turn off before I get some PAM living into the mix.

    Great post!

  8. I was just saying to Hubs tonight “Who has time for Netflix?!?” then I followed it up with “Oh yeah, people without kids!!” I haven’t slept in when my kids are around (I do have a chance to travel on my own a few times a year – mainly to catch up on sleep!) I’m sure there’s other things but I’m too tired to think about it right now 🙂 I second the girl’s weekend away – it’s so important!!

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