Your little one or all your little ones are finally taking a nap! I don’t even think I can express in words the feeling of oh thank goodness a mom feels when her kiddies are napping peacefully. From the moment a mama wakes up to the moment she goes to sleep she is constantly doing something for her children, prepping something for her children or doing something with her children and for working mamas before their shift and after their shift they are most likely in mommy mode. Mommy mode is pretty much a full-time job. Before you have a kid one of the main sayings you hear is make sure you sleep when the baby sleeps, so that you try to catch up on at least some of the rest you’re missing but honestly many of us do not sleep during that time and use the kids napping as a way to get things done. Now that I have two children, I have learned very quickly that there are honestly just not enough hours in the day to get all the things I would want to get done so if I am not exhausted, I see it as a good time to be productive or not so productive, however I feel that day. Here ‘s a list of a few things I do and I’m sure a lot of other moms do when we have the free time.

Take a shower

Believe it or not moms miss showers. I know sounds gross but when you have little ones especially, sometimes you just don’t feel like a shower goes over other needs or things that you need to get done. If you have a small baby, you don’t want to leave them unattended and if you have a toddler and a little one your to terrified to leave them alone together. Sometimes you can be so busy cleaning, cooking scheduling appointments or chasing around your kids that you totally forget to shower. When those kids finally rest their eyes it’s the perfect time to grab your favorite soaps and bath or shower aroma therapy items and just enjoy a nice warm shower. Even it’s for a few short minutes it can really boost your mood and make you feel a lot better during the day.

Go to the bathroom

When you have kids, privacy becomes a thing of the past most of the time and most of the time when you go to the bathroom you have visitors. You don’t get to just handle your business in peace or it can be interrupted by a loud noise, cry or a little person asking you a million questions the whole time. So yep, mamas do use nap time to poo, sorry not sorry.

Eat snacks

I have so many treats that I just don’t want to share sometimes but I always end up sharing. Well, when my 2-year-old is napping that is my chance to raid the kitchen and eat ice cream, chips anything I can enjoy in peace. Something about little greedy fingers not reaching for my snack just makes it taste so much better.

Watch TV or YouTube

My TV is mostly on fun educational shows and animated dancing shows all day so much that I can hear it when it’s not even playing so when I get the chance to turn it off and watch something with real humans it is such a treat. I use nap time to binge any shows I need to catch up on or look for stuff on YouTube to watch and enjoy.

Check social media apps

I love scrolling social media and cracking up at mom videos and internet news and drama when I get a moment of free time. It’s nice to be able to hear it and focus on the jokes. I also respond to any messages from friends or check the funny videos they sent me that I didn’t get chance to see yet.

Clean the house

When the kids are napping, I find this as a good time to sweep and mop the floors, do the dishes, do some organizing and just tidy up a bit. Kids are masters of making a mess in under 5 minutes and if you don’t try to tackle the messes daily things can really pile up. Whenever I try to organize stuff while my toddler is present most of the time, she is undoing whatever I’m doing, so I just give in and do something else.

Schedule appointments and pay bills

Once the house is quiet it gives me a chance make some calls without having to shh my toddler so it’s a great opportunity to handle any business. It can get frustrating trying to talk on the phone and baby is screaming or when you’re trying to use your laptop and your kiddie is trying to sit on your lap.

Hobbies

Pulling out any hobbies you have when you have some alone time is so good for your mental health. I usually am blogging while the kids are napping. Its hard to fit in the things that you love to do that are just for you when your so focused on your little ones, but it is so important to find or make the time.

Watches the kids sleep

I must say I am guilty of pulling out my phone and snapping pics and videos of my little ones resting peacefully. I swear it is one of the most precious moments and so sometimes you can catch yourself just staring at them with a big goofy smile on your face because your just so happy they are okay and that they are yours.

Do nothing at all

After being so productive all day and after being pulled so many directions in the day sometimes it’s nice to just do nothing. To literally just sit there in peace, thankful for peace and silence or just thankful for everything.

Drink coffee or wine

A nice coffee made just the way you love it or a nice, chilled glass of wine when you have quiet time can be amazing. Anything that you love to have, have it when the kids are resting it is beautiful.

Sleep too

If you are tired and you just want to nap too, take your nap, and enjoy it.  Some days I am just to burnt out to do anything besides lay down and take a nap too. Being a mommy who is sleep deprived is rough and it just doesn’t help you be the best you can be for you or your kiddies. Take your opportunities to rest when you need to and don’t feel guilty about it at all.