Recently I participated in a conversation on Social Media about how best to spend the last few weeks of pregnancy before baby arrives. There were so many great suggestions, but the main theme that came out of the conversation was take some time for self care before you no longer have the time or energy to do so. It gave me the idea to compile a bucket list of things you should do before the baby arrives, so here are some of my suggestions:
- Sleep in - this may be the last time in a really long time that you get to do this. Even better, when you wake up, stay there and languish with a good book or magazine.
- Do all the pampering stuff - get your nails done, have a pregnancy massage, spend the afternoon in your favourite salon reading magazines and getting your hair styled. As much as you may think you will still have time for this stuff post baby, most of us don't in the first year.
- Do something spontaneous - enjoy the fact you can pick up your handbag and leave the house at a moments notice without any planning and preparation.
- Use your gorgeous handbags - my prized collection of handbags now sit in the wardrobe gathering dust. Before you spend your life taking a nappy bag everywhere, showcase a different handbag everyday.
- Go to the movies - this was one of my favourite pastimes before I became a Mum. I would wake up, decide I wanted to sit in a dark place with a massive box of popcorn and escape the world for 2 hours. Yes you can stream a movie and make popcorn at home, but its not the same and you may never get to watch a movie without interruption ever again.
- Binge watch a series - again, not something that is easy to do when you have children. Its not just the constant interruptions or having to wait for everyone to go to bed before you watch the content that is not appropriate for children, its the fact that you have so little time post children, that you feel guilty sitting in front of the TV for extended periods of time.
- Go out to dinner - and relax in the fact that you can enjoy your meal without having to tend to someone else. Same goes with heading to a cafe and taking your time drinking your coffee and reading the paper.
- Enjoy adult music - I am one of those people who can remember the lyrics to thousands of songs. Then when baby comes along, you spend your life listening to Wiggles and nursery rhymes and I cannot for the life of me remember the words to my favourite songs. Enjoy the last few weeks where you can sing and dance to adult music.
- Spend some time with your friends - it could be as simple as a dinner out or a more elaborate girls weekend away. The sad fact is when baby arrives, it gets harder and harder to spend time with friends, so squeeze it in while you can.
- Take a class - you may have always wanted to learn Italian, learn how to knit or do a weekend dessert cooking class. Whatever it is, do it now while you have the time.
- Stay in a five star hotel - even if its just for a night. Enjoy the king size bed, order whatever you want from room service and have a long bath. Staying in a hotel is never the same after baby. For one, you have to tip toe around the room in the dark after 7pm to make sure you don't wake the baby who is now sharing a room with you.
- Lay around and do nothing - take a blanket outside and enjoy the fresh air and quiet. Watch the clouds roll by and watch the grass grow. Take some deep breathes and relax.
- Take a road trip - being able to jump in the car and drive anywhere without thinking about how many stops are needed to keep the kids from having a meltdown is something you will be able to appreciate later.
- Go for a wander - the ability to just stroll around without a destination in mind and take in the sights and sounds of the city is something I wish I had appreciated more. Yes you can do this when the baby arrives, but it will be scheduled. At some stage you will need to find somewhere to feed or change a nappy.
