by Alyice Edrich

Have you ever found yourself so wrapped up in work that you have forgotten what it's like to just enjoy being alive? As moms, we tend to do all and be all to everyone but ourselves.

Honestly, when was the last time you took time to just enjoy being alive? When was the last time you did something for the simple pleasure of doing it?

What's so important about taking a time out for yourself, you ask? Mommy time outs are essential in preventing unwarranted outbursts of anger and onsets of depression while ending the mundane cycle we often put ourselves in.

The hardest part about taking a mommy time out, however is that a mom's job is never done. There's always one more load of laundry, one more set of dishes, another school function to attend, another assignment to complete and a child hollering, "Mom!"

So what's a mom to do? It's as simple as "taking action."

And here are some sure fire ways to get mom to take a MOMMY TIME OUT...

• Ask hubby to watch the kids. In only two hours, a mom can get her hair done, get a manicure, try on a few clothes, and have coffee with a friend. And, in two hours, a mom can go see that "Chick Flick" that no one else wants to see.
• Start a Baby Swap. Simply put, two or more moms agree to watch another's child for one to two hours, on a weekly or monthly basis.
• Join a Bible study that offers childcare services or attend a study while the kids are in school.
• Schedule an evening with a relative. You can have the kids hang out with Aunt Kathy the first Monday of every month, and Grandma Miller the third Saturday of the month.
• Steal a few minutes out of the day by waking up an hour before the kids get up, just to read a book, have a cup of coffee and listen to the birds sing. Or stay up an extra hour in the evening and listen to the crickets chirp while you write in a journal and dream.
• Wait until the kids fall asleep before you take your bath, then add a few bubbles, a relaxation tape, and a good book.
• Let your husband unwind from work, put the kids down for bed, then sit back on the couch together watching a half hour long sitcom. If one isn't on at the time, tape a few for special moments such as these. You'll be surprised at how good it feels to laugh with your husband in a care-free environment.
• Then once every few months, find overnight accommodations for the kids and enjoy a romantic evening with your husband. Not only will it make you feel beautiful and sexy, it'll revitalize your marriage.

Alyice Edrich is the author of several work-from-home e-books, including one that allows parents to earn $50 in two hours without joining an MLM or home party business. She is also the editor of The Dabbling Mum.com--a national publication for BUSY parents. For reprint rights of this article visit her at http://thedabblingmum.com, today.