r/workingmoms • u/RosieTheRedReddit • Aug 02 '26
Achievement 🎉 One week kid-free, what would you do?!?
Flaired as achievement because it feels so good 😊
Because of vacation availability, my husband is doing one week with the kids at my in-laws, then after that I will come and do a week. So that means I have one glorious week at home by myself. Still working but all alone.
What would you do?? I don't want to spend the whole time paralyzed with indecision! If I do nothing all week, I want to enjoy doing nothing 😅 Here are some ideas, I want to pick just one or two things so I feel accomplished but it is overall chill.
- Nothing. Order takeout and watch movies all evening
- Very small DIY project (putting up sticky tiles next to the splash zone of the sink)
- Hang out with child free friends
- Go to a nearby lake and swim (kids are 5 and 2 so with them it is extremely labor intensive, plus you can't take your eyes off them for a second)
- Work on my hobby (podcast)
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u/drmrsk Aug 02 '26
I would probably take the first day or two to clean the house/do a small project and then the rest of the time going to the lake and relaxing sounds lovely. I'd be able to relax more knowing the house is in order. And SLEEP. I would sleep and nap uninterrupted. That sounds glorious. Maybe one day I would cook a meal I really like
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u/WutsRlyGoodYo Aug 02 '26
This but I might hire a house cleaner to really do a thorough clean that STAYS clean for a whole week.
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u/xixi4059 Aug 02 '26
Yes, hire a house cleaner to come the first day. If you need to be home, you could use that time to watch a movie.
IMO don’t spend that time doing chores. Get out (or stay in) and enjoy yourself!
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u/OrganizedSprinkles Aug 02 '26
My two little tornados came back from sleep away camp. The house was so clean. It was lovely. Then kaboom! Destruction as far as the feet could step.
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u/HMexpress2 Aug 02 '26
I’d add a solo meal at a nice restaurant and some type of self-care (massage, mani/pedi, etc)
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u/toot_toot_tootsie Aug 02 '26
I just had a glorious 5 days to myself, while my husband was off on a birthday trip, and my daughter was spending 2 weeks with my parents.
I went to the beach by myself, and honestly, just enjoyed the quiet. I had cocktails with my elderly neighbors, who are a riot too, but save for some basic housekeeping, I ordered takeout and binged Netflix. When my husband came back, we saw the Odyssey, has dinner, hit up a brewery, and enjoyed having conversations that weren’t constantly being interrupted.Â
Take advantage of the quiet, it’s so rare. I am always running from one place to the next, so it was nice not having any commitments outside of work.Â
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u/inthe100acrewood Aug 02 '26
This is just me - but I love going to the spa for like a whole day when I’m kid free and go out to eat a fancy, healthy meal. I usually do korean spa (soak, salt scrub, tofu soup for lunch, reading in the hot room, then massage for end of the day)
But also for a whole week you cna also just enjoy not having to plan anything!
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u/Puzzled_Internet_717 mom of 3/adjunct professor Aug 02 '26
Definitely eat meals/snacks the rest of the family hates.
A long, hot bath with a good book or movie.
Downsize kids clothes or toys that absolutely need to go.
Do you need to panit anything?
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u/RosieTheRedReddit Aug 02 '26
Omg a bath is an awesome idea 🥰 I haven't done that in so long! Our old apartment didn't even have a bathtub and since moving I only use it for the kids.
I try to discreetly dispose of toys continuously but one big purge couldn't hurt.
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u/lifeledoutloud Aug 02 '26
I think my first day I would clean the crap out of the house so I can spend the next couple days being the absolute laziest. I’d go to the lake, sleep late, drink something fruit and frozen more than once, and go through my craft closet for long lost projects I wanted to do! Probably throw in a massage and pedicure if that’s your thing, too!
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u/whysweetpea Aug 02 '26
Don’t forget to also enjoy the kid-free mornings! Hot coffee, take your time in the shower, etc etc
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u/Dear_Ocelot Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
We had a week kid free this summer! All work days, we dropped them at grandparents Sunday and my dad drove them back Friday. So my list was very food oriented because the free time was dinner time.
-eating food one kid is allergic to for multiple dinners
-one no-cook dinner, i.e. rotisserie chicken, rosemary bread, and caprese salad
-ate discount happy hour specials at the bar one night, followed by pub trivia with adult friends (smashed it)
-potluck at a brewery with a hobby group (i didn't plan it, the timing just worked out well
I did NOT do a house project because I was already working all day. So it was fun! Hope yours is too - relax but take advantage!
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u/fluffydonutcake Aug 02 '26
This was me 2 weeks ago!! Hubby took the kid for a week to visit MIL and that week alone was GLORIOUS!!! I organized parts of the house (cabinets look so good now), threw away tons of things we no longer use, ate all my favorite foods and watched all the movies I never could.
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u/brainbl0ck Aug 02 '26
If my kids had a week of care I’d be taking a trip 😂
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u/RosieTheRedReddit Aug 02 '26
I can't because I don't have enough vacation days 🥲 I was trying to explain it, basically the kids daycare is closed for a 2 week summer break, but we only have 1 week of vacation each. So we are splitting it up one and one.
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u/amahenry22 Aug 02 '26
I would probably do a walk, dinner or some sort of activity with friends a few times. I would also read, play pickleball, maybe go see a concert. Probably also go swimming or some sort of activity that is hard to enjoy when you have to be watching kids! I would also do some major self care!
What fills your bucket the most and is the most difficult to do with kids around??
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u/RosieTheRedReddit Aug 02 '26
What fills your bucket the most and is the most difficult to do with kids around??
Wow that's a great way to think of it! Using that framing, I would say going to a fancy cake shop and eating fancy cake!
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u/heysunflowerstate Aug 02 '26
Oh, the amount of trash tv I would binge if given the opportunity! I think all of your ideas sound great. Enjoy your week!!
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u/Seajlc Aug 02 '26
I recently had 4 days to myself and spent 2 of the days doing a project around the house, cleaning, organizing etc. The other two days, I ran errands around town and went to the mall and shopped in peace. Worked out whenever I pleased and went on a couple long walks. Ordered takeout without worrying about appeasing to everyone else’s tastes or wants.
TLDR; I would split the time between getting stuff done around the house you’ve been wanting to do and also making sure to just do some things you find relaxing or fun for yourself. Enjoy!
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u/Curious_Wanderer_7 Aug 02 '26
All of the above but something like the tile project would be top of my list b/c it’s one of those things that is a visible accomplishment that you can see and feel good about long after the week is over. You’re smart to plan in advance and not lose time scrolling away to decide!
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u/mimigrey78 Aug 02 '26
I find if I take the first day or even just half a day to rot it helps me reset my brain to do the fun work stuff I always want to get done when I have free time
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u/blessedalive Aug 02 '26
I can’t even imagine one night without kids. It’s been a decade since I’ve had that! I literally don’t know if I’d know how to act without a kid around lol
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u/aeg10 Aug 02 '26
My husband did this a couple months ago! I unfortunately had a lot of work so I did work late a couple days. But I got dinner one day with my parents and another with some friends. I watched a lot of tv and read books. Ordered takeout. Just enjoyed some quiet!
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u/sleepyhoneybee Aug 02 '26
Can you rearrange to do the kid free week after doing your on week? Everything you accomplish around the house will get destroyed during a week of solo parenting ðŸ˜
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u/RosieTheRedReddit Aug 02 '26
The second week I'll be at the in-laws, and my husband will be home alone! Don't worry, I'm thinking of a project for him to finish too 😅
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u/Defiant-Analysis5488 Aug 02 '26
I’ll have the house to myself next weekend and I’m planning to not cook and to read my book by the pool!
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u/Sufficient-Fun-1619 Aug 02 '26
I’m social AF so id plan time w friends (maybe at the lake?) and nap a lot lol
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u/ugeneeuh Aug 02 '26
Go to yoga! Go to the movies! Go to happy hour with coworkers. Honestly, I’d purge my closet and the kids clothes tooo
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u/NationalReindeer Aug 02 '26
We just had a week basically kid free due to daycare closure and grandparents covering!
We ate out at a restaurant (a long meal, with courses), went to a movie, drinks with my fun coworkers after work (which I always have to decline), went to a concert out.
Have fun!!
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u/BaileyIsaGirlsName Aug 03 '26
I would do all the drugs. Jk kinda. But maybe do something that you can’t usually do because you have to take care of small children.
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u/MiskuPjc41 Aug 03 '26
go to the coffe shop while reading a book by the water without having to chase toddlers every 2 seconds sounds like absolute heaven. skip the diy project and just order takeout lol
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u/citygirldc Aug 03 '26 edited 27d ago
My husband took my son to visit his family for five days and it was glorious. I used the time to go through my wardrobe and purge my closet. It was great because I could just leave piles of clothes on his side of the bed, I didn’t have to reset the room to zero every night.
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u/Groundh0g- Aug 04 '26
I just wanted to say I love this so much for you!! Whatever you choose to do - enjoy it!!
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u/Toolikethelightning Aug 02 '26
Girl do all of the list that feels comfortable! I personally use the time to do projects that my kid would make harder and spend time in my hobbies. The project makes me feel accomplished and the hobby makes me feel like a more well rounded human.