JFF - As a SAHM, Have Any Guilty Pleasures?

Updated on April 17, 2014
❤.M. asks from Santa Monica, CA
20 answers

Just curious if any of you moms let yourself indulge in any guilty pleasures as SAHMs?
For instance, I like to watch 30 mins of the comedy channel occasionally between household chores to make me laugh.
Or sometimes, I'll take the kids out to lunch.
When I don't feel good, I'll just take part of the morning to just sit with my cup of tea to "get going".
Sometimes I take the kids to the park FOR ME. So I can sit in the pretty outdoors in the nice weather & just watch them play.
What about you? What do you do to make things fun?

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J.A.

answers from Indianapolis on

Chocolate. And lots of it.

In fact, I'm about to bake brownies just so I can eat the batter. ;-)

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

Listening to my old Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees and N'Sync CDs.

Gosh, I feel old just thinking about them!

3 moms found this helpful

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J.S.

answers from Richland on

I did nearly all of that, there wasn't a comedy channel at the time, still never felt even remotely guilty for any of it. How could you possibly feel guilty taking your kids to the park?

About the only thing I ever felt guilty for was telling the kids to pipe down or I was getting the car washed!!

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Wow, I did everything you mentioned (and more) and never considered any of it a "guilty" pleasure. That was just my life!
The only time I ever felt even a little guilty was if I had one of those days where I went on strike. You know, stayed in my pj's all day, watched TV or read my latest book or talked on the phone, fed the kids cheerios for lunch and made sandwiches for dinner, didn't care if anyone got a bath.
Never felt bad about it though. 98% of the time I was supermom :-)

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I feel no guilt by doing things that make me happy. When I do things for myself, I am a much better mother and wife which makes everyone happier. The only time I have felt guilty are the few occasions I have had 2 or 3 girls night out planned in the same week. (I have separate groups of friends and occasionally plans are made in the same week. Even then though, my guilt doesn't make me turn down a night to go out😉)

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

well, my kids are grown, and i work p/t, but i still have guilty pleasures! MP is one of 'em. i spend WAY too much time here every morning with my coffee! if i'm indulging in a blissful at-home day, i'll probably sneak in a little junk tv. my current addiction is inkmaster (and me without a single tattoo!) but it could be chopped, or america's next top model.
if i'm out running around, my favorite treat is to grab a bite and enjoy it with my car book (at the moment i'm re-reading the stand, which i haven't read since i was in my early 20s. such fun!) i LOVE taking a book out to lunch!
:) khairete
S.

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A.C.

answers from Huntington on

Good question. I have just recently become a stay at home mom due to a job loss. Unfortunately/fortunately it ALL feels like a guilty pleasure to me. I kind of feel like a turd quite honestly. My husband works very hard all day, and right now my kids are at a very easy stage and are in school part of the day. If I had screaming babies or toddlers, it would be one thing. Anyway, my biggest guilty pleasure is when my kindergartner gets home, it is just the 2 of us for 4 hours, and we will often go jump on the trampoline and play funny games and then just lie there in the sun. It is quite wonderful. And all the sweeter because I know it will soon end--- soon she will be in school full-day and soon I will have a job again. But for the moment, I am really enjoying it but also feeling a lot of guilt for having so much fun. Ugh, mom guilt!

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X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Drive thru Starbucks--Skinny Vanilla Latte for me; Birthday Cake Pops for the kids.

ETA: Like others, I don't consider any of the things you listed to be guilty pleasures--just part of being a SAH parent.

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A.K.

answers from Bloomington on

Don't get out of our PJ's & have a "couch lunch" that basically consists of snack foods.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Denver on

Once I get home from taking my daughter to school, I come back home, make myself a cup of chai and watch about 1/2 hour of the Today Show. Just giving myself a little motivation and treat before my crazy day starts. I do feel a little guilty sometimes because I know others are hard at work or I think about how hard my husband is already working way before then. But I do look forward to it!!
Fun to see what others do- thanks for posting!

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M.G.

answers from Dallas on

First of all, you are SO LUCKY to be able to sit on a bench at a park and watch your kids play!!! That never happens when I take my kids to the park!!! They ALWAYS talk to me at the playground and make requests: i.e., "mommy, look at me!" "mommy, come over here - can you do this?" "Come on the slide with me." They are 7 and 6 (I also have a 10 y/o, but he doesn't bother me at the playground). They don't leave me alone! I cannot relax or talk on the phone. I am jealous that your kids leave you alone!

Anyway, to answer your question - my "guilty" pleasure is my soap opera. Luckily, it is only a half hour, and I DVR it, so I plow through it in 20 minutes with no guilt!

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hmmmm...fun question!
I work PT, and my son is in school all day, but I DO have O. or two days off....
Sometimes I'll ....
-go out for breakfast or lunch.
-have 2-3 cups if a Earl Grey before I "get going"
-talk to my mom on the phone for 2 hours
-go to the gym
-read a book
-watch Survivor on demand, if I missed it the night before
-hit Macys
-eat candy
-visit a casino with a girlfriend

But then again--other days off I do 5 loads of laundry, put it away, iron, clean & organize drawers & closets, clean my house top to bottom and cook a wonderful dinner. Like Marda--super mom.

Guilty? Meh.
I figure no O. gets hurt and it all evens out!

1 mom found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

I never feel guilty for taking some time for myself! I need it and deserve it!

My much needed trips to Disneyland are probably the more extravagant as things go. We have annual passes. When I need a mental health day that is where I want to go. The kids know that Sunday night is *My* TV night. Call the Midwife, Once Upon a Time and Game of Thrones are all on that night. Unless we are out of the house, they know there is no other options to watch that night. If we are out of the house they know it gets shifted to Monday. I will have days where I do only what is necessary and sit in my pajamas all day because that is what I need. Kids may or may not get dressed on those days too even. Sometimes, for no reason at all, we'll go to our favorite donut shop and get enough to last us a couple days or I'll send my husband down to 7-11 for no other reason than I decided I wanted ice cream.

I am home with 3 kids that are homeschooled. If I did not do something for myself and goof here and there I would completely loose it. No guilt here!

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M.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

Yes, although I do work part time from home now after many years as a SAHM. I work out a lot at the Y. I walk dogs. Sometimes I bathe instead of shower and read a magazine article while I'm there. I like to linger over my coffee and newspaper in the morning. Periodic lunches with friends. And does checking this website count?

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K.C.

answers from Denver on

Korean dramas on Hulu. I am addicted. And I feel guilty (but not guilty enough to stop watching). My self-imposed rule is "only in the evenings when we're all just relaxing anyway".

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S.T.

answers from Houston on

The answers make me smile. I am a working mom but my secret pleasure is timing naps for a convenient drive to Starbucks. Gosh who would have thought the kids would fall asleep while I was out to run an errand? Gee, I guess since I am stuck in the car I can indulge in a coffee and my book. LOL... Although my little one is such a food monster he wakes up now at the slightest smell of anything edible. More than once I have heard a tiny voice from the back, "Momma..." Sigh, rats.

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C.W.

answers from Raleigh on

Haha basically everything I do when my hubby isn't around is a guilty pleasure. My 2.5 year old is the best, we sleep in until 10a. I watch my talk shows in the morning. I'm prego so if I have the energy esp when its nice out we may eat out and either go shopping or to the park. My son is a big talker but my husband for some reason doesn't understand him so whenever our son is telling his daddy about our day my hubby doesn't understand our son is actually telling on me lol.

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D.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

Guilt???? WHAT IS THAT??????? I'm retired now, but working, SAHM, or retired we all NEED to take some time every day to do something just for ourself (even if that's 5 minutes in the bathroom with the door locked :) ). And don't feel guilty about it :) Enjoy laughing with the comedy channel!

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M.C.

answers from Chattanooga on

I'm an anime nerd. Lol. Between school and my dd, I don't really get to watch much any more.

After my daughter goes to bed, I usually watch an episode of whatever one I am on.

My husband is annoyed at me because I let my DD watch a couple episodes of the original Pokemon, and now she's hooked. Lol.

Oh, and reading. I now take my DD to the library for story time... But the main reason I started that was because my book budget is extremely beleaguered. Lol.

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T.T.

answers from Boston on

My greatest guilty pleasure is taking naps in the sun on the porch at 1:30 after I do laundry, make beds, run errands, etc. and before the kids get home from school! I fall completely asleep, get a little color and feel great! Oh, and I feel very guilty, of course!!

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