by Michelle Stein posted in Parenting

This past weekend, I decided to take myself out on a date. Just me, sans my three children and husband -- and it was glorious.
Looking back, I took so many things for granted before having kids. Things like solo bathroom time, 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, being able to just hop in the car and leave in 5 seconds flat, savoring a cup of hot coffee, and enjoying a meal out without kid shenanigans -- they were all a given. These days" Not so much.

Guys, I'm on a lunch date ... with myself! (Hey, I'm taking full advantage of that unlimited pasta pass from Olive Garden.) My husband was awesome enough to hold down the fort and let me eat a meal without little fingers stealing all of the breadsticks. This past week was crazy, and a little carb therapy is exactly what I needed. I encourage all mamas who are feeling burned out to treat themselves to a solo dine-in experience. You deserve it. A post shared by Michelle Stein (@milkymarathonmama) on Oct 1, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

If you've never taken yourself out on a solo lunch date, it's basically the best because:
1) There was no need to scarf my food. I had to keep reminding myself to slow down and actually chew/taste/enjoy my food. Old habits die hard, I guess. Because I'm so used to helping cut up and cool off food for little mouths at the beginning of meals and then wiping everyone off at the end, I'm a meal-shoveling master.

2) I didn't have to talk to/about my kids. ...