I had never heard of Kids Day Out/Parents Day Out programs until I joined a church that offers one, but now I notice signs up for them all over town. If you’ve never heard of these programs, they are a bit of a mixture between abbreviated preschool programs and daycare and babysitting.

The program my kids attend accepts babies starting at 6 weeks old and goes all the way up to pre-kindergarten. Parents have the option of enrolling kids for a half-day (3 hours) or a full day (5 hours) and they can send their kids once a week or up to three times a week. Both of my kids attend once a week for a full day.

I’ll tell you this: it’s great knowing that once a week I can schedule my appointments, catch up on my work, or get the house cleaned up because my kids will be playing with their friends in a safe environment run by people I know. At first I was reluctant to enroll my daughter…she was a year and a half old and I was ready to pop with my second baby. I sobbed like a madwoman the first time I dropped her off. She had so much fun, though, and I felt so refreshed after she attended that it became a normal part of our routine. When my son was a few months old he started attending too, and they still attend now once a week.

I think this is a fantastic alternative to bringing in a babysitter or nanny, or trudging through day after day with no time off. It’s especially valuable for people like me who don’t have any family around and who are reluctant to leave the kids alone with a stranger. I’m lucky to have this program offered through my church because I know most of the people who work there.

If this interests you, have a look around town to see what programs are offered. Around here, these programs seem to be predominately church-based, but you might be able to find something else if that’s not what you want.

Believe me…five hours to yourself once a week can be a real sanity-saver.

I noticed something interesting the other day when I dropped my kids off at the babysitting service my church offers. Several of us work-at-home moms and dads as well as stay-at-home parents use this service on a regular basis so we can get some stuff done and maybe catch a little breather. Those of us who utilize the service are eternally grateful that the church offers it.

Here was the interesting thing I noticed: Walking into the building, all of us were as harried and rushed as usual. After the kids were dropped off, though, an amazing transformation took place. As we all filtered back into the parking lot everyone was walking at a slow pace, smiling, greeting each other, and stopping for conversation. It’s incredible how we all get so wrapped up in dealing with life with young children and babies that we often forget how important it is to stop and smell the roses. Yes, I know it’s a cliche, but there is certainly something to be said for quick chats with adults and slowing down the pace.

If you are able to slow down and enjoy everything with kids in tow, then I applaud you. I’m not saying that I walk around as a constant ball of stress when I have the kids with me, but I can definitely feel my cortisol levels bubbling at times. Trying to have a conversation with another adult while my kids orbit around me can seem impossible. It’s the short breaks I can get to simply breathe and reset that make me a better mom.

Remember: Even though being a parent is the most important job you’ll ever have, it’s not your only identity. Try to make some time for the rest of you.