September 8, 2009 | 11:00 am

The Mommy Hour

Posted by Mihal Levy

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The Witching Hour is a term that was once used to describe the hours when black magic was at its best.  It was later used to describe the time between midnight and 3 a.m.  I am now officially coining this time “The Mommy Hour.”  Nothing supernatural here.

The Mommy Hour, for me, is often the time between 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (give or take a few hours).  After tucking in my son, and often my husband, this time is used solely for Mommy.  The day belongs to everyone else. 

During this time, I usually get a call or two from friends on my cell or an email, so as not to wake up the rest of my household.  We don’t make small talk, we just stick to the facts and plan play dates for the week.  The call is short and sweet, so that we can each get back to our own time.  (Now if I can just fall asleep at a decent hour, so I can actually stay awake at these play dates, but that’s another story.)

I’m starting to think I might just be nocturnal and that sunlight actually hurts my eyes.  The only problem is that I have to be up at the crack of dawn when little man gets up.  Even though he heads straight to the TV, turns it on and pops in his favorite DVD, he still has a hard time frying eggs on his own.  (We’re working on this one, so that mommy can sleep in.)

According to my friends, The Mommy Hour is mandatory for the sake of the family.  If Mommy doesn’t have time to wind down, there is no telling what will happen to her family the next day or if breakfast will even be served.  This unwinding time also includes: cleaning up, preparing lunches for the next day, bill-paying, returning emails, opening snail mail and folding laundry, among other things.  I, however, like to focus on the other things: just sitting and staring at the walls (which I can’t do—I always need to be doing something and wall-watching doesn’t work for me), painting my nails (because who has time for a manicure, unless someone is getting married), taking a shower or bath (because, yes, some days we go un-showered).  Most of my freelance friends or On-The-Go Moms (a.k.a. Stay-At-Home Moms) use this time to work, paint, read, write and create. This is when I finally write without interruption, except for the occasional moments when I begin to drift off - other than that, I am good.  I really value this time, as I am sure many moms do.

So, after all the other hours of the day: the working hours, family hours, errand hours, avoidance of household chores and in-laws hours, etc….it is good to know that there is the Mommy Hour.  Now, if I could just stay awake long enough to enjoy it.