lIESE - I usually go for a drive. I don't have any alone time really. But a drive is good for me - usually a drive to nowhere.

I have my garden. Sometimes I drag a chair out there behind a large tomato plant or the raspberries or under the forsythia and just hide out with a cup of coffee, watching my hens peck and cluck around...

I also go to yoga once a week, in a studio that is always warm and dry and with dimmed lights. It's not "mine", but it is calming and soothing and feels like home while I'm there.

Well, it's hard to find the time because of the kids, but I do manage to find little moments here and there.

I have a 35 minute drive each way to T and I go 2-3 times per week, so I always get that time alone. I try not to talk on the phone during that time. I usually listen to music.

At home, I've largely run my poor husband out of our bedroom so it's pretty much my safe place in the house.

I am very lucky as I have always insisted that I need a room of my own and have a room which is just mine, where I meditate and do yoga and go and do relaxation tapes and it is just beautiful. I gave the room I had to my son, as it had wonderful views and the new room is at very top of the house with roof windows which only show sky so I feel a bit hemmed it, can't see out properly - maybe I need to move back down to the other room. too much work just now. I am spoilt though, as i do have a whole room just for me.

HI Dragonfy ... I don't think we have met .... gosh, I am so jealous of your room and sheychen's room .... i think I have to work on a room for myself .... It's important to have your own space, isn't it???

Oh, Liese...this is one of my dreams...to have a room of my own...not having one is the hardest part of having a family...not having my own "space" to escape to when I need to. I don't even know why I need to...I just do. Right now I make do with the bathroom, the car, or in a pinch, I put on my headphones and shut everyone out for a while...I just need to be alone sometimes. But my dream room is one that has a high ceiling with tall windows...is in the corner of a house that faces southwest, so that it "glows" with light in the late afternoon...a few soft comfy chairs...several lush plants...a few shelves heavy with good books...and an espresso machine with all the fixings to make coffee drinks for myself and a friend or two.

I admit, I am also jealous (in a good way ) of Dragonfly and Sheychen's rooms. Liese...I hope you get some ideas from this thread to carve out a space for yourself in your home.

SG

Strummergirl ... your dream room sounds so, well, dreamy!!!! tonight I went down to the basement ... we just put in a new ceiling and new carpeting and it's quite cozy .... I sat down there for about a half hour and it was amazing! No tv ... no one saying ... mom how do you spell???? They didn't even seem to notice I was gone .... I needed to time just to listen to my thoughts .... it was awesome ... i need to carve out the time every day but i forget most of the time .... thanks for all the suggestions .... and maybe one day, I will really have a room of my own ....