I live in Deerfield Beach and the city has a program for children at Constitution Park. For 2 and a half hours a day 9-11:30 three days a week you can drop your child off to play with other children. The cost is pretty low and it gives you just enough time to be by yourself. I'm sure if parents look into it parks in their area probably have something like this also.

This is my favorite book: Five Minutes Peace by Jill Murphy. I laughed reading it alone - My kids and I giggled reading it together! After I would read it to them - it was MY bath time. I gave them a little bit of undivided attention. In turn, I could buy me up to an hour of alone time (their ages depending, of course!) Here's a link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Five-Minutes-Peace-Jim-Murphy/dp/0744509181

I'm sorry, but the idea of pawning your child off to IKEA to babysit so that you can have time to yourself is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard of. If alone time is so important to you, then maybe you shouldn't have had children or maybe you should have married the child's father. Apparently you made a bad choice having a child as a single mom if you go to IKEA so that you can pawn your child off on people to babysit them for free. I don't know about you, but I actually love spending time with my children and want them with me when I go out. Also, I tend not to trust strangers with my kids, so if I have to do something alone, I ask my parents or siblings to watch the kids for me.

"The park. Instead of cuddling up on my battered green couch like I used to, I take my magazines and books to the park and read while she plays."

Whenever I see parents do this at the park or at my childrens' gym class, I always shake my head in amazement and disbelief. My biggest joy in life is seeing the smile on my kids' faces when they are having fun or when they are able to accomplish something by themselves. That is why when I take them to the park or gym class, my eyes are always on them.

Also, as a concerned parent, when we're at the park I would not take my eyes off my kids because it is so easy for them to wander off. It just baffles me how parents can be so selfish and disinterested in their kids. Shame on you for burying your nose in a book or magazine during your time with your kids. Why don't you catch up on your reading when you go to bed after the kids are asleep?

I am a single mom and I know how difficult it is to take up the role of both parents, provide financially, physically and emotionally ...not to mention dealing with the criticism and issues of being a single parent ...especially in this economy. Craving a bit of alone time to unwind is natural and necessary! My alone time comes every evening when my toddler is asleep. Most of this time is taken up by doing dishes, cleaning or paper work ...but I do try to cuddle up with a book or a movie and a cup of tea. This way you are there for your child at the park and everywhere else you go together and still able to unwind and relax.

For a restful day, I take the wee one to the near by McDonald's with an indoor playground (great over winter)..play for an hour, eat lunch, more play, home for a nap & me time...bonus no messy house...perfect way to get winter exercise.

Joe,
You are an idiot.
Diedre

As a single mom...who works full time... I think it is as important to spend some alone time as it is to spend time with your kids.. you must be creative now-adays but i agree that a furniture store or any store is not the place to pawn your kids off for a monent of relaxation!! try the gym, park with other kids, eye on the at all times of course and age depending.
good lck to all single moms out there and we shall be divided but conquer together. EM