The ANTI-Total Attention Challenge: How to regain your sanity as a parent of a toddler

When my sister jenlemen suggested the Total Attention Challenge, it made me laugh.  The thing is, as a mom of a toddler who demands my attention for every second of every day, the thought of having to give him even MORE attention than he already gets drove me to near insanity.  Because the more undivided attention he gets, the MORE he wants.  And to me, my 14 nonstop hours of the day is enough.  I'm frustrated and tired and cranky.

So I have a proposal.  The ANTI-Total Attention Challenge.  For all those of your moms and dads out there that seem to spend every second of every day trying to fulfill the every needs of your infant or toddler, here is your opportunity. 

Find 10 to 20 minutes in your day and give your Total Attention to yourself.  Everyone seems to agree that if you multi-task with your children and they are constantly forced to "share" your time with other things going on, your child never quite "gets" the attention he needs.  But guess what?  That constant multi-tasking isn't good for you either.   So what is the challenge?

After finding a safe place for your child (a crib, with  your spouse at the end of the day), spend 10-20 minutes just for yourself.  And I mean just for yourself.  No cleaning up the clutter, doing the dishes, or preparing dinner.  Pick up a book that you can't seem to get around to reading, lay down on the couch and close your eyes, or hop on the computer and look up the lastest celebrity gossip.  Refuse the urge to refill a sippy cup or check to makes sure Junior isn't too miserable.   While you probably won't be able to "pick a time" that would be the same every day (when does your day ever repeat itself with an infant or toddler), just make sure to take at least one "break" a day.  I'm going to try it for 7 days and see if it just isn't the key I need to being happy to spend my days with my toddler.  Let me know if you decide to take the challenge too.