Calgon, take me away!

Wine is nice, but it’s only a temporary escape from the madness. Do you have a space in your home where you can go and blow off some steam, hide from the kids, or just sit still and relax for a while? My mom called it her “sanity room” and it was a screenporch off the back of our house where she would go to get away from us for a while. It wasn’t fancy, but being a stay-at-home mom until we were both in high school, she loved her little area where it was peaceful, quiet and where we weren’t. Although I work full-time (and a half), and sometimes feel that I don’t see my kids enough, there are days when I need to escape, too.

Before I had the kids, I would find times when I was alone and… lonely. I have to laugh because now that I have a family, sometimes being alone is all I want! But I’ve found my own sanity room. And it happens to be my screenporch, too. I bought some inexpensive furniture, curtains and accessories, and my dad painted it for me. It still needs a little more work, but it’s my favorite place. I can honestly say that it’s the only space in my entire house that doesn’t have someone’s toys or dirty clothes in it. It’s my space and I won’t tolerate anyone messing it up! (Cat hair is a different story. My cats love it as much as I do.)

Find your sanity room, whether it’s your bedroom, mudroom, basement, or a corner of that unused living room and make it your own. Surround yourself with things you love and it will become the relaxing oasis that you need when things just need to slow down.

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