Studies have shown that even with a hard-working and dedicated father, moms take on the bulk of childcare responsibilities. Whether this is through necessity such as breastfeeding or through personal preference, you hardworking moms deserve a break. The trick is finding time for one.

If you’re struggling to find time for yourself, you need to comb through your day and schedule to locate any missed opportunities. If there aren’t any opportunities you’ve missed, you simply need to create one.

Move Bedtime Earlier
The end of the day is rough on little ones as it is, but when you keep them up past when they should be in bed, their moods get sour fast. Instead of keeping baby up late in the evening to enjoy his company, put him to bed early –as early as six o’clock, and not only will you now have evenings to yourself, you’ll also have a happier and well rested baby to spend time with in the mornings and after work.

Take a Lunch Break
For mothers who work outside of the home, there is a temptation to work through lunch or to use that time to run errands. Instead, you should make this time your own for something you enjoy doing. Take a class during your lunch hour or use the time to walk around the local shops. Even heading to your car for a nap might be just what you need to refresh yourself.

Use Your Babysitters
While a husband isn’t a babysitter, you should take him up on his offer to watch the kids while you do whatever you’d like to do. Even if you’d prefer to be with your children, allow your mother to come and help you for the afternoon. Just having an extra pair of hands can lighten the load of motherhood considerably.

Labor Day is an excellent excuse to drag out the grill and invite friends over. But don’t let this traditional party exclude your little one. It’s simple to make your Labor Day full of family fun.

Plan Around Naps and Bedtime
If you’re going to have guests over, you should invite them over with an eye to naptime. Your baby needs rest, especially if she’s about to have so much outside fun. Since Labor Day celebrations can last for hours, you’ll want to disrupt her as little as possible. Perhaps arrange for guests to immediately after her nap and help things wind down or at least move outside when it’s time to put her bed.

Invite Families
Rather than just inviting couples and adult friends to your party, invite other families with young children. Even if your baby isn’t old enough to play, she will love to watch the other children crawl, toddle and run around. And simply being outside with a bottle of bubbles is enough to entertain the youngsters.

Skip the Hard Stuff
Although it’s hard to imagine a barbeque without beer and other alcoholic beverages, their presence automatically makes a party less appropriate for children. Unless you’re in complete control of everyone’s behavior after a few drinks, you’d do best to serve ice tea and soft drinks to avoid any behavior or words you’d prefer your child not hear.