Even parents need 'me' time

Becoming a parent shouldn't mean a complete end to 'mate time' - beers, yarns, music, and a bit of sport. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

When you're a parent, it's all about them. Or in my case, her. This week though, it's all about me. I feel the need - and I'm sure many of you out there can appreciate this - for a little me time. Me, me, me.

Call me selfish and self-obsessed if you like. I don't give a hoot. The soccer world cup is starting, the All Blacks kick off their all-important season before next year's rugby world cup, and I haven't seen some of my mates for what seems like months. I mean real mate time as in beers, yarns, music, and a bit of sport.

Although, I must admit, I might have to put the lads off for another weekend because, you guessed it, I'm babysitting my little Mia this Saturday (the night of the first ABs test) because my wife is looking after our friend's little girl.

This arrangement is a nice reciprocal deal where they babysit for us too, which means we get some us time - and that's just as important as me time.

But anyway, back to me. I sometimes feel - and I can hear you all playing a nice screechy tune on the violin for me - like since having Mia my friendships have almost been put on hold. Either my mates are in a different stage of their lives, or else they're just as busy with their own kids, which means we don't get to hang out as much. And I know we have to give up the glory days, but you need your mates.

I guess times change, and the bottom line is that I'm being melodramatic. But this is me week, remember?

Even work is dictated by my little munchkin. Most days I have a madcap rush to get out the door on time to pick her up from day care. The last hour is often quite frantic; firing off emails and getting what needs to be done done (sometimes not quite the way you'd like it), so I can leave on the dot of 4pm. I then have around six minutes to get to the bus stop, which means sometimes I jog, so I can catch the bus to pick her up at a decent time.

Oh how I loved the days when I could wait for the bus, ride it home leisurely, and all the while listen to loud chest-beating music.

But more importantly, oh how I loved the days of doing things with friends at will. The thing is, in saying all this I wouldn't change a single thing. Because, to paraphrase the late great Fred Mercury, mates will always be mates, right 'til the end, no matter what. So I'll see you at the pub some time.