Eight weeks have passed since I took the bar exam. As I mentioned before, I had a job to go back to. Some of the test takers had no job to go to and thus were stuck trying to determine how to kill time during the day. My biggest problem was what I would do to fill my evening hours.
For the past three years my evenings were filled with reading or studying. The past year added my maternal responsibilities to that list as well. Needless to say, the days were packed full of things I needed to do and not the things I wanted to do. With most of that behind me now (I guess my maternal responsibilities will never end, so I am told) people ask what I do with all of my “free time.” I found it very comical that compared to law school, having a husband, a child, and a full-time job equaled “free time.” But hey, I’ll take it. My evenings and weekends are mine again and here is how I have been filling my free time:
Reading for my own entertainment- There were so many books piling up on my night table and Kindle that I never had time to read while in law school. I have tackled a book a week and IT. FEELS. GREAT! There were some that became outdated such as What to Expect During Your Child’s First Year. Part of me is glad I missed the opportunity to read that one. Something tells me that if I were forewarned about some of the things Little Bit would surprise us with, I may have enrolled back in school for another degree to avoid them.
Reconnected with family and friends- I didn’t realize how much I missed my friends and family. All of them were very understanding of my absence from functions. But once I started attending more gatherings, I realized I missed the genuine laughter that I experience when I am with them. Add to that I get to see Little Bit play with her cousins and the children of some of my dear friends. I am glad I don’t have to miss that anymore.
Exercise! – Before law school started I challenged myself to run two half-marathons. Done! It was the best feeling completing those. I vowed that I would continue to run during law school as an outlet for all of the stress I would feel. Although I did well at first, as I took more classes, engaged in more associations, and took on more projects at work, something had to give. Unfortunately it was my exercise. Although I didn’t pack on much weight from the dreaded vending machines, I was not able to get right back to a good exercise routine after I gave birth nor after graduating since I had to go right into bar prep. As soon as I had a couple weeks to relax and de-stress from the huge accomplishment I had just achieved I got right back into the gym. I must say, I think cycling may be my new passion.
Job hunting- I have not hit this with the full force that others may have since I currently have a job in the legal field that I could obtain an attorney position if worse comes to worse. However, as bar results get closer I have started brushing up my resume, researching firms in the field I want to work, and have had the opportunity to take three meetings with different firms. But with no other extraordinary worries such as how I am going to pay my student loans or if I will have a job after all is said and done, job hunting has been a pretty stress free process so far. Hopefully my bar results prove favorable and I can ramp up on making the connections in the firms I want to be in.
Traveling- We missed out on so many vacation opportunities due to school and having a little one at home. We use to take annual vacations and some mini-vacations throughout the year. During law school, we only got one big trip to D.C. and New York in. Now that I have “free time,” we have a few trips planned and it was so nice not having to try to fit those in between school breaks, work requirements, and our parental responsibilities. Up next, California, Hawaii, Mexico, and a snow boarding trip of some sort.
Relaxing!- If nothing else, I like being able to jut relax with my little family on the weekends. Mr. Mister is stoked that he has his weekends free to make plans without having to arrange for a babysitter. I’m stoked that it’s currently patio weather were I live and I can enjoy a nice glass of Malbec sitting on our outdoor couch with no school books or study materials in front of me.
It’s the little things.
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