Alone
T just loaded the boys into the car and is headed out to Michigan to visit his parents and grandmother. They’ll be back Wednesday. I’m taking Monday off from work, which means that I have two and a half whole days to do whatever I darn please. I’m practically giddy at the thought.
No, I don’t have huge exciting plans. I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do, other than sleep in tomorrow morning and read as much of the Sunday paper as I please. I want to do some yoga and maybe go for a run. I feel like I should take advantage and go to a movie in a theater, but I have no idea what’s playing, and I have A Very Long Engagement out from Netflix, so I might just watch that. If the weather cooperates, I may rent a sunfish and pratice sailing on the Potomac, but right now it’s hot and sticky. I have a huge stack of books out from the library, and I’d like to make some progress on them. And I also have a long list of errands to run (get my ATM card turned back on, get my purse fixed) and to-dos (clean the fridge, edit down the zillion digital photos I’ve taken in the past few months). I might even go clothes shopping.
Yes, I’ll miss them. (I loved Yankee Transplant’s list of the times that she misses her daughters.) But having them 5 states away gives me the freedom to do all the things that I almost never choose to do when it means giving up time with the boys. Does that make sense?
August 6th, 2005 at 6:56 pm
Your two and a half days of Elizabeth time sound heavenly. Enjoy!
August 7th, 2005 at 9:07 am
We are currently childless too. It’s odd. Mostly I’ve gone out with friends in the evening, something I can only manage once a month when the kids are around. I’ve puttered around the house. We’re going to Atlantic City tonight. I miss them though. I realized after just a day or two how much I enjoy just having a conversation with them. Enjoy your time alone. I know you’ll find something fun and relaxing to do.
August 7th, 2005 at 2:09 pm
I’m always amazed at how much easier it is to accomplish tasks like clothes-shopping without my girls along. and yes, it makes perfect sense that we always consider that our kids or family has first claim on our time, and that choosing to do something else seems to be “giving up time with the kids.” I feel the same way, and know that many friends do too.
August 8th, 2005 at 2:27 pm
I’m so glad to see this IN WRITING from someone else! My DH takes the boys for about a week in the winter and visits family in NC. I love the sound of an empty house! But at the same time I feel guilty because I feel this way. I really do miss them…..but for a short time – it’s nice.
August 11th, 2005 at 1:11 pm
Sounds like heaven.