Lately I’ve been waking up around 5:00am.
While, I’m naturally an early riser, this is early even for me. I think middle school has hyped me up a bit. Unconsciously, I worry about my son getting up, if he’s completed everything that needed to be done, if he’s ready for the new school day. Since I can’t fix and do everything for him, I compensate for any potential failings by preparing the perfect lunch. A+ for me.
By 6:30am, two of my three boys are usually awake. It’s the middle-schooler who needs to get up that is still sleeping. I gently shake his warm body until he yells something unintelligible and falls back unconscious. This happens at least three more times at five minute intervals, until finally I turn on the light, rip off the covers and throw clothes on top of his head.
By 7:30am, he’s out the door.
I finish up organizing and feeding my younger two, negotiating with them to put on their socks, brush their teeth, eat their breakfast. Pretty much everything I need to get done for them is a negotiation. Like I would be the one embarrassed if they went to school with their shirt inside out, or in trouble if they didn’t finish their homework, or mortified if the girl they ultimately asked to the prom turned them down because they had no teeth. Okay, fine, I would.
Finally, the bus arrives and I wave, smile and jump up and down manically for the two little faces, one with dark curly hair, the other blonde and straight, pressed to the window watching me in amusement.
By 8:30am, they are officially all off to school, and I am in my house alone for the first time in over ten years.
I thought, being a generally sappy mom, prone to stalking, suffocation and crying lapses, that I would take this transition hard.
There’s no one cracking up while doing goofy dances for VideoStar. There’s no running through the halls, pounding down the stairs, or racing cars across the wood floors. There’s no one fighting over who likes macaroni the most or who can climb a tree highest. There’s nothing but silence.
No children giggling. No children fighting. No children.
It’s…BEAUTIFUL!!!
I am almost shocked at how thrilled I am with this time to myself. I flip the laundry. La la la. I do some exercise. La la la. I run a few errands. I sit at the computer and write! La la halle-freaking-lujah!
I am so content in my bubble with myself that I have actually turned down lunch with friends. Neither, do I have time to shop. I need to revel in the glory of my silent house; my fingers dancing on the keyboard, an ice cream for lunch. Me. Me. Me.
Maybe soon I’ll grow wistful, but right now, there’s a party in my house. And I’m the only one invited.
No, you can’t join me.
Icescreammama 
Sounds awesome! Enjoy the peace and quiet and ice cream.
it’s good stuff! 🙂
Hee Hee… I so relate to this… And I call it ‘ME TIME’ … Suuppaahh… enjoy all such moments … till they last dear. Grt post.
it’s the best!!! i really had no idea. i thought i might just cry all day. hahahaha!
It is nice, isn’t it? Ice cream for lunch? Seriously? Wow, I thought I was being sneaky eating chocolate all day. You sure know how to party.
As for middle school, I am sincerely hoping that this, finally, will be where having a child who is not a sleeper will benefit me. I swear, if he starts to actually like sleep when he becomes a teenager, I have ten years of paybacks under my belt.
well, that would be the kicker! my oldest always been a sleeper. this is huge. he has to get up like an hour earlier. my middle will have no problem. unless the universe aligns to screw with me.
but man, it’s nice!!! i’m so loving this free time.
Good for you, ICM! We took off on Friday to drive to KC and when the wife returned from dropping Cool at school and G$ at the sitters, we had the whole house to ourselves and the dogs for the first time maybe at all since the littlest was born. It was heavenly! I can only imagine your delight.
i don’t know if i’ll ever go out again! except to refill the freezer!
Having the house to yourself is PRICELESS.
omg!! it is!! i had no idea!!
Time…to yourself? I don’t understand.
haha!! hang in there!! you will.. 🙂
HA! Love it! I still have a few years so I’m squeezing the baby a lot but when the time comes I can’t imagine!
it’s so good having a baby at home, but it’s also good when they’re all in school. win win. 🙂
Yaaaayyyy!!! I’m so glad you’re enjoying your me time!
thanks. much more than i expected. 🙂
I have three kids too (girls) and I SO know that feeling of finally having time to write. Love it. Love that you love it too.
thanks. it’s really liberating. so nice just to sit here in the quiet… at least for now. 🙂
“Mo-om! Did you eat ice cream… without us?!??!?”
ha! in a strange twist of fate, i generally have to bribe my kids to go get ice cream with me!
I fantasize about being alone in my own house. I skipped eating dinner out on Sunday so I could be at here by myself for 73 minutes. Totally worth it.
totally!! love that you know your time to the minute! haha
you look so content. The great part is it takes a really really really long time to wear off. My kid just got married and I’m still reveling in alone time. Enjoy it!
so glad to hear that!! i was a little worried for when the novelty wore off and i just missed the kids running round. i’m glad i can look forward to enjoying me time for years to come. 🙂
This sounds sublime. I love being home alone.
thank you! i had no idea how much i missed it!
What you described? My idea of heavenly. 🙂
me too!!! wooo hoo!!
I totally feel you. I would have never imagined this, but there are days where I am home alone all day – working, cooking, writing – I don’t leave the house, and I don’t want to.
Enjoy your freedom.
i know!! i’m so appreciating the silence right now.
I don’t know if I have ever been in my house all by myself. Hmm. Next year, both of my little girls will be in school and I will have two blissful mornings to experience it!
wait… it’s great to be where you are, but then when you’re not, it’s great to be where i am. 🙂
But wait, don’t you miss your kids? Pine for them all day while they’re gone? Pace at the door, stairing longingly down the street waiting for the bus to drop them back home to your loving embrace?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Oh god, I kill me.
Enjoy the silence lady. First year both my kids are in school all day as well. I feel ya. FIST BUMP.
haha!! i thought i would!!!! but, yeah!! fist bump baby!!
Amen Sista! My husband brought home the new Breyers Girl Scout cookie somoas flavor. I think I’ll wait until they’re all out the door tomorrow and have me one of those days. 😉
ohhh I love the somoas!! yum!
Wow! To enjoy every moment of it…the fun and the moments away…they grow up so quick.
it’s all good. 🙂
It truly is a beautiful thing! And you describe it wonderfully. My kids are in college so I have beaucoup time to myself. When my hubby walks it at 4:16 every day I always think, “Home already?”
ha!! i know! it goes fast!
I’m also the same way. I have a neighbor who spent an entire week home alone while her husband took the kids to Scotland!
ha!! that’s great!