A week alone-- 8 things that I was reminded about myself and my life as a wife and mom
So what happens when your college girls have a different spring break from you, and your high schooler wants to spend a week with Dad golfing? Mom gets Spring Break week at home- alone.
This is the first time in 21 years that I have been home alone, all alone. No kids. No husband.
Here are 8 important things I learned from staying home alone.
1. The only dishes that I had to wash are the ones I used. Now THAT is a novel idea. Really novel, when you realize that paper plates worked just fine. :) And you know what, everything else in the house stayed clean too!! Crazy, right??
2. I found out that I am perfectly capable of painting a room with zero assistance. Well, maybe just a little- I had to ask the lady at the Home Depot Counter if I needed to have her mix white paint..... she was kind enough not to laugh. (For reference, you don't. She will just shake it for you...)
3. Nights were long. Really really long. Sure, I could climb under a heated blanket at 6:45...no judgement, people, but at 3am, there isn't much on tv. Sorry, Mike, about the electric bill-- the TV and lights have been working overtime. Yep, still afraid of the dark. And the quiet.
4. Coffee with my neighbor was a LIFESAVER. Getting a text from her at 7am, asking "Coffee?" was the most joyous "ding" of my day. A real person. Real conversation. It sure made me feel so much less alone this week. It also makes my neighborhood feel more like a family. Or a frat house. But either way, LIFESAVING, I tell you.
5. I learned that Mike does more around here than I notice. Okay, so we all knew that. But now I really really know that. Low Tire Pressure? That's me (with help from the Bell Tire Guy). Gas on E? That's me, again. (Thanks to the guy next to me who let me talk his ear off...I mean, I was missing real people conversation.) Need an ingredient for dinner? That's me...running to Kroger (which is practically unchartered territory for this girl). I can't wait for Mike to get back, because errands are WAY MORE FUN when he's along for the ride. (Just so he doesn't feel left out, I saved a few for him to do.)
6. Catching up with friends was a BONUS BLESSING this week. I was able to have long (lonnnggggg) conversations with friends, whether we were sitting in a booth, on a couch, or just chatting on the phone. This is good for the soul. It's important to remember that our web of connections is wide, and too often, we gloss over the importance of friendship, saying life is just too busy now. For a whole week, I could STOP GLORIFYING BUSY....and sit. One of the best parts of my week.
7. I was reminded that time is precious, and even more so, Father/Son time is invaluable. Any time I started feeling bad for myself, I tried really hard to focus on the two best boys in my life, spending time together, doing something they both love. I will probably never know what conversations they had; I will never quite understand the inside jokes-- but I don't need to. In a year and a couple months, Caleb will be in a new stage of life-- I am positive there are lots of things on his mind about that. No one better than his dad to be able to talk those through. I am so thankful that they had this week to do just that.
8. And finally, no matter how much I got done (the to-do list is completely checked off!) and no matter how much I was able to lay around (which really means "watch youtube makeup and clothing reviews), I really miss the mess, the noise, the conversation, the cooperation of a houseful of people. As much as I think I am, I now know I am not quite ready for an empty nest... I think I will treasure my little birds while they are still flocking at home.
So, my guys start their drive back from South Florida tomorrow sometime. You KNOW I will be soaking in the last few hours of a clean house, my choice of tv shows, my lion's share of the king size bed, heck- maybe even one last indulgent trip to TJ Maxx....but you know I also will be tracking them on my phone (again, no judgement) so that as they pull in back HOME, I can run out and show them both just how much I missed them.
This is the first time in 21 years that I have been home alone, all alone. No kids. No husband.
Here are 8 important things I learned from staying home alone.
1. The only dishes that I had to wash are the ones I used. Now THAT is a novel idea. Really novel, when you realize that paper plates worked just fine. :) And you know what, everything else in the house stayed clean too!! Crazy, right??
2. I found out that I am perfectly capable of painting a room with zero assistance. Well, maybe just a little- I had to ask the lady at the Home Depot Counter if I needed to have her mix white paint..... she was kind enough not to laugh. (For reference, you don't. She will just shake it for you...)
4. Coffee with my neighbor was a LIFESAVER. Getting a text from her at 7am, asking "Coffee?" was the most joyous "ding" of my day. A real person. Real conversation. It sure made me feel so much less alone this week. It also makes my neighborhood feel more like a family. Or a frat house. But either way, LIFESAVING, I tell you.
6. Catching up with friends was a BONUS BLESSING this week. I was able to have long (lonnnggggg) conversations with friends, whether we were sitting in a booth, on a couch, or just chatting on the phone. This is good for the soul. It's important to remember that our web of connections is wide, and too often, we gloss over the importance of friendship, saying life is just too busy now. For a whole week, I could STOP GLORIFYING BUSY....and sit. One of the best parts of my week.
7. I was reminded that time is precious, and even more so, Father/Son time is invaluable. Any time I started feeling bad for myself, I tried really hard to focus on the two best boys in my life, spending time together, doing something they both love. I will probably never know what conversations they had; I will never quite understand the inside jokes-- but I don't need to. In a year and a couple months, Caleb will be in a new stage of life-- I am positive there are lots of things on his mind about that. No one better than his dad to be able to talk those through. I am so thankful that they had this week to do just that.
(The rare pic sent from Caleb's cell phone to me-as they teed off in Georgia)
So, my guys start their drive back from South Florida tomorrow sometime. You KNOW I will be soaking in the last few hours of a clean house, my choice of tv shows, my lion's share of the king size bed, heck- maybe even one last indulgent trip to TJ Maxx....but you know I also will be tracking them on my phone (again, no judgement) so that as they pull in back HOME, I can run out and show them both just how much I missed them.
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