The singular best thing about being home ALONE for a holiday weekend might just be having control of the T.V. remote.
Looks like fun, but, um, yeah, I think I’m gonna stay home.
As you may have guessed, Kevin and the kids went away for the long weekend. They hit the snowy trails of the Atlantic Northeast with some relatives while I opted to stay behind in a warm, peaceful and quiet house.
I enjoy skiing but one trip a year, and I’m good. After that you’re on your own. And I already put in my time this year so when Kevin suggested another trip over the weekend, I said, “Have fun. See ya on Monday.”
I was looking forward to time by myself.
I had it all planned out, and while I knew the time alone would be renewing, I absolutely savored every second of it. I read and wrote everyday, and at night I got to watch whatever show I wanted without having to listen to anyone complain. That’s a rarity in this house. Although I don’t watch a ton of T.V. or have any shows to which I’m committed, it’s still nice at the end of the day to put on a program you actually have an interest in viewing.
So I haven’t shaved in a while. Don’t judge.
Rather than being subjected to endless hours of Finding Big Foot, in which no one ever finds Big Foot because he’s a mythical creature, or back to back episodes of Gold Rush, in which nobody ever finds gold or anything else even remotely interesting, or the random Ancient Aliens program, which let’s face it is just plain ridiculous (I don’t want to watch shows on current aliens let alone ancient ones), I watched hours and hours of Love It or List It and the whole first season of Girls, which I got on DVD for Christmas because we don’t have HBO, and even if we did have HBO I wouldn’t be able to watch Girls because Kevin would be too busy monopolizing the T.V. (We have two T.V.’s, but Kevin prefers to watch his programs on mine.)
This is sorta what it felt like.
My hopes and dreams may not sound like much, but having them met this weekend was everything to me. I could do what I wanted when I wanted. When does that ever happen? I was free. The weight I normally carry around was lifted, and I decided I really love freedom.
For three solid days I didn’t have to nag the kids about school work. I didn’t have to nag the kids about cleaning up their rooms. I didn’t have to nag the kids about brushing their teeth or putting their dishes away or getting ready for bedtime or practicing their guitars or taking a bath or making their beds. I didn’t have to monitor the kids’ time on the computer or ipod or video games or T.V. I didn’t have to plan and coordinate anyone’s schedules. I didn’t have to drive anyone to basketball practice or lacrosse practice or any other kind of practice. I didn’t have to do any household chores (the house never got dirty). I never once made a meal – I think I even lost a little weight. I was responsible for just myself. Can you imagine? And it’s really nice being responsible for only one person. I wondered why this can only happen a few days out of the year.
During this time alone I realized I could be quite happy reading and writing and never leaving my home. I realized I could easily fall into the hermit lifestyle. In fact, I believe the hermit lifestyle is the right one for me.
My time home alone was so wonderful, I may never go skiing again. Or I may continue with my one trip policy, but then my family must go once a year without me. In fact, it’s going to be mandatory.
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photo credit: Micah Taylor via photopin cc
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Right on! It doesn’t matter if I leave town without the kids or if he leaves with ‘em…it’s all vacation for me:) If I don’t have to stop what I’m doing to yell, fix, cook, fold or insist on anything…I mean come on! The voices in my own head are enough to confuse me. I like taking a mom break too…it’s good for them!
That’s what I’m sayin. The kids are so nice to me when they’re away. They tell me how much they miss me and I’m like good you should.
Occasionally my husband takes the kids with him when he goes to visit his family and it is blissful. After having some well deserved time to myself, though, I’m ready for them to come back.
I miss them eventually but I could go for another week.
In the 2 years my daughter has been alive, my husband has taken her out of the house without me ONCE, and it was so he could drive her around to try and get her to nap when I was at my wits end. If he were to ever take her somewhere for an extended period of time, I have no idea what I would do with myself!
You would write. Uninterrupted. Listen, he’s not gonna offer. You have to ask (or take it). When my daughter was little & I was going crazy, I told my husband I was going to the movies by myself. He had to watch The Kid. He agreed. My sister told me how “lucky” I was that my husband would do that. It’s not luck. He wasn’t going to say, “Sweetie, you’ve been working so hard & you’re so stressed out, why don’t you go do something for yourself since you are single-handedly raising our child, & you never get a break.” That’s what I said, & then I went to the movies.
Hahahaha. Yup, I find you have to be THAT direct about it. As The Hubs has been working out during the day for over 3 months now, I decided last week that I would join a gym, too. Naturally, I can’t make it to any of the classes with his schedule, so I drag my ass out of bed at 5:15 every morning to go for a run, and on weekends I take off for an hour to do a spin class. I figure the more comfortable he gets with being home alone with The Kid, the more likely I will be able to go out for longer periods of time.
You’ve put me on a new mission. My husband needs to leave the house with our at least once every 6 months for an overnight. Ah, the bliss! We’ve each left one another alone WITH my 3 year old, but not yet traveled with him and left the other at home alone. Note – son is on the autism spectrum so basically neither one of us has been mean enough to suggest traveling with Tucker alone, yet. But he’s older now…and getting so much better…and I could totally pull this off.
Jealous!
Never tell hubby I was hear. I must pretend to have thought of this on my own.
LOVE IT!
TALU
Your secret is safe w/ me. I would never out anotha motha. Please, take all my ideas & save yourselves! Lord knows it ain’t easy, & I’m here to help.
That sounds glorious. I don’t know how you lost weight. I wouldn’t prepare a meal if the family was gone, but I would eat, read, write, eat, watch tv, sleep, and eat some more.
Sometimes, if my husband takes the kids to Home Depot with him for an hour on the weekend, I think: Divorced parents are so lucky!
I’ve had the SAME thought. For every other weekend off I might divorce my husband. (Kidding, honey.)
OMG I fantasize about divorcing my husband so I can have every other weekend alone!!
Glorious. Heavenly. All manner of celestial supernatural words combined.
Of all of the material and emotional things I have, what I need most sometimes is quiet. Just to be alone, with myself and my thoughts. What a treat! Oh, and a little something special, just for you. <3 http://mylifeaslucille.blogspot.com/2013/01/who-me.html
You are absolutely right. And, oh, goody. A treat.
Some wise someone once said “You can’t save your kids from their father, and you can’t save your husband from his kids.” You can’t miss them if they don’t leave. It doesn’t happen nearly often enough in this house, either, but when it does, it is pure joy. So glad you got a chance to recharge. Isn’t it lovely to remember who you are when you are not “Mom” or “Honey”?
Absolutely, my Tired friend. And it turns out, I really like myself when I’m just me and not somebody’s servant.
I want to read books! I want to paint! Have you read my ultimate momcation piece? YOU just lived my fantasy!!
Not yet but I will!