All By Myself

Yesterday was the first day (of many) that both kids were in school at the same time. After I dropped Tad off at school, Ane and I drove to her school and then took a walk to the Starbucks nearby for a “special treat.” We had almost an hour to kill. She had hot chocolate, I had tea.

But once Ane was dropped off at her class, I was… kidless. It felt weird. I actually sat in the minivan for a couple of minutes, wondering what to do with myself. So I drove to my parents’ house (which is also the house I spent many years growing up in), let myself in, greeted Rusty the dog, and sat down with a book that I’d been trying to carve out time to read.

Why go to Mom and Dad’s house? It’s closer and more centrally located than my house to the kids’ schools. I didn’t feel like spending the time and gas to drive all the way home.

My parents were heading off to dentist appointments, but I knew that. Once I surprised my mother with my casual “Hi, I’m in the family room,” we chatted for a bit before my Dad came down, ready to go. He did a double take when he saw me. “Where are the kids?” he asked (seeing as there was no extra noise and the family room hadn’t been strewn with toys yet).

“School,” I answered.

“Oh.” He paused. “Then go clean your room.”

Mom started to laugh. “That’d be really funny – if she still had a room here.”

Dad shrugged. “Just pick any room upstairs and clean it.”

When I repeated this exchange to Auntie later, she cried, “Pick mine! Pick mine!”

I did actually live in the room that is now hers for over 5 years (until I switched bedrooms when she was born). I still don’t feel like cleaning it. I have a whole house to keep clean now.

I still have to get used to this “no kids” thing. Between Wednesdays and Thursdays, I am without them for THREE WHOLE HOURS a week.

What am I going to do with myself?

It sure didn’t seem like long enough.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 1:32 am and is filed under Children, Mommyhood, School Days.
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