The philosopher, Heraclitus, said that nothing endures but change. He was right. At the end of 2013, after two long years of twists and turns, surprise bumps, starts, stops and one very big loop de loop, life shifted once again, and we were left facing more change. Vague? Yes, I know. That’s what I get for quoting a philosopher.
If you’ve been following my posts from the start of the year (this one and this one), the changes have already begun to take place. First it was my hair, which I dyed from a dark, dark, dark black to a dark, dark, dark brown. Then yesterday MrC went back to work and Little MrC went back to school. That meant that I had to shift from holiday mode back to 5am Iron Chef mode. It also meant that I would be faced with a long, quiet day at home by myself, for the first time in a long time. I was wrong, of course, because the rest of the family was home all day yesterday, and today too, for that matter. But in general, it means that I have several hours of me-time in the middle of the day, while the boys are away.
That means that I can now concentrate on completing my work tasks during the day, and finally impose a strict computer curfew on myself. I have to say, though, that when the urge to watch Homeland hits, that curfew will be totally ignored. I am absolutely obsessed with Sgt. Brody right now. Oh, and I’m only halfway done with Season 2, so if any of you comment with spoilers, know that you will make me cry.
Anyway, going back, the computer curfew is a good thing, considering I need to jump out of bed – literally – at 5am so that I can have breakfast and packed lunches ready by 5:45. If not, MrC won’t get to eat before he leaves, and of course I don’t want that. I also need the early morning jump start so that I can keep the momentum going and make sure that the kiddo and I leave for school before 7:20, in order to avoid the nasty traffic that usually starts between then and 7:30. After that, I’ve got myself all to, well, myself, for a good 8 hours, except on Tuesdays, when it’s shortened period in school. But even then, I still get 6 whole hours to myself.
I haven’t had this much free time in a long time. When I was a new WAHM, the kiddo was only in school for 3.5 hours. Then, when he started staying in school all day, I had MrC with me at home. And now, it’s just me. Me and all of this free time. Oh, the fun things I could do!
The last two days have been about re-adjusting to my early mornings, getting on with work, and making a list of chores that I need to accomplish on my own again, now that my boy wonder partner in crime is back to being an office worker. Tomorrow, though, I am going to spend the morning at the mall. There will be errands, there will be shopping, and there will also be a hair treatment. One of these days, I think I might just go back to sleep after completing my morning routine. Sounds heavenly. I can’t wait! These, my friends, are the perks that come with having a big kid who goes to big school and an ever-so supportive husband who works out of home.
For the record, I know it sounds like I’m really looking forward to my me-time, and I am, but I must admit, the house is a whole lot happier when those two are home, creating chaos in our room and calling me silly names like Jackfruit and Momma the Hutt. That’s the funny thing about being a wife and a mom. For the most part, your husband and kids may drive you nuts, but it just feels incomplete when they aren’t around. Know what I mean?
