For the first time in 3 1/2 years, we just don't know what to do with ourselves.
Now, we've taken overnight dates and weekends before. But they were away vs. here. At home. And what a novel concept - a weekend away at home. Who knew it could be so nice?
So after work yesterday, Dave and I met for Happy Hour and dinner. Straight from work. Like we used to do.
And for the first time, we didn't feel pressure to come home and see the kids before they went down for the night. Because they weren't home. And we felt guilt-free because we knew my parents were with them and we were comforted that they were in good hands, having a grand old time without us.
And then we came home. He watched a movie on TV. I leisurely surfed the internet...bought iTunes, read the news, skimmed the Hollywood gossip sites, caught up on e-mail. All before 9pm. Then we reconvened and sat in our living room and sipped wine and watched Friday night programming.
Uninterrupted. Relaxed.
A rare bliss at home.
No running around to make dinner for them and for ourselves.
No drawing straws to see who got to bathe them.
No fighting with them to stay in bed after lights-out.
No wistful looks exchanged between Dave and I at the end of the night because of the realization that we'd have only 1/2 hour of alone-time together before collapsing into bed after a long week at work.
Just a quiet evening at home. Like the old days. With seemingly all the time in the world to ourselves.
This morning, we slept in until almost 8:00am.
Then we went for a run in the trails behind our neighborhood, together.
After making a big breakfast in our kitchen, we leisurely sipped our coffee and we wondered and speculated on what to do today.
Perhaps that art festival in La Jolla?
Or a little shopping at Fashion Valley?
Or a hike in Torrey Pines?
No naptime considerations to time-box our day's agenda.
No scurrying around before leaving the house to make sure the kids have all their snacks and gear before running off to our kid-friendly schedule of Saturday activities.
No coordination of who will be with which child and when, so we can run errands and get in precious-few "me" moments during the weekend.
We felt a rare peace.
Yet we also felt eerily empty.
And tomorrow morning, they will return. And sounds of their laughter and giggles and fighting will again fill the house.
We will again return to our seemingly chaotic weekend schedule and enjoy the rest of Sunday together in a kid-friendly manner - a birthday party at the park, a playdate, dinner at Pat & Oscars.
And for as much as Dave and I have longed to have the extra time together the last 3 1/2 years, we realize that we just can't stay away from them.
1 comment:
I could have echoed that post word for word. well, not the going for a run part, but the rest for sure.
Enjoy your last moments.
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