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It’s Spring Break, people! Can’t you tell?
Wait. You can’t tell? Really?
Oh, yeah. That’s right. I don’t actually get vacation. All freelancer, all the time!
It is, however, Spring Break. My kids are off of school, and in fact, they’re out of the state. (They’re up visiting their dad for the week.) My husband is off of work. Our town is virtually deserted.
I didn’t plan for this week to really be any different for me. I have work to do, after all. Sure, I would vastly enjoy not having to get up with the kids at the crack of dawn, but other than sleeping an hour or so later each morning, everything would be the same as always.
Maybe.
It’s funny, because I think my life is pretty great right now. I have plenty of work (although at the moment I’m not as overwhelmed as I sometimes get), the kids and I have a routine for the most part, and my husband is not only incredibly helpful when it comes to the harmony of the household, I still really like him. (Hey, this is my second marriage. While I’m not exactly surprised at how well it’s going, let’s just say that the expectations weren’t particularly high, in some ways.) Really, I have nothing to complain about at all.
But the other day I was talking to someone about the kids, and a few things we’ve been doing with them lately to help them with some issues they’ve been having. As we were winding up the conversation, this person leaned in a bit and said, “But what are you doing for you?”
I was taken aback, a bit. “Oh, well I’m trying to just stay on top of it all, you know,” I rambled on a bit, until I was interrupted.
“But that’s not what I asked. That’s what you’re doing for them. I asked what you’re doing for you.”
“Well… I… ummmm….” There was more babbling. I guess. I don’t really know; I was completely flummoxed. “I’m fine.”
And you know, I am fine, but I also haven’t done anything for myself, lately, to make sure that I stay that way.
Yet, here I am, with a full week off from my kids. I still have to work, of course, but I’ve got the whole week off from being Mom. It seems like I ought to do… something special. Something with my husband. Something by myself. But something, surely.
What would you do with a child-free week if you couldn’t just run off and leave life behind? Surely there’s something I can do to properly embrace this freedom while still attending to the work I need to do…?
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 7:47 am and is filed under A mother's work is never done, My boss is an idiot.
Tags: alone time, balance, relaxation
March 11th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I’d find a comfy spot and catch up on reading books I’ve bought from Amazon..
March 11th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Um, taking walks, going to cafés, reading, talking with my husband without interruptions, knitting (I know, you don’t do that.), listening to music, taking a bath …
I’m sure that I could come up with more. Knowing me in real life though, I guess I’d probably just hang around until the children came back, waiting.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I’m in a similar situation… I’m on Spring Break, but my son isn’t, so… I have kid-free days all week! What am I doing? Well, yesterday I cleaned out his room and took three bags full of crap to Goodwill. Today I have a million errands to run. Tomorrow I will de-clutter the kitchen and our bedroom. After that, working in the front yard. All of these things that have been stressing me — I’m finally getting them done and I enjoy that feeling!
For me? I fixed my blog. And I’ll probably read some good books. And I’m sleeping in two hours later every morning.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
We will have child-free days next week while my step-daughter is on Spring Break and at her mom’s house. I plan to finally beat Super Paper Mario on the Wii. I’m almost done with it - mostly due to the last child-free weekend when I got thru all put the last “chapter”. Yes - I know - I’m playing a video game, but I’m okay with that. And I probably won’t cook anything even resembling dinner because the husband and I have a bad habit of just eating cereal or something for dinner when there’s not a child wanting food.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
wow a whole week? i think i would clean (i know but i am so far behind!) and just declutter, read books, visit random friends and family for lunch… watch stupid tv… oooh look up some crazy yummy food recipes and ACTUALLY MAKE THEM! you know, instead of just drooling over the picture on the internet… i think i would also get out ‘the good camera’ and take lots of artsy outside pictures of random stuff.
hmm i think i would need more than a week!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Everyone else who has commented so far has had some great suggestions. I’d say that since you and your husband are both there without the kids all week, do something just for yourself and something else special for you both.
But I have to say that I totally related to this: “Hey, this is my second marriage. While I’m not exactly surprised at how well it’s going, let’s just say that the expectations weren’t particularly high, in some ways.” I know just what you mean - it’s been the same way for me.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Similar to one of your posts on woulda, I’d take tiem for me to try to buy some spring/summer clothes that fit as well as do some sewing/crafting around the house. I always have a “want to do” list several items long and never seem to get to them all. Oh, and I’d actually put some time into creating a recipe blog and an online fabric store for my mother and me. Whew, so much to do!
Enjoy your kid-free week.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I tidy on the first day and revel in the fact that my house stays tidy the whole time!
March 12th, 2008 at 12:43 am
What would I do without my kids for a week?
1. Have few drinks
2. Go out to dinner with the Hubby to an ADULT restaurant — no kiddie menus
3. Go to the theater and watch an R rated movie
4. Sleep late into the morning
5. Have some adult “fun” time without fear of being caught [he-he-he]
March 12th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Sleep and sleep.
Though I know i cant do that much. I will cleanup my home, pick up a book.
try and come home early and dress up for my hubby……..get naughty at all restricted places…
March 12th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I would go to an early bird movie in the afternoon with the hubs. Linger over a nice meal out at a resturant that I did not have to cook or clean up. Read a good book (or books) for leisure. Go shopping or just browse stores I can’t go to with kids in tow. Get a pedicure and manicure.
ahhhhhh, just thinking about it relaxes me.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am
It’s tough to imagine being kid-free because my kid is disabled, which means he’s more high-maintainance than most. I would:
1. clean
2. Walk
3. Read
4. Nap
5. Wonder where my kid is?
March 12th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Heheheheh… thanks, everyone, for both the suggestions and the solidarity of knowing I’m not the only one sort of flummoxed by all this freedom.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Go to a movie! Go to a Spa! Go get your nails done! Go read a book! Don’t just sit there…go!!!
March 18th, 2008 at 7:49 am
[...] And by “long time ago” I of course mean last week. [...]