On My Own

It's 10:47 P.M., and I'm on my own tonight because my husband is out of town for a training for work. This only happens once every couple of years, which is good, because the kids and I sure do miss him. So tonight, in addition to all day, I was on my own with the kids . On my own getting their pajamas on and teeth brushed. On my own getting their sweet little buns tucked into bed.

Now they're asleep, and I'm truly on my own, and I'm grateful, because it's a state I rarely get to enjoy. I live with three people (and two cats) who want to be on me in one way or another all the time, and tonight it's nice not to have to meet anyone else's expectations or worry about meeting anyone else's needs.

I'm tired, and I should be asleep. My daughter will most likely be awake and hungry in about three hours, and it's always hard for me to go back to sleep after she awakes. On any normal night I would probably be in bed by now, but I'm up and awake just reveling in my solitude and its accompanying freedom. So for the next few minutes, I'm going to do some things on my own. I'm going to have a snack I don't have to share, watch a television show that's not appropriate for children, and maybe take a shower without my kids being in the bathroom. After that I'll finally haul myself into bed, though I suspect I'll have a hard time getting to sleep without my hubby in the house. But that's just fine. It's a price I can pay for one glorious, selfish, luxurious evening all my own, on my own.