My Time

This past week, I have gotten a haircut, a pedicure and enjoyed a Café Mocha and chocolate croissant outside of a lovely eatery in Downtown Hamp with a friend. The most amazing part for me? Babysitter not required. I did these things in the few hours I have every week when both kids are in school.

I'm not going to pretend otherwise: I loved it.

I can respond to a text message before heading into a store without little feet kicking the back of my seat in protest. I can listen to NPR again, because I actually have the brain-space to do so. I can simultaneously s-l-o-w d-o-w-n, enjoy the moment, and also whip through stores if needed.

I feel sanity slowly returning. For nine hours a week, I get to do "what I want", or, at the very least, what I need to get done, without interruption. It's priceless. This week I've decided to indulge myself and use this time for self-care. Not every week will be haircuts and pedicures and Mochas. I'm sure before long I'll be using these hours to clean my house, organize toys, change clothes in bureaus from summer to winter- all that kind of fun stuff.

But, this week? It's been wonderful. You should have seen the smile on my face when I picked Buddy up from preschool on Wednesday. What's that saying- happy mom, happy family? I know there is truth behind it.

But for now, you'll have to excuse me. It's a morning that both kids have school, and I'll be going into the woods to explore old Goshen roads with a friend. It's something I've wanted to do for years.

Now is my time.