An Unusual Occurrence
Something unusual happened last night.
I found myself, away from home and alone, with an hour to spare between activities. Child #3's water polo game ended earlier than I'd anticipated. Plus, Mr. Summy arrived which meant I no longer needed to drive Child #3 home and feed him. And Child #4 is still off at Sixth Grade Camp, so I didn't have any responsibilities there, either.
An hour alone. Away from home. At 5:30pm. What's a harried mother/writer to do?
I went to a small sushi restaurant and sat, in blissful silence. I mulled over my work-in-progress and figured out how to handle the current plot snag. I read a chapter of Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. I ate slowly.
And as I dipped my spicy salmon roll into a puddle of soy sauce, I thought why am I not having more calm, relaxing moments like these?
I saved the pink (!) fortune cookie for Child #4, who returns from camp at 2:15 today!
Are the rest of you stopping to smell the roses? If yes, how are you working this into a busy schedule? Any tips are appreciated!
An hour alone. Away from home. At 5:30pm. What's a harried mother/writer to do?
I went to a small sushi restaurant and sat, in blissful silence. I mulled over my work-in-progress and figured out how to handle the current plot snag. I read a chapter of Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. I ate slowly.
And as I dipped my spicy salmon roll into a puddle of soy sauce, I thought why am I not having more calm, relaxing moments like these?
I saved the pink (!) fortune cookie for Child #4, who returns from camp at 2:15 today!Are the rest of you stopping to smell the roses? If yes, how are you working this into a busy schedule? Any tips are appreciated!
Posts
It’s so much easier now to stop and smell the roses than it was with three active boys. But I wouldn’t trade all those “harried” moments for all the roses in the world. (Hindsight is great.)
ReplyDeleteAs for a tip? Eventually I learned to take one hour (or more!) for myself every weekend to do whatever I liked – even if it was just reading or writing in my bedroom. I think that kept me sane and the kids learned that even moms need their “me” time.
Stopping to taste the sushi sounds even better than smelling the roses! Aren't those unexpected free moments a treasure?
ReplyDeletehealing!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
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Good for you. Sadly I haven't had any of these moments in a while but I do try to enjoy them when I can.
ReplyDeletea quiet moment alone eh. hmmm. It's been a while ;) Glad you were able to enjoy yours.
ReplyDeleteChantal: I know! Your life is crazy busy, too!
ReplyDeleteTravis: I'm becoming more and more convinced that all this running around isn't healthy.
ReplyDeleteCloudia: I think you hit upon the exact word!
ReplyDeleteSarah: The sushi was really good. As was the miso soup and salad. ;)
ReplyDeleteBeth: I'm going to try that. If it worked for you, it could work for me!
ReplyDeleteI love such moments of peace and quiet! I get a few in the morning on my commute, at least sometimes.
ReplyDeleteCharles: There are things I miss about not having a more "regular" job where I leave the house. The quiet commute is one.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! What's even cooler is that you spent it exactly how I'd have chosen to spend it.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you had a quiet moment. We all need 'em these days.
ReplyDeleteWTG! I had a quiet moment today...It was almost dusk and I went out to trim bushes in the yard. It was just cool enough to need a hoodie. It was a lovely way to spend some quiet time. :D
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds so wonderful! I love imagining you doing that. I should get out of the house more - I stay in my office with my 3 cats for far too many hours.
ReplyDeleteLovely! (I can't believe you were stood up by your dentist, btw.)
ReplyDeleteWhen my in-laws are in town, I smile, pour them glasses of iced tea, thank them for coming, then take off. When they're here I have my teeth cleaned, my hair cut, my books clubbed.
As a "stay-at-home" mom I find that I really spend very little time at home and I begin to resent the things I do each week that keep me out and about. And these are all voluntary, enjoyable things!
My guilty pleasure is staying home to put the baby to bed while my husband takes the older girls to dance class (or wherever). He's asleep at 6:30 and then I have quiet me time at home! I love it.