Bringing up boys: when they are NOT around

My Boys

So there I am all by me own.

Alone.

By myself.

It’s kind of weird and exciting and lonely all at the same time.

I don’t have any responsibilities beyond those that concern me and the animals. No children to get up, feed and water. No husband to pander to, to make sure he’s OK, that he has everything he needs and wants.

It’s just me.

And I really am not quite sure what to do with myself in the moments that I have spare.

I am MEANT to be working my socks off in order to meet all my deadlines before I take a couple of weeks off to take the boys to Wales and join my husband when he takes time off from work.

But the problem is that when I need a break from work  I realise how incredibly quiet the place is. There’s loads of stuff to do don’t get me wrong but doing it on my own without the backdrop of the familiar family cacophony is disconcerting to say the least.

I find that I am talking to the dogs a load more and the radio is on almost all the time and as for the TV well it IS the Olympics...

It makes me realise how much I like having them all about me, obviously NOT when I am getting mithered by them to do things, mend things and generally feed and water them and clear up after them but just them being about …just them, well - breathing!

I will focus and get all my work out of the way and I'll get the youngest’s bedroom all painted and decorated by the time he gets back on Friday ready to move into; the cleaning will be finished, the laundry all beautifully put away. Fridges cleared of suspect detritus, office organised, photos catalogued…well maybe not going that far but you get the picture.

I’ll be ready for them to come back. I’ll be looking forward to their presence about the place, the noise, the mess and the general chaos that follows them about and I won't mind at all...

I’m really missing them!