Cynthia Hill

I’ve been “Mom” since just before I turned 25. Before then, being alone in the house was never a big deal. I grew up with just my mom, so I was used to solitude. Our house was a very quiet one, even when both of us were there, but the older I got in my teens, the less often that happened anyway.

The last summer before I went to university, my grandfather was dying and my mom basically moved in to his apartment to take care of him. I stayed home, working at my summer job.

My husband and I were married for almost four years before our oldest joined the family. Although we were together a lot, there were occasions when one of us was out for a while.

It’s something you take for granted, before you have kids. The ability to just BE. No one asking you to do anything. No one complaining over what you watch on television. You can listen to whatever music you want. You can sit and read a book and no one interrupts.

Tonight, for the first time in a long time, I am in the house… ALONE. My husband and kids are spending the night at his parents’ place on the lake, visiting with our nephews who are here for a few weeks. Because I have to work tomorrow, it just made more sense for me to not join them. And so I’m here. In the house. By myself.

I actually went to the gym straight after work, and did a good, long workout, feeling absolutely no guilt about not being home to help out, because there was no one at home waiting for me. Then I came home, ate my dinner, such as it was, and watched television while playing online. All at a time when normally I’d be begging my three-year-old to stay in his bed.

But now I’m starting to wonder: what exactly do I do with myself now? It’s nearly 9:30, and since I have to get up for work in the morning, I’m not about to go out with friends (I’m not 21 anymore, that’s for sure!) It’s too early to go to bed. There’s nothing I really want to watch on television. So, I’m blogging.

I’m glad that they’ll be back tomorrow night, hopefully when I get home from work, because honestly, the quiet is creeping me out!

So, parents, when was the last time that YOU were alone in your house?