Friday, June 8, 2007

Oh sweet Friday!

It's Friday! My favorite day of the week. When the reprieve, the help, that seemed so far away, just last night, is now within sight. My days, and nights, of parenting the fabulous 4 alone will end for this week.

Sometime this afternoon, my beloved husband, love-of-my-life and co-parenting extraordinaire will finally get off work! (Cue Hallelujah Chorus) This is not a dig at Shane. He works extraordinarily hard so I can stay home with our children, but let's face it, sometimes by Thursday night (see the maudlin post below) doing it alone, I am looking for the gypsies. You know the proverbial ones that will come buy your children.

But Friday, Oh sweet Friday, I get to leave my home alone for a few hours and carry a small purse. I think everything freeing about those few hours is represented by that tiny purse that only fits a wallet, keys & lipgloss. There will be no need for changes of clothes, or wiping sticky fingers. No snacks or toys needed to pacify screaming children in the freezer department of the grocery store. Maybe I'll go to my bookstore, maybe I'll go to a coffee shop. Maybe I'll just run errands, because let's face it...even a line at the bank feels like a vacation when Lauri Berkner (God bless her) is not playing on your CD player.

Then when I return home my little ones will act like I have been gone for days and actually screech in happiness to have me back. My older ones with pounce on me with questions about their plans for the weekend and the chaos will begin again, but with Shane home, it somehow feels peaceful, like things are the way they should be.

At least until Monday.

8 comments:

Amanda said...

Oh my! The purse, that so describes it. Sometimes I do feel myself shudder a littel from the weight of vigilance, of always needing to mind who's been fed, who is soon to be hungry and what I might slip in a pocket to head off a tantrum. Beautiful post. I'll be wishing you the lightest of Fridays.

Christine said...

I am so jealous! My hubby is out of town, so the weekend is looking long, long, long now. Let us know if you buy a good book. ;-)

karen said...

Wait...you mean someone will PAY me for the kids?!? Hmmmm....if only there were some guarantee that they wouldn't be returned, Ransom of Red Chief style! :P

S said...

Ah yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean about having the hubs home, even if he isn't exactly helping -- it's still very comforting not to feel like the ONLY go-to person around...

Chaotic Joy said...

You know SM- My kiddos always bipass Shane to get to me as well. They will even call me from home while I am out to ask me a question. I keep thinking that someday I will miss feeling so needed.

a happier girl said...

I can see why you like Fridays so much. Some days when I escape the house without my children I'm excited just to ride in the car by myself. I catch myself driving around aimlessly just listening to the radio.

Julie Pippert said...

Isn't that moment of going off, alone, so wonderful, light and freeing? Enjoy . :)

But...is it just me, or does anyone else keep feeling like they forgot something, or check down and behind, looking for someone?

Lynn Stallworth said...

Having time to yourself is wonderful, but even in those times I don't escape from being a mom. Looking at all the other babies and children when I'm out, talking to their moms about my children, etc. I think I longed for a new baby for so long, when I finally got it (well, them-lol) it totally changed my perspective. Now I actually think a black backpack diaper bag is a fashion statement-ROFL!