Most of you know by now that I truly love being a mom and I cannot imagine my life without the noise and chaos that comes with having a family. Still, I think every single parent will be able to commiserate when I say that there is wonderful gift of joy that comes with the occasional quiet and peaceful house too…
I don’t often have the house all to myself and even when I THINK I do, there is usually someone waltzing in unexpectedly to put a bit of a damper on my solitude. Of course, I’ve gotten used to it–so used to it that days (weeks) can go by and I won’t even notice that I haven’t really been alone for any stretch of time. I know this seems unfathomable for some people, but a parent just gets used to it. I tell myself that we humans are social creatures anyway and that there are some tribes and civilizations where the people don’t even think about trying to be alone. It’s cultural.
Still…on those rare occasions when the house is quiet–all the kids are gone and not expected back in the immediate future (“expected” being a key word here)–I do get to feel for the briefest of periods what it is like to have the house all to myself (myself and three cats, of course). If I’m extra lucky, the phone won’t ring and no one will come knocking on the door. In these rare instances, I can experience the pure pleasure and joy that comes with having a little chunk of space all to myself; air that I don’t have to share with anyone else; I can walk into any room of my house and feel the environment and it belongs only to me. What single parent doesn’t appreciate the periodic joy of a quiet, calm house?
Also: Christmas Morning Walk
The Search for Silent Space at a Hotel