Two days, no kids, very weird

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I've been a bit quiet over the past few weeks because I've been getting my head around the start to a new school year.  It is new for us on a number of fronts.  Our No 4 child has just started Kindy at school and our No 5 has started two days/week at preschool.  I have not had two consecutive days without children for almost 12 years.

Even though I've really been looking forward to this time (and this is the first week of the new routine), I'm still getting used to the shift.  A few years ago I worked that I needed to plan ahead for this time.  I knew that I would find it hard to move into this next stage if I didn't know what I wanted to do with the time.  Which is why I started studying and retraining so I had a plan.

It is certainly not a problem of finding things to do with my time.  There are more opportunities with church, school, preschool and other community groups than I know what to do with.  I also like the idea of working.  But I think I needed to have something to do which was just about me.  Not about my kids, not about my husband's ministry, not about our church.

Sounds selfish, but it's not an issue of neglecting my family for the sake of my own goals.  It's acknowledging that as my kids get older, I don't think it is healthy to be completely defined by them and their lives.  Well, personally, it's not healthy for me.  I need other things floating around in my brain so that I don't become obsessive and consumed by their lives.  So I don't start telling Rowan how to do his job.  So I'm not consumed by the "she said, then I said, then they said, then she said" conversations that can start to take over my life.

So this year, I'm going to use my two days, to (hopefully) qualify as a librarian.  And the rest of my time will be spent looking after my 3yo daughter, dropping off/picking up the masses from school (more time consuming and exhausting than you might guess) and just generally managing our life at home!

But yesterday I did go to the movies to see George Clooney in "Up in the Air" (a post for another day), on my OWN. Such an introvert's way of celebrating!

Comments

Jo said…
Enjoy this new quiet phase of your life, 2 whole days alone sounds wonderful. I hope you get to the movies again too.
I am in my 5th year of part-time study and I really enjoy it too.
February 5, 2010 at 8:06 PM
Jo said…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/22/the-most-amazing-librarie_n_432126.html

Jenny, check out that link to see the "most amazing libraries in the world". It's pretty cool.
February 5, 2010 at 8:09 PM
Pip said…
Great idea to go to the movies to celebrate!

I've been planning for that child free time too...(still 2 years away) and it doesn't involve study or working - just involves looking forward to being in the quiet and getting everyday things done without interuption : )
February 6, 2010 at 3:59 PM
Jenny Kemp said…
Hi Jo - what are you studying? How have you managed to stay motivated for such a long time? I'm in my third year and I'm feeling like I'm starting to lose energy for it.
February 6, 2010 at 7:38 PM
Jenny said…
And those libraries are so beautiful.
February 6, 2010 at 7:41 PM
Jo said…
I am studying for my BA (in Geography and Sociology) from UNE. I look at it as being 13 weeks of hard work/stress then a month off, 13 weeks again, the 3-4 months off. I couldn't maintain it over the whole year, lol!
Also, I have done a lot of really interesting subjects on development, the environment, and also Creative Arts and Italian as electives.
I also go up for Res Schools sometimes which I love!!!!!!!!!! No children, meals cooked, and adult conversation, love it!!
February 7, 2010 at 9:22 PM
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