Sundays

My time as a mom, over the past three years, has made me extremely appreciative of the few minutes of "me time" I get each week.

This weekend has been a real treat because my daughter is with my parents, who live about an hour and a half away. Today is the second day in a row that I have had the privilege of sitting in the same place for more than five minutes at a time. It is 1:00 pm, I am just now having my morning coffee and haven't even considered leaving the comfort of my bed to take a shower, or clean the many messes throughout the house. My vegetative state takes me back to the days of what I called, "No Talk Sundays." These were the Sundays, after a weekend of dancing and drinking until the early hours of the morning, that consisted of me sleeping late, staying at home all day, and not talking to anyone (unless I felt like having an afternoon beer at my favorite bar). My, how things have changed! The Sundays in my life now are "Go to the Grocery Store, Do the Laundry, and Take the Recycling Sundays." Not as inviting as my single life Sundays, but more productive and surprisingly satisfying. You can't beat the feeling of a full refrigerator, fresh clothes, and empty recycling bins! Right?

It is amazing how differently I view the little things in life now that I am a mother. This became clear to me yesterday, when, on the way back from dropping my daughter off, I found myself stuck in traffic on the interstate for more than an hour. As I sat there amongst my fellow vehicle operators, instead of becoming annoyed by the seemingly unnecessary waste of time, I realized how relaxed I felt. No one was talking to me and there were no mini-crises occurring in the backseat. The possibilities were endless! I could think, I could just sit there and stare off into space, I could listen to music or public radio. And, just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I hit the jackpot! I discovered the Fuji apple I had put in my bag earlier in the day. Beautiful! Just to convince myself that I am still a little cool, I just want to add, that while to the childless readers, I may seem pathetic, I am confident that the parents reading this are sharing my joy and remembering their similar moments of solitude.

Don't get me wrong, it is not that I dislike motherhood, it is an experience that has positively impacted my life more than anything I have ever done. Shockingly, despite the fact that it has been exhausting, frustrating, and overwhelming, as are most life changing events, each day, I become more and more grateful for the gifts of knowledge I am gaining as a result of "me-time deprivation."

Well, my lazy day is close to its end. My parents are on their way with my girl, who, I have been warned, is "wild and ready to see her Mommy and Daddy." I suppose I will get up, put on my mommy face, and continue on my journey with a somewhat rejuvenated stride.