Someone very wise told me recently, that it took her 48 years to realize how amazingly good it is to have alone time. She is a fabulous mother to 3, and came to this realization after a trip away, sans her family. As woman, mothers, wives, having time to ourselves is vital.
We don’t have to go away to be able to breath in the sweet serenity of quiet.
My mom always loved time to herself, and it wasn’t until I became a mother did I realize why. A social butterfly at heart, I do enjoy being with friends, surrounded by loved ones – however there is a beautiful peace that comes with the fleeting moments where I’m alone. Just this last week I was blessed with not one, but two incidents of just this. I had two spurts in time where both children were either sleeping or away with family members. I was giddy with excitement as I looked around our home and drank in the silence. No Tom & Jerry on TV, no rattling of baby toys, no basketball commentary. Are these bad noises you might ask? Does this make me a horrible mother? No, and no. They are beautiful noises, in fact they are the soundtrack of my life. Deep down inside however, there is a craving for this “quiet time”. I listen to my own music, light candles without fear of what chubby little hands might do to them, have a special treat without sharing.
I don’t call this selfish, I call it necessary.
It seems in the ‘mommy world’ that being able to admit you desire, or furthermore enjoy this is unspoken. Oftentimes when women come together, statistics are shared in an almost competitive manner: Tommy already has 8 teeth, Madeline walked at 8 months, Ben is on varsity football, Ella has a 4.0. Is it bad to be proud of these achievements? Not at all. Is it good to be honest though, about the good AND bad? Completely. While women share statistics, friends share life. I know I’m in the company of true and honest friends when I’m able to meet at the park, tears pouring from my face, exhausted from the every day.
The moments in which I am able to sit back, enjoy the quiet of alone time is fuel for my often empty tank. It could be in the late nights after everyone is in bed, or while driving to an appointment alone, perhaps during the occasional hours that the children are with another family member or friend. I savor these moments, as they allow me to be a better mother, wife, friend.
I hope you are able to fill your tank occasionally with some time alone. If you aren’t currently, try to carve out some moments soon that you’ll be able to. You’ll be amazed at how fulfilling it can be.
I’m sharing this article with The Inspired Room’s Beautiful Life Friday.
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