Respite

Don't tell anyone, but lately I've been getting out a little--all by myself. It started last week when I expressed to N that I really needed some time away after his busy travel schedule had left me with full-time mommyhood for some good chunks of time. I'm not complaining. I really love staying home with the kiddos and consider it a pretty sweet gig, what with the staying in PJs till whenever, trips to the zoo and daily jaunts to the playground or beach. But occasionally, I need something more--or less in this case. I need an hour or two without anybody else tagging along. When this happens, I get to choose everything. I can go where I want to go and spend as much or as little time there as I want to. I can think about whatever I want to think about without interruption and I don't have to bring diapers and sippee cups. Last week I went to the mall. It was glorious. But this week I indulged in something even better: dancing.

I signed up for a beginning ballet class through the local adult education office at the high school a few weeks ago. I had to miss the first class last week because of N's travel, but this week I got to go. It was the most wonderful thing I've done for myself since that prenatal yoga class I took with C in my belly some two years ago. Ballet is just what I need in my weekly routine. It is mentally and physically challenging and being in a room full of mostly middle-aged to older women in ballet slippers is joyful. The music is light and it makes me feel like stretching and leaping.

After last night's class, I walked home under a clear night sky with stars and the black shadows of palm trees feeling stretched and strengthened. My posture felt better and my lungs felt full. I am ready for another week of work now. Happily.

The icing on the cake was my return to a clean kitchen with fried chicken in the oven and children bathed and getting into PJs upstairs. It's not so bad having a husband who travels a lot, especially when he's so willing to make my rare special time away feel so easy.