A Mom Dances When She Has Time to Herself

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

I’m home alone for six days while my husband and son ski in Lake Tahoe!!!

Six days. 

Count em, six! I do happy dances all over the house several times a day.

I got so excited at their leaving. Starting the day before, I had this excited buzz. I hadn’t felt this type of enthusiasm since when. . . it’s a familiar feeling. . . geez, it’s how I used to feel before a date with my husband, well, before we were married. 

Ugh, that’s kinda creepy that his leaving gives me the kind of buzz that his arriving used to do.

I watch most of Season Two of Grey’s Anatomy on DVD. I don’t cook. I write. I organize my son’s room. I exercise every day. I play my music loud and dance from room to room. I sleep until eight a.m. instead of six a.m.

My big sister is coming for a sleepover tonight. The girl talk will flow along with the wine.

I cry a lot, too. Not big sobs, just a few tears several times a day. I am filled with gratitude at my luck  – my husband, our son, our home, how easy loving each other is. My life is better than I ever expected it to be. I wipe the tears away. I still miss them even as I dance with joy.

My son calls early this morning. 

He wants to make sure that it’s OK to call me. Of course, I tell him. 
I return to dancing. Not dirty dancing. Guilty dancing. I do miss my family. Still, I dance.
By Marianne Lonsdale
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ABOUT THIS AUTHOR

Marianne Lonsdale lives with her husband, Michael, and son, Nicholas, in Oakland, California. She's had a variety of jobs as a Human Resources professional. She writes personal essays and short stories. Her writing teacher and mentor is Charlotte Cook, an Oakland teacher, writer and publisher.

  1. Anonymous
    January 1, 2007 at 11:36 pm
  2. Anonymous
    April 12, 2009 at 3:31 pm
  3. Karen Gaines
    November 10, 2009 at 7:31 pm