This week my Word of the Week is: Alone!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

I have had a really quiet and slow week. I've been home alone most days. Well, Becky has been sleeping upstairs after night shifts but for the most part I have been alone. It's not a bad thing, I have enjoyed it. I am well on top of all the housework and the jobs that need doing. All in all, it was a good week and I am using the word alone, not in a negative way, so don't be worried.

I know some people hate being in the house on their own and always need company but I quite like it every now and then. After years of having the girls at home most of the time or school runs to do and someone always needing something, having a bit of peace can be quite lovely. I can potter about doing whatever I want without anyone interrupting me and if I want to sit down with a cup of tea and scroll on my phone for a while, there's no one there expecting anything from me.

Ellie was left home alone on Sunday. Stu and I hadn't planned to leave her at home while we went out for lunch. Becky was supposed to be there but she got called into work and we had only booked a table for two. Ellie is fine being by herself at home. She's 18, can feed herself and hardly moves from in front of her computer but it felt a little bit mean. I did call in the shop on the way home and bought her some treats as the mam guilt kicked in. I really don't know why I felt guilty. Ellie was absolutely fine and probably enjoyed the peace and quiet. Becky had a great time doing an extra shift at work. She doesn't usually do day shifts, it's usually just nights, so it made a nice change for her. She got to see residents in the care home, which are usually in bed when she is working.

On Thursday it was so strange being home totally by myself. Becky was at her "friends" house and Ellie went off to college to do her English GCSE exam and said she thinks she has done well. She said she wrote more than she ever has and feels confident. She still has paper two to do in a couple of weeks but this is the most positive she has ever felt about the English exam, so I am taking that as a good thing. I did have to bring the food shop in and put it all away myself but it was nice to go at my own pace instead of Ellie's.

It feels like the end of an era. Yesterday Ellie started her last ever school holidays. This time next month she will just be going into her last week in education. I know every parent says it but the years really do fly by. One minute you're helping them put their coat on for nursery and the next they're talking about full-time jobs and making their own way in life. It doesn't seem possible. I can still remember taking first day of school photos and now we're talking about the end of college. Where did all those years go? I am not going to dwell on that as I know I will have at least one blog post coming about her college years. I think I am going to make the most of being home alone over the next month because who knows when I will get it again. Yes, Ellie has a part-time job but she will still be home more.

Next week I am going to be far from alone. Like I said it's Ellie's last school holidays and we have a few things planned already. Stu has taken a couple of days off work too, it would have been three days but one of the days wasn't approved. He's pushing his luck now and he has put in to do a half day on the day he couldn't get off. He should find out about that on Tuesday. He didn't even realise he could do that until his friend did a half day so she could spend the morning baking. This woman is an amazing baker and loves doing it but doesn't have lots of people to give her treats to, so Stu keeps coming home with random things. This week it was cookies and flapjacks and they were so good!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!