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!
I'm alone about 12 hours each day, so I know what you mean. I really don't mind it, I have my cats and my hobbies. I do wish I had more friends though, and I pray for friends a lot, but I haven't seen any come my way yet. People around here have a lot of family living nearby and they don't have time for friendships.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a lovely week! I really do enjoy being alone, of course I love the family being here but I always need some quiet time too.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Ellie with her exam, it's a good sign that she feels positive about it.
Time is flying far too fast Kim, it feels like yesterday I was reading your blog and the girls were reviewing toys and now they are both adults!
I don't mind being alone either! I am definitely an introvert so alone time is not something bad in my book! I will have a lot of alone time this summer and am looking forward to it... and to my husband and Alyssa coming home later in the day :). I hope that you enjoy the activities you have planned for next week when you won't be alone :).
ReplyDeleteI'm good with being alone during the day, but I do not like to be home by myself during the night time hours. I don't know why...we live in a very safe area. I hear everything and anything or I think I do when the lights go out. Sounds like the girls have everything going for them right now...Happy for each of them. A full house is a lot of fun as well...lots of great memories are made when family is all together. Family life is what I love. ❤️
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I both retired last year and not being alone has been a hard adjustment. I feel like I need a little alone time, and especially during the winter when it's crummy outside, we are always together. I love him but.... need some recharging. :) So it's a balance!
ReplyDelete"Home Alone" is good from time to time. I had a small bit of that myself this week but then when hubby returns, it's wonderful, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's just me and my two cats here, but I do get out with friends and have had LOTS of company these past couple of months! I don't mind being 'alone' now. There is always something that needs to be done, or a show to watch, or a project to work on. I enjoyed your post and you are so right about the time flying by. Whoooosh! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you have enjoyed your "me time" and space to yourself. I have always valued it too - I get really stressy if surrounded by too many people for too long. I never thought it would happen but these days I have started craving company more and more. I guess the balance has tipped too far and social options are few. Great to have a baking friend nearby! Will we see her on the Bake Off one day ...!
ReplyDeleteIt is a transition for sure being alone as a homemaker but there are days I love it and then some I don't. There is always someone here at some before night fall or by nighttime. Both our sons are at home but last year NOBODY did. They all moved out. Then it got too costly for that independence they wanted LOL!!! and realized living at home wasn't too bad. :) Our youngest works swing shifts (3 12 hour days and then 3 12 hour nights and then he gets 3 days off. He tends to crash here a few times a week in his "apartment room" as he calls it but there are days and evening we do not see him. As he is an adult and tends to do his thing.
ReplyDeleteOur oldest, he works the 7:30-5:30 typically office job but he is a loner and a gamer. :)
He lived on his own for 6 years until our economy over here got hard and he got cancer and he was neglecting his health so we encouraged him to move back home and pay off his college debt and get healthy. He is doing better.
But even when they are "home" it is a weird season once they are young adults with jobs and partners. Our daughter moved out into her own home last summer. :) I miss her so much but she pops by one or twice a week for a few minutes and we catch up. I also try to do family dinners at least once a week or every other week to keep us connected with them all as well as make sure they all stay connected as siblings.
I say, we can kick up our feet sometimes like you said and have interruptions. It is nice.
Alone time at home is such a luxury these day (well, any day actually) - especially now that my husband is retired. I remember when our girls were little and my husband would want to give me a little "me time", he'd always say "You go out - I'll stay home with the girls". While that was nice, I'd sometimes say "How about you take the girls some where and then I can be home by myself." You've got some big family moments coming up - enjoy them all!
ReplyDeleteI spend a lot of time alone, even when the house is full, and to be honest, I do prefer it. It's nice to spend time together too though. My kids have grown up much the same as yours, I still have the Little Man but even he leaves school this year. It does fly by doesn't it. I was lucky enough to do it twice, which makes up for no grandkids. (16 year age gap!) I'm so glad that Ellie and Becky are getting on so well. I bet it's nice to have more time with Stu.
ReplyDeleteNot only does your own children's years fly by but so do other peoples. I can't believe yours are adults now either and that makes me feel twice as old. It's been 9 years since my last child officially left home, but 12 years since he left home to go to boarding school as we were abroad. The oldest grandchildren are 7 & 5 this year and it won't be long before you're commenting, wow, can't believe they're adults now and hopefully during that time, we'll have bloody well met up. #wowtw
ReplyDeleteThat's so great that you had so much time this week that you were able to stay on top of everything. I do love my alone time, too, although, I do miss the kids when they're away.
ReplyDeleteNice to have a quiet week and alone time can be a nice thing. I quite like a bit of time and peace for myself too. I’m sure Ellie enjoyed having some time for herself too. Good luck to Ellie with her English exam. I’m glad she’s felt more positive about this one and hopefully that will be reflected in her results. That’s a big end of an era with Ellie being in her last ever school holidays and about to finish her time in education. I hope you’ve had a nice week with her at home for the break. #WotW
ReplyDeleteI love having alone time. Now that Hubby is retired he's often around during the day but he's out several evenings a week so I get plenty of alone time. And yes you blink and the kids have become adults.
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