The Empty Nest, Trial Run No.1

I am now 1/2 way through my childless week. It has been an illuminating experience for me.

I wasn't sure how I would handle it. Would I be missing my kids 24/7? Would I be lonely in the house alone while Bill was at work? Would I this? Would I that?

I posted this as Trial Run No.1 because I am sure it will just be the first of many over the next 5-7 years, which is all the time I have left before my kids are grown ups and moving out for real.

Well, getting up in the morning is completely stress free. There is no one I have to be responsible for other than myself, so my mornings are extremely peaceful.

I walk up to the rec center at 10:15 a.m. each weekday morning to teach summer art classes, and I am home again by 12:30 p.m. The classes are full (26 kids in this week's class and 26 in next week's class, too), which means I am making $57.00 an hour! Still, I am glad it is only for 2 weeks!

I spend my afternoons doing chores and/or working on those doors. I don't turn on the TV or the radio. I ended up humming 'Oh My Father' while scraping varnish off of Will's bedroom door this afternoon because that is the hymn that will be sung by a Relief Society chorus this coming Sunday that I have to conduct! UGH!!! I am in half a mind to botch it royally so they never ask me to be the choir director! Kind of like putting empty beer cases on the front porch when you first move into a place to discourage callings, you know. Of course, watch, I'll botch it royally without even trying because it is something I have never had any training for and have never done before.

In the evening, when Bill gets home, he heads up to the rec center to exercise, and I have gone with him most days. Tonight he went to a cycling class while I swam laps, then we met for the 8:00 yoga class.

We both agreed that it is nice to be able to drop everything and just go to the store (or anywhere, for that matter) without having to check... where are the kids? What are their schedules? Do we want them to come along?

However, this might all seem so pleasant because I have an end date to this 'Empty Nest Trial' and I know my kids are coming back. I do miss them and can't wait to see them and hug them and hear all their fine adventures. I wonder if permanent 'Empty Nest' will be as pleasant as this has been.