You know the movie, you know how excited Macaulay Culkin was when he got over the sadness of his parents leaving and realised he was home alone and the joy that could be had …I am Macaulay.
I sent both sons off with a little trepidation and the obligatory tears. One went off to a foreign country where 12 inch mosquitoes attack Aussies with rampant regularity causing everything from malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis to Ziki fever. Without exception all Aussie males get diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach bugs so they are also sent off with anti everything to get them home safe and well and with the hope that none of these medications mistaken for anything sinister…..
2nd son is off helping on a huge beef property and all that goes with that ….. in the wilds of Monto – what could possibly go wrong…..
So, unlike Macaulay I am not going to eat ice cream and bounce on their beds. I will drink champers and dine out every night. That will cost me less than feeding them for one day. I am FREEEEEEEEEE.
After dropping them off the first day it was after noon which suggested a celebratory brew might be acceptable and in order. Sound asleep by 6.30pm – I have lost my touch – went too hard.
The second night, determined not to repeat the mistakes and immaturity of the night before but still wanting to delight in the silence and a responsibility free evening, I went to bed at 7pm without dinner, as I didn’t deserve it.
By the third night I was ready for a night out and had a lovely evening of Thai and Bubbly – very maturely – and got home at a respectable hour. Inside the house awaiting me there were no baddies, but there was also no dirty dishes, footy boots, school bags, basketball shoes, dirty laundry, smelly socks, I didn’t have to do a thing for the morning so I didn’t have to prepare, I didn’t have to stop on the way home for milk or bread, I didn’t have to set the alarm for rugby pre-season or drive anyone else to work, there was no pay back for going out, no repercussions, no catch up needed, no disturbing teenage scowls – oh pure indulgence.
So on the fourth night, last night, we ventured out again – this time for a swim in the ocean at Mooloolaba after work then a $12 Hot Salmon pizza and a glass of delicious Tuscan Chianti. More about that on tomorrow’s blog….
Tonight…..is my last night and that is just fine. I, like my sons, have had fun but I am so looking forward to seeing them, hearing about their time away, relishing in the fact that these gorgeous men are mine to enjoy for now, and that they are home safe with a broader aspect on life than when they left.
If I didn’t know what it was to be busy, I wouldn’t know how good it is to be free. I am the lucky one. Welcome home men. x
