The Power of Alone Time

When I saw a missed call from my parents yesterday, I was on alert. We had just talked a few days before. I called back immediately. Did something happen? No, they just wanted to chat.  They knew I was home alone, and they thought I was feeling lonely.

I appreciated them thinking about me and was happy to chat, but I assured them I was not lonely. I was fine. While my husband and the boys were visiting my in-laws in the US, I decided to have a staycation. For the first time in nearly seventeen years, I’ve got a week at home by myself. And to be honest, I am enjoying it. After all, why not? My boys are already teenagers, and I am sure they appreciate not having me hover around them for a few days. We Facetime daily and I know they are in good hands, bonding with their dad and having fun. As a result, I can focus on my fun, which for the rest of my family qualifies as boring.

I started my staycation with the deep cleaning of our apartment. I wanted to have enough time to enjoy my orderly space. Yeah, I know, that was kind of boring of me. Then I visited nearby towns and museums, in which my kids never expressed any interest. Every day I cook and eat food I love, but they don’t like, and I eat on my schedule. I have the whole couch for myself for movie nights and a full control over the remotes. I can watch films in German and French, without anyone complaining and read till late at night without anyone asking me to turn off the light.

Then, when one day I woke up with a massive headache, I could simply deal with it unapologetically, mostly in bed. Ironically, the very fact that I didn’t have to explain my grogginess to anyone and there was no one watching me being miserable, allowed me to cope with it easier.

My boys are coming back soon, and my home retreat is coming to end. I am truly looking forward to the house being filled with my family again, even if it means messy bathrooms, always full laundry baskets, and “Family Guy” playing on repeat. Thanks to my alone time, I have recharged my batteries, and I can handle the chaos. I have completed my fun-to-do list, and I have even written this post. I have walked my own paths, and reconnected with the inner self, which in the whirlwind of daily family routine doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.

Who knows, maybe I can make my staycation a part of every summer.