Mom's R&R

It’s 6:10 am, and I’m sitting in the kitchen with my daughters, having breakfast.  Actually I’m making sure that they have a good breakfast before Vanessa goes off to her first day of middle school.  Sabrina was sweet enough to agree to take the bus in with Vanessa and show her the ropes even though she could have slept an extra hour before heading to her first day of high school.
 
As I sip my coffee, my thoughts wander to the conversation I had with Sabrina a while back.
 
“You should take the early bus with Vanessa on the first day of school to show her where to go.”
 
“No way, Mom, I don’t want to get up at 6:00 when I only start school at 8:35!  She can go on her own!”
 
I just smile. “Remember your first day of middle school?  Veronica took the earlier bus with you and your friends to show you the way.  It made that first day less scary, didn’t it?”
 
“Yeah, but…”
 
“I think you should go with her.”
 
“Fine!” Sabrina huffs.  “I’ll go!”
 
“You’re so sweet.  I’m sure Vanessa will really appreciate it.”
 
My empty coffee cup brings me back to reality.  As I start clearing the dishes from the table, I glance at the clock.  It’s 6:25, almost time for the girls to get their shoes on and head out to the bus stop. Then I have to wake Nicholas and get him ready for school.
 
“What will you do today, Mom?” Vanessa asks.
 
“After I drive your brother to school, I’ll come back here and work.”
 
“Yeah, but you only work in the morning, don’t you?  What will you do for the rest of the day?”
 
Then it dawns on me.  From 8:00 am to 2:30 pm, I’m on my own; free to do whatever I please!  I know I have work to do, but I can also take some time for me.  I can have lunch off schedule with no one begging me to make lunch at noon.  I can chat with a friend or maybe even watch some TV on a channel that I choose! I’m giddy at the thought!
 
“Mom?”
 
The girls are staring at me and realize that I haven’t answered Vanessa’s question.
 
“I’m not sure what I’ll do today.  Maybe I’ll just rest and relax for a bit.  Maybe I’ll read a book or write in my journal.”
 
“You’ll read or write?” Sabrina shrugs.  “How is that different from work?  You’re always reading and writing.”
 
“Reading a favorite novel or writing in my journal is different from reading and editing a text or writing something on a deadline.  It’s relaxing.”
 
Both girls roll their eyes. “Whatever!”
 
That’s right!  Whatever – I can do whatever I want with my R&R time.  Who needs a vacation away from home when I’ve got home all to myself?!

Lucie Bouchard Antoniazzi works from home as a freelance writer, editor, and web designer while also pursuing a part-time career in engineering. She lives with her husband Rudy, and their three children, Sabrina, Vanessa, and Nicholas, in Laval, Quebec, Canada.

Find out more about Lucie and her work by visiting her web site at www.luciebouchardantoniazzi.com.