Where are my KIDS?!

Abby & Noah are not grown up - yet, but they do an awful lot for themselves these days. My parenting has been reduced to "Did you make your bed? ... Check in with me every hour so I know your safe. ... & Who's up for a movie?" For the most part, they cause minimal stress. Of course there are the stressful times ...

Dad & Judy offered to take them for an entire WEEK this summer. I was giddy with excitement. A week?! A WHOLE WEEK??? I had no doubt the kids would have a ball. I had no doubt I would have a ball. My week lie pregnant with possibilities. I imagined a world of little sleep and countless hours of productivity.

It's Wednesday. I have one more day of my carefree week. I have accomplished nothing.

It's true that I still have Lily to care for around here - and Tracy, of course. We did clean all of the area rugs in our house & work a little on the landscaping, but overall - nothing. My store room is still a mess, my desk piled high with - oh, everything! and me?! I've exercised regularly, showered, gone to a few madatory yearly appointments and ... and ... what?! NOTHING! Really, I can't even stay awake after 11 p.m. Every night Tracy has to shuttle me off to bed from my near dead state on the sofa.

I miss my big kids. I miss hearing their stories. I miss seeing their friends. I miss being needed to do the most mundane tasks. I miss sweaty hugs and insisting on showers. I miss making dinner. I even miss mid-size people popping out at me when I exit the bathroom or turn a corner or turn around - they can be like shadow people, which was getting on my nerves. Here I am, oddly missing that nerve wracking, strange behavior. Why? Because I love them!