The Kids

 The kids have been away,

Visiting family in North Carolina.

They are having the time of their LIVES, 

And being absolutely spoiled rotten. 


The house is quiet; too quiet tbh.

No random bursts of laughter,

No little feet pounding through the halls,

No surprise hugs or sudden,

“I love you, Mommy’s.”


My bed is clean for once.

No crumbs. No fruit snack wrappers.

And somehow, I miss that.


This quiet has given me space to breathe,

To think,

To reflect on all the noise I usually beg for a break from.


Funny how I crave a moment of silence,

And when I finally get it,

It echoes, it’s lonely, it’s….. too quiet.


I’ve had time to sit with my thoughts,

To remember what I love,

What I need,

Who I am when I’m not pouring myself

Into being “Mommy.”


But the truth is

Even in this moment,

Even in this break

My heart isn’t here, it’s in NC. 


It’s wherever they are.

Sticky fingers, loud giggles,

Big emotions and endless questions.


I miss them in the most silly ways

Cleaning up messes, tucking them in,

Saying “no” too many times and then finally saying “yes” because I’m tired of fighting.


Parenting is hard.

But the silence reminds me:

It’s also everything.


This break was necessary, 

It was kind of a reminder,

Yes, they drive me crazy….. 

they destroy the house…..

They bicker…..


But, without them, this house isn’t home.

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