I’m writing this post from a Panera Bread cafe.
I’m using their free wi-fi, drinking a cup of coffee. One empty plate sits next to me. It used to hold an egg and cheese sandwich.
I’m alone. For the first time in almost three years, it’s 10am and I’m completely alone.
Gerry is at baseball camp. Howie is at his extended school year summer program.
And my little two-and-a-half year old Lewis? He’s at his first early intervention drop-off playgroup.
He qualified for it because he’s now receiving home speech services. It’s the first time I’ve ever left him…anywhere.
Last night I sent some friends a message on Facebook:
So Lewis starts his first EI drop off group tomorrow. On one hand, this will be the first alone time I’ve had in 2 1/2 years. On the other hand, I really wish he wasn’t eligible to go to an EI drop off group.
My friends had the best responses (of course):
Totally hear you. But he’s getting what he needs. That’s a really, really good thing.
And:
He is getting what he needs and you can take a moment to breathe. Xo
And:
Big picture- he is getting what he needs and that alone is awesome. Bigger picture- YOU GET TIME ALONE!!!! Now hear me, woman…listen good. Do NOT use that time to clean a damn thing. Get yourself a good book- FICTION or something else that interests you that is NOT about {autismspecialneedssensoryprocessingdisorderearlyinterventiontherapy} or anything like that. Take said book and get thyself to a Starbucks or a favorite cafe or lunch spot and – wait for it- LEISURELY sip a beverage of choice
And:
Go get a pedicure during your alone time. Oh, wait….
(that’s from a friend who really knows how much I hate people touching my feet…)
So here I am. My kids are doing they things they need to do. Playing ball outside, making marshmallow men at summer school, and…playing with kids their own age.
And I’m getting what I need too. Time to write. Time to drink my coffee before it goes cold. Perhaps even time to go to the bathroom alone.
Time for…me.
90 more minutes. Excuse me while I go refill my cup.
"Play with kids?"
“I drink alone, yeah
With nobody else
I drink alone, yeah
With nobody else
You know when I drink alone
I prefer to be by myself” – I Drink Alone by George Thorogood
Try Defying Gravity 
July 7, 2011 at 12:18 pm
You have the wisest friends on the planet. I’m so glad you took their advice!
July 7, 2011 at 12:39 pm
my friends are super smart. all of them 🙂
July 7, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Enjoy that coffee, my friend. In the not too distant future I hope to do the very same thing. There won’t be a Panera over there though. Now go and help yourself to one of those strawberry and cream scones. 🙂
July 7, 2011 at 12:39 pm
ooh – next time. I went with the egg and cheese sandwich 🙂 and South Africa neds a Panera. Go open one 🙂
July 7, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Yay!!
July 7, 2011 at 12:55 pm
your turn! take a break from packing!
July 7, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Bravo! SO proud of you young Jedi! XO
July 7, 2011 at 12:43 pm
thanks for the encouragement Obi-Wan! 🙂
July 7, 2011 at 12:28 pm
WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!! Hope it was just the start of many such quiet moments to yourself. xo
July 7, 2011 at 12:41 pm
let’s not go crazy! but you know what I did? I went to the bathroom alone. In Target. What is with that???
July 8, 2011 at 8:15 am
I thought the whole POINT of going to Target was to distract the kids? What the heck were you doing there alone???
July 7, 2011 at 12:52 pm
ENJOY, my friend. The delightful chaos will start back up soon enough.
July 7, 2011 at 12:55 pm
already has. crud.
July 7, 2011 at 2:11 pm
And to think you can use the facilities without a child coming in and demanding an audience. I think I’d go pee just to test it out!
July 7, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Yay for you!! You deserve a coffee break!!! I hope it was awesome…really helped you re-charge!
July 7, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Wonderful post my friend! I am so glad you actually listened to those friends and did something just for you. You deserve it!
July 7, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Wise friends you have-glad you listened! I love those moments when EVERYONE is getting what they need. Hope you have few more of those moments this summer.
July 7, 2011 at 6:40 pm
I hope you enjoyed your time alone and that you savored it.
It’s not often that I get alone time – unless going to work qualifies – so when I get it, I make the most of it 🙂
July 7, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Good for you. Of course it is a mixed blessing that you have this time, but like others have said, your kids are getting what they need, and now you can too!
July 8, 2011 at 8:17 am
Drop-off playgroup? What WONDERFUL creation is this??? God, I WISH we had a drop-off playgroup!
Please enjoy EVERY hard-earned minute!
July 8, 2011 at 11:04 am
It’s so hard to leave them for the first time! I hope your time to yourself was well spent!
July 8, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I just heard a preacher talking about how silence and solitude are almost considered a bad thing these days. But, it’s the best way to hear God’s voice. Hope you enjoyed your few minutes of solitude. If you’re like me, it left you wanting for more…:-)
July 8, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Good for you! That picture is spooking cute!!
July 8, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Darn autocorrect! Soooooooo cute
July 12, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Good for you!