Mom-A-Holic

                  (Here my family and I are on a nature walk together - my hubby took the picture)

I have been looking forward to this week.  Our kids were all signed up to go to VBS at our former church, bursting at the seams with volunteers and children.  I was ready for a week of free mornings, doing whatever I felt like doing.

Tra-la-la!

And that's exactly what I've  had: mornings by myself.

I've tried to accomplish a few things, but mostly I've had a lot of thinking time.  Not a common occurrence in the land of children.  It's a question-a-minute all day long here.

The house was so quiet - it felt peaceful, but not right.  I began to wonder if this is the way moms feel when they've sent their last child off to the first day of school.  The house is suddenly empty.

Sure, there are piles of laundry to be folded, mail to be sorted through and phone calls to make, but I missed the interruptions.  I missed the noisy play.

Am I a sad sack or what?

Why couldn't I just enjoy 3 blissful hours to myself?

It's been so long since I've been an only lonely that I couldn't think of what to do.  Each place I thought of going, I paired it with a thought of which child would like to be there with me.

You know, I've grown used to my children.  After dropping off my kids at VBS one day, a well-meaning bystander who knew we homeschool said, "Enjoy your day off!"  I should have smiled and waved and skipped happily to my van, ready to enjoy a latte by myself or a serene walk at the park.

Truth is, it's been so long since I've been by myself, I don't know how to do it.  They are a part of me.

I take the occasional "few things" shopping trips by myself, to be sure, but I came to a sudden and sort of startling conclusion:

I like my kids.  I love my kids!  I love being around them.  Their silly antics, their goofy stories, their sad times, angry times, happy and exciting times - I love being there with them for all of these.

I'm addicted to my kids.  I don't feel whole without them.

And so, I admit it:

I'm a full-blown Mom-A-Holic!!


And I don't want a cure for it.   The more I'm with them, the more I want to be with them.  Granted, there are times when I send them outside because they're being too loud and I need a break.  Never would I think my children are perfect or our life ideal, but I think we have a pretty good thing going.

I will love 'em up as long as I can, pouring into their lives as they pour into mine.

This mom gig is pretty great.


I'm not looking forward to college.




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