THINGS I NOTICE ABOUT LIFE WHEN MY CHILDREN AREN’T HERE

Having had a week without my children over half term, when they went away with their father and I was busy working, I noticed an astonishing difference in my house when they weren’t around:-

Everything was in the same place that I left it

The house was clean and tidy

There was food in the fridge

I had mountains of milk

There were no arguments

It was eerily quiet

My mascara was where I left it

My Top Shop jumper was where I left it

I could find my Ugg boots

There was no mess in the kitchen and no tea bags in the sink

The lights were all off when I get home

The TV was silent

All the beds were made

BUT

It all felt empty and sad.

Too quiet.

Not natural.

The balloon and the red rose my 12 year old son bought me for Valentine’s Day were a constant reminder during the week of their absence. When they all departed on their travels, they looked like this:-

But during the time they were away, they slowly wilted, until on their return they looked like this:-

That red rose and the helium balloon mirrored the same sentiment as I did about them not being around – life became a little bit dry and deflated.

I am so lucky to have them all. They are back now and arguing in the background and as I throw away the dead rose and the soggy balloon I am supremely grateful for the messy life that they give me – for the arguments and the noise and the missing mascara and the stress and the lack of clothes and the cold feet (missing Uggs)….because one day, my job will be over and they will flee the nest and then I am going to have to find a way to either replicate the noise or get used to the silence – perhaps I will rent my house out to flash mobs or circus troops or maybe a zoo, because the silence will be deafening and life will be too ordered and I am not ready for that.

I wouldn’t change what we’ve got for the world.