Last Updated on 5/24/2013

Published on 3/12/2013

A miracle has occurred! Eric and I got to be alone overnight in our own house. My parents took all four kids for a sleep-over, and we were all alone ...

I wanted to go to dinner and a movie, since we never get to do both.
If we have a baby-sitter whom we are paying by the hour, it means that we can’t afford to pay for dinner, movie and the baby-sitter.
And if my parents have the kids, we don’t want to be out late and take advantage of them.

Eric did not want to waste a perfectly good empty house.
First, he wanted us to sit in separate rooms in silence. Just to enjoy the silence for at least 10 minutes.
Then, we would be “allowed” to sit on the couch in silence. I was beginning to see a pattern of silence. I was willing to compromise and watch iTunes and eat take out. Nope. Silence. And, we had to sleep in past nine.
We did eat dinner out, but didn’t watch a movie. Good compromising and is what makes a marriage go round.

It is unusual to wake up without a tiny face looking right at you asking for breakfast before your brain is completely on.
I know I can’t be the only mom who has rolled over and felt someone staring at them, which then scares you awake.
Only to discover it’s your four-year-old wanting milk. Who needs exercise when that’s enough to get your heart pumping!

We love our kids, and love every moment of parenthood, but it was very lovely to have silence.
And I’d be lying if I said I was ready to pick them up when it was time.
It’s hard to be the parents. You are never ever off duty. Ever.
And even to send them to their sleep over I still had to pack for everyone.

It was so nice to have a break.
For a few hours I didn’t have to wonder what was happening with them or where were they?
What project was due? What to feed them for dinner?
As parents you make a zillion small decisions a day, and every once in a while it’s nice to not have to worry about where someone’s shoes are.
Because no kid ever knows where their shoes are.