Alone and Lonely

Since Sunday and for the next two weeks I am without children. They are staying with grandparents who live several hours away. I have never been so long without my children. Heck, most of the time I have not even been more than a couple of hours without them. When you homeschool there is rarely a time when you are not with them. But they are having a great time with grandparents and cousins.

Today is my third day alone and I am feeling their absence. I awoke this morning with a sadness knowing that there was nothing for me to do and no one to talk to. My cat loves all the extra attention he's getting but then he's used to the kiddos loving on him all day long too. I have been productive for the last couple of days, gardening, quilting, shopping, eating whatever I want whenever I want. It's been great. But today I wish I had a little person telling me about the worlds he's created with his Legos. I miss snuggling up with my daughter who is always so warm and soft. I miss the hug my eldest gives since he has grown taller than me. I miss my kids.

But this was the purpose of this time. I was in need of a break and they were in need of some fun. When they return we will all feel renewed and ready to give each other our best again. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder. In the meantime, I've heard that reading does a lot to relieve stress. Today I shall read.