Audrey started school this week, without a glance back in our direction, as Barry and I stood in doorway watching her go, arm linked with her sister. This is a very big reason that we’ve kept Maggie at the Montessori school, so they could have part of this year together to be in a multi-age learning environment. It’s started without a hitch, and I’m feeling hopeful for what’s to come from it. Beyond what feels like a big step of starting school, I now have two children in school ….part time at least.
I can’t begin to comprehend that I now have a small slice of time to myself carved into our weeks, something that hasn’t existed on a regular basis ever. I’m thrilled about it.
9 whole hours a week. Alone.
I was bragging about this to my younger brother, who still seems to have all the time in the world to call his own, and he burst out in a fit of laughter – “9 hours a week, Hannah? A week??” – He couldn’t begin to understand what this means to those of us that have lived our lives with little people needing care for the last years.
I feel like I finally get to have some time to take care of myself, my body, my mental health, everything without guilt. I can finally begin to process in a way that doesn’t feel entirely fractured.
Suddenly, my own plate, which is full most of the time, has a slice of something good…..for just me to enjoy.
