Kid-Free

For a few days, I am living the life of a "pre-children" person. It has been a long time since I've been this, and it will be a long time until I am this again. Some observations:

1. It's okay to come home early, even if you're not "coming home for the babysitter."

2. It's easier to leave for work early when it doesn't feel as though you're deserting a whole household. And it's really, really easier to leave when the only lunch you have to make is your own.

3. The fact that you won't be running home to your kids doesn't mean that you miss them any less during the day.

4. Dinner in a restaurant with just grown ups is actually kind of fun. You can talk about movies and songs from your youth without having to explain every single one.

5. Just because you don't have to set a good example to anyone about going to bed doesn't mean you can't just be tired and go to bed.

6. With no kids around, there's always a free computer. But is it as much fun when you don't have to fight for it?

7. I guess the kids aren't the only mess-makers, since the mess is still here and the kids are not. Sigh.

8. You'd think that a vacation from the kids is a vacation. But when you're working, kids or no kids, you're still working. The difference, I guess, is that you're working one job instead of two.

9. No number of kid-free days stops you from thinking that a small person could come around the corner at any moment. And stopping short in case they do. And feeling a little sad when they don't.