Every Day Me

This is what I look forward to everyday.  I will do just about anything to protect my quiet time, which includes but is not limited to: lying, refusing to answer my phone or texts, pretending like I'm not home when I clearly am if someone knocks on my door, threatening the children will all sorts of things.

Quiet time is sacred in our house.

I discovered back in December when I was really struggling with...well everything, that I don't get enough sleep.  So I started taking short naps when I could squeeze one in.  It's now evolved into this: a full hour, alone in my room reading and sleeping--no phone, no children, no thinking, just me.  The kids get to watch TV or sit silently in their room.  They typically pick TV.

Other moms have their, probably less time consuming cooping mechanisms, but this is mine.  I could probably use this time to read the scriptures or write in my journal or do family history or a long list of other more worthy ventures.  But I don't, because all of those things take brain power and I want to do something to entirely unwind my brain from the mess the children have made of it all morning and afternoon, so I read about other people's terrible lives until I fall asleep and have strange dreams about them.

There is nothing anyone can say or do to make me feel guilty about this little practice.  It is the reason I get out of bed in the morning, so say what you will, but this is what I do everyday and I will lie to you or ignore you or threaten you to make sure it happens.

PS Right now I'm reading the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  It is so good and is the type of creative non-fiction I'd eventually like to write about some of my ancestors, if I ever find the time to do--like when I'm sitting in my bed for an hour a day.  Nope not worth it, never mind.