There was a lovely post on http://www.muddlingalongmummy.com/ about how things change with parenthood, most especially its never ending game of sleep catch up. M-A-M talked of her fantasy of 24 hours in a hotel with room service. Like almost every Mum I’ve ever met or could imagine, I too share this fantasy. Nice bath, TV, glass of wine or two, and the pleasure of a full night’s sleep which is only interrupted by my own neurosis.
I realise my lack of imagination knows no bounds though – this fantasy has been pared down for me. I can’t quite put a value on what I’d give to simply go to bed and wake up naturally, on my own, when I was ready to. I’d probably cut off a toe.
Sometimes the paring down gets so extreme I daydream (when else would I dream?) about going away to a convent or similar on an old school retreat. No TV, no mod cons, simple food, bed at dark, wake at sunrise, meditation, not having to talk to anyone, damn, not being allowed to talk to anyone. I call it my knackered PC fantasy – I’m sure if I was switched off for a few days and then turned on again it would work wonders.
As a post-script I told my husband this. He replied that he shares the same fantasy, except in his me and the kids go away and he gets a few days uninterrupted pottering in the house, mainly to conquer the mess mountain and get things done. This should tell you everything you need to know about what a slattern I am and what a hindrance families are to the smooth running of family life. But mostly it reminded me of how lucky I am to have Mr Thatwoman, a Dad so committed to family life that he’s prepared to forgo the pampering or mind-healing seclusion to tidy up in his dreams.