Is There Life Out There?

Often when I get to the end of my rope: hard work week, busy weekend with active kids, groceries to be bought, bills to be paid, laundry to do and put away, etc.... I start to hum Reba McEntyre's song from so long ago, "Is there life out there".

"Is there life out there, so much she hasn't done.  Is there life beyond her family and her home.  She's done what she should should she do what she dares?  She doesn't want to leave she just wonders is there life out there"


Those may not be the exact lyrics but they are what I sing in my head.  I love my family, my kids, my little life in this little corner of this small world.  I love it yet sometimes I just want to scream!!!!!!!

Today I ran to the store for some last minute, unneeded, dinner ingredients.  At the time, we had neighborhood girls over to play with E who were shrieking as 6 years olds do, Boone was whining about being left out, the pile of laundry to put away was giving me an evil eye and I honestly just needed an out.  I got to the store, bought the stuff I told myself I had to have along with a bottle of wine for later and a 12oz. Coke.

Three weeks ago I gave up Coca Cola.  I took up tea and and have been fine but today I just needed a coke.  I told myself 12oz. does not hurt anyone and bought it without a stitch of guilt.  I started home which is about three blocks away but instead of making the turn to my house I kept going.  I found a shaded spot a couple of blocks up, rolled down my windows, opened up the local magazine I picked up, popped the top on that coke can and simply took time to enjoy being me.  Was this selfish?  Absolutely.  Do I care?  Absolutely not.  The whole episode took no more than 20 minutes but I was a changed person (although the song is still in my head).

Most of society has adopted time outs as a way to discipline your children.  When needed, the child is seated in an out of the way place and told to breathe, calm down and take a time out.  The child sees this as punishment.  It is ironic.  The same timeout a child fears is the one thing a mother craves.  So today I took mine.

The babies are now in bed, dinner is cleaned up and my wine glass is filled.  AHHHHHH!  I am breathing, I am collecting myself after dropping pieces of sanity across my home all day and although the song is still playing in my head I can now just enjoy the tune.  Cheers!