Here’s the thing about Peace & Quiet….

It’s a staple on my every “wish list” – birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day. Even the kids know it by now. What does mommy want for her special gifts? Peace and quiet. It’s simple, it’s free and it’s rare. A perfect storm of deliciousness, right?

What do I do with it? Ahhhh – anything I want.

I will listen to my not-kid-friendly playlists, devour the latest Vogue and Washingtonian (hey – I am nothing if not well rounded) and luxuriate in my alone-ness. I may - ok, I definately will- have a glass of wine, indulge in back to back Law & Order SVU or SITC episodes and might even write a blog post or two. The point is – I can do whatever I want, and not feel guilty about it, because that is the true gift of peace and quiet.  

All this without interruption. Without someone needing something from me…

Sounds like heaven, right?

As moms, we are constantly surrounded by requests. Tyrant number one needs a ride to a friend’s house. Tyrant number two needs help tying his shoes. Tyrant number three needs a refill on milk.

The honorary tyrant (hubs) needs attention, love and appreciation on the regular.

Yet, the funny thing is – when we get this illusive “peace and quiet” – we are reminded how lonely solitary can be.

As I type this, I sit in a foreign hotel room – blissfully alone. There was a 6 hour flight that preceded this – again, blissful in my oneness I devoured 2 glasses of wine and a magazine with a Kardashian on the cover. I hurtled myself across the Atlantic determined to E-N-J-O-Y my alone time. In fact, I built extra days onto this trip to sightsee – alone.

Pffft.

Here’s the reality of it:

I’m calling constantly (cost be dammed) to hear their latest tussles, heartaches and complaints. It is quiet here, too quiet. I am longing for the shrieking, the “he called me a poopy pants” ritual that is my daily existence. I’ve read every magazine that I hauled in my carry on, explored the neighborhood, made friends at the front desk, mapped my route for tomorrow, spent a boatload of cash – and feel as though I’ve accomplished nothing.

I call home only to hear that everything’s going “great”. WHAT? Are you kidding me? Isn’t everything falling apart after 12 hours? Don’t you need help finding the ketchup, running carpool or locating the clean underwear….something?

How dare they cope in my absence!

I’m miserable without them – and they are - F-I-N-E?

The nerve.

I know that I should enjoy this time. That I could probably write a year’s worth of blogs by this time tomorrow, work on RFP’s, deal with whatever work I’ve been putting off  – it’s amazing what you can do without eighty gazillion trips to the fridge for sippy cup refills. I could have a massage, go see the Tower of London or make fifty new friends.

I could – but I won’t.

I will do the requisite sightseeing – I’m not crazy enough to waste it – but, the entire time…I will wish they were with me.

YES – I said it! I wish they were here…in all of their “I’m bored!”….”I’m hungry!"...."Can we go to the gift shop” glory.

Peace and quiet is nice….but, when push comes to shove – I’ll take the alternative any day.

**And NO – you are NOT allowed to remind me of this post next week – when I am begging for five minutes to myself.**