Last night, I had the house to myself. Annalyn was at my parents’ and Mark was at work. For a few hours, I could do whatever I wanted.
So, what did I do?
First, I cranked up my stereo (and then Pandora, when every station played commercials and slow songs) and danced. For an hour. In my kitchen.
Why the kitchen, you ask? Well, that way the neighbors (and any passing motorists) couldn’t see me through the windows!
You should know, of course, that my dancing looked nothing like that photo above. Add baggy yoga pants and a threadbare college t-shirt, a ponytail and a lot of sweat, and you might be a little bit closer. Oh yeah – also take away those heels, because I actually just wore socks for my dance party. And my moves? They were not exactly awesome. And they might have included a little Tae-Bo and some running laps around my little kitchen.
But no matter how ridiculous that sounds – and I looked – I’m happy to say I think I worked off my huge Chipotle dinner! (And it was a heck of a lot more fun than walking away the pounds with the overly happy Leslie Sansone One. More. Time.)
After that nonsense, I decided to do something else I don’t normally do when my family is home. I played piano. I got out some old music and leaned into the keys and I cried. Just a little. Because I miss that. I miss that me.
Finally, I sat down to my normal life and chatted with some friends on Skype while cracking myself up on Facebook. Eventually I closed both window and settled in to watch a TV show at full volume. I can’t normally do that, because the TV in the living room and Annalyn’s bed in her room share a wall.
Then I finished the night with a shower. The kind where nobody is knocking on the door or pulling back the curtain or asking me questions I canthearbecauseImintheshower!
If you live with other people, how do you spend an evening with an empty house?
An affiliate link is used in this post. Image by Emergency Brake.
What an awesome evening! I’m glad you got some YOU time!
An empty house? Not sure what that is, exactly…hmmmm. I homeschool my 5 children ranging in age from 10 down to 2 – I’m not alone very often…..but I love every moment of it! Glad you had a fun evening :)
Oh I just had to laugh at this. It sounds so awesome. If I sat at our piano I would cry too, but because I want to know how to play and have no clue (C:
I don’t often have the house to myself. but when I do it’s usually spent cleaning or sometimes reading or catching up on blogs. Even watching a movie or TV show. I usually don’t get more than a few hours however.
A while back I had spent a week taking care of a sick child and fighting a cold myself, so when I had some time to myself (both my husband and daughter were napping), I totally laid on the couch and watched a chick flick. So I’m with you on spending down time that way!!
I usually get one night alone each week – I’m a single mother and the little ones go to visit their father that night. At first, I avoided the house because the ‘aloneness’ felt so overpowering. But I’m learning to savor the gift of that time. I often turn up the music and dance (Though never for so long as an hour – I’m impressed!), read or enjoy cleaning spurts that are extremely productive without interruptions. Often, I just catch up in order to survive the solo-parenting onslaught I know comes with the return of three children. I try to use the time to connect with friends and with God.
I really need my downtime!
The gift of time is definitely something to be savored! As for my hour of dancing – I was counting it as a huge workout, so my eye was on the clock for at least the last 15 minutes!
I actually found myself with a free hour last night and didn’t quite know WHAT to do with myself. I ate dinner (leftovers, nuked) while reading Cosmo then took a shower. BIG rockstar, that’s me!
Living the life, my friend! ;)
I get 15 minutes alone on Tuesday mornings. Usually, I’m still getting ready for work, but I appreciate the silence. If I have time, I take my dog out in the yard and play frisbee. We have a beautiful yard and I can’t wait for Spring to erupt!
Sometimes enjoying the silence is enough, isn’t it?
Try to catch up on blog reading, watch DVRed things, and eat crazy stuff. ;)
Sadly, I eat crazy stuff much too often when A’s in bed and M’s at work. *sigh*
Wow. I sometimes have the house to myself of a morning, but never in the evening. If I did, I’m not sure I’d make use of it as well as you did. I’m going to have to think harder about how to use the house when I’m alone!
That’s right – think about it now, so you’re prepared when it comes up! ;)
I found myself home alone this last Saturday and went to bed Friday night giddy with anticipation of getting up that morning to clean and organize! I cranked the radio up and crooned along with the contemporary christian songs, but maybe I’ll try dancing the next time. We live in the country so have no neighbors….I might even dance on the back deck. Hmmm…that would REALLY be outside my comfort zone!
Tami, that sounds like the perfect use of alone time – fun AND productive!
Wait…empty house? Seriously? I can’t actually answer that question…I sat here and thought about it, and realized that never happens! Lucky you!
Is it sad that I usually spend my time along wondering what I should do? And looking at the clock to see how much time I have left?
Yesterday I had a few hours and I cleaned, organized and watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother.
I meant to clean during my time off. With my husband sleeping during the day and my daughter sleeping at night, it’s hard to find time to vacuum. I’m not saying that breaks my heart or anything, but it is an issue. Clearly, not so much of an issue that I followed through with my cleaning intentions, though. ;)
That’s funny. If I had some good dancing music and time alone, I might do the same thing. And my kitchen is the best place, too. Tile floors and socks make for easy turns. : ) Glad you got to reconnect with your old self. Blessings!
That is exactly what it is – the slick floors making turning and sliding so much easier!
Mary, I am a huge proponent of the Living Room Dance Party, either by myself or with friends. Just the other day a friend texted that she had just heard a Modest Mouse song which reminded her of me dancing in my old living room. I love being associated with such happy things!
Love it! I’d be thrilled if a friend associated me with a happy thing like that!
Funny you should ask! I, too, play the piano. Sometimes. Other times I go crazy with the house projects – the stuff I cannot do with all of these other hands around. I have about 257 things in my netflix queue that Matt is just not interested in watching – most of it British TV – so I will get caught up on that, also. I don’t dance much, but there is LOTS of singing.
British TV? I think I’m probably better off not being introduced to that, as American TV keeps me busy enough. ;)
Wooohoooo you go girl!! :) I love that you danced away in your kitchen, free as a bird, and let yourself just be you. I do that sometimes too, and it’s such a freeing, beautiful thing to just totally go for it and not care. And indeed I do that in the kitchen too! Somehow that just seems to be the most natural place for that lol. You are not alone in also wanting something a little different than the altogether-too-together, but still wonderful, Leslie Sansone walking videos. Love her, love that stuff, sometimes it’s just too much! We are supposed to have variety anyway, so I’m pretty sure it’s okay to just rock out instead. ;)
It’s just me and hubby, but still when he isn’t there I can spend the day watching chick flicks, blaring music he hates, sitting in a totally quiet house just reading a book on the couch, etc. Love it. But would never want to be alone, it’s just nice to have sometimes. :)
What IS it with hubbies who don’t like our music? I do the same thing!!