I am not dead. I am just in Cincinnati.

I flew up yesterday, for a week with my publisher.  It’s exotic, let me tell you that.  A week on my own: no kids, no house to keep, no mini-van to take to carpool.  I feel strangely both unfettered and lost.  No one to look after, but so much time for myself!  I hardly know what to do with my free hours.  Sleep?  Work out?  Watch TV?  All three at the same time?  Is that even possible?

I’ll be here all week, trying to remember something I might not have ever known how to do: how to manage my time when I don’t have to manage my family.  How do you do it?

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  • Belinda
    October 3, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Oh my goodness enjoy your time to yourself! A whole week like that in the midst of raising kids is just priceless! The only thing better is a week at home by yourself 🙂
    Be ware that after a week of quiet, reentry might be a bit tough even though you will be glad to be back in the midst of the family stuff.

    • Deborah
      October 14, 2011 at 10:31 pm

      Lady, those are some true words–I don’t need to get AWAY so much as I need them to GO once in a while! Ha! Funny how the husband is the opposite–he wants to be away, but doesn’t always want us to come with him…. Hmmmm…

  • Kerstin
    October 4, 2011 at 2:52 am

    Haha, I feel absolutely the same! And my little ones only have the first day of preschool today… Enjoy and make the most of it, and do stuff you never get to do with kids!

  • Sewing Princess
    October 4, 2011 at 9:48 am

    It’s crazy how when you have so much to do all the time, you don’t know what to do when you have free time. I remember I used to get these emptiness feelings a lot after working as tour director with groups of teenagers. Just do whatever comes to your mind and enjoy not having to plan.

    • Deborah
      October 14, 2011 at 10:27 pm

      Done and done. Totally the best advice–I loved not needing to take care of someone else on a schedule, and just letting those evening hours slip by. It was nice to be a little vegetative for a bit!

  • Tammy
    October 4, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    If I had free time again, I’d visit the textile museum, read a book uninterrupted, and sew, sew, sew!

    • Deborah
      October 14, 2011 at 10:27 pm

      Wait, there’s a textile museum in Cincinatti??? I’m going back in four weeks–do share details, I’d love to go there!

  • ohjennymae
    October 6, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    i wouldn’t know. i only go to funerals or blogher alone

    • Deborah
      October 14, 2011 at 10:26 pm

      Ha! I’m heading to Houston by myself in two weeks, too–THAT should be interesting. Tons of fabric folks nerding it up, and no husband to keep an eye on me. Let’s see what trouble she can get up to when we switch her regular coffee to Folger’s Instant.

  • michelle
    October 7, 2011 at 12:39 am

    Ohhhh…enjoy it. Pamper yourself, read, see a movie.

    About halfway through the week you’ll be longing for kid choas, loud-ness, and you’ll find yourself out of habit wiping the snotty noses of strangers kids because you miss your so important job as Mom!

    • Deborah
      October 14, 2011 at 10:25 pm

      I watched a LOT of movies, and I did miss the chaos. Have been doing laundry and dishes non-stop since I got home and other than the dry skin, I hardly even mind! It was sure nice to recharge that mom-love for a week.