When the Lights Go Out

 My kids are adorable.

See? And darn lovable if I do say so myself.  I catch myself being one of those moms who stare at them with adoration in public places.  Who catches herself telling strangers "my daughter knows all the words to pontoon!"  (Yes, I'm aware that's a lame thing to brag about, but the girl's got talent ;)

But, on days I work they go with me.  On days I shop they go with me.  When I pee or shower, they go with me.  Are you seeing a pattern here?

I cringe when I hear myself utter or think "I need a break from my kids." But, I'm human. And I do.  I've spent a handful of nights away from Carsyn and none away from Hank.  I'm ok with that.  If W came home tomorrow and told me he booked us a trip for 2 to Jost Van Dyke would I take him up on it? Yeppers. But do I need it? Not really.

You see, there's this little space of time when all of the lights are out.  After the kids are asleep and W is adorably snoring on the sofa (just kidding honey..you don't snore).  Its me time.  And truthfully I've always had my me time..even before I was married.  In fact it dates back to my teenage years.  Mom and dad would go to sleep and I'd tiptoe to the kitchen.  I'd make a scrambled egg sandwich and watch Baby and Johnny for the 277 time or talk to my friends on the phone until 2 in the morning.

In college I was the same way.  Luckily my roomie was too and he'd go get us Hardees breakfast at 4 after pulling all nighters.  (Yep, I cohabitated with my male cousin and sister throughout college.)  She'd be dressed and sipping her coffee when I scrambled out of bed at 8:15 late again for my 9:00 am class.  Old habits people. I always envied her ability to be a "morning person."

I'm just a night owl.  An affectionate term my mom gave me when I was teensy after sitting up with dad late at night watching Bond movies.  Truth is being a night owl works for me.  I pour a glass of wine and catch up reading blogs.  Sometimes I watch the latest Real Housewives episode.  Sometimes I work on scrapbooks.  Sometimes I watch youtube videos of Springsteen for hours.

I kid.

Not really.

Sometimes I read on the front porch and listen to the frogs.  Sometimes I take a really long bath with a stack of neglected magazines.  And rarely I throw a workout video in the dvd player and get some endorphins going.  Usually its 2 in the morning and I realize I really need to go to bed!

The mornings one of the kids decide to get up before 8 are a little rough, but usually they sleep til 9 or so.  I'd love to be a morning person and be up hours before them, but then I think, what's the point?  I'd probably just sip coffee and try to be quiet.  Though it would give me time to try out another hairstyle beside the side braid or ponytail...

How about you?? Are you an early bird or night owl?

Happy Wednesday friends!! I'm always happy when a blog post title is a Springsteen song!