So, a decade of being responsible full time for tiny dependent beings is over.  Ten years.  If I worked for a company, I’d be up for long service leave.  But seeing as no one is offering me 10 weeks paid leave, I’m going to take a few liberties with my life.  Just a few.

I have two days where I have to go to work.  And some freelancing I need to do.  But surely around that, with 5 full days child free, I can also take a moment here and there to do some stuff for myself?

Yes, I know the 6 hours between 9 and 3 are on a different space/time continuum and go faster.  Even so…

Here is what I hope my LSL entails:

1. Attendance at yoga/kayak yoga** or any type of relaxation stretchy style session at least once a week. Twice even.

2.  Time to lunch occasionally with friends.  Not all afternoon, and nowhere outrageously flash.  Just a meet and chat for a sushi train, or a salad.  Maybe (if it’s someone’s bday, a glass of champs).

No champs in February due to Febfast.  Heavy sigh.  I know I should be full of natural endorphins and be feeling totally euphoric at the thought of having reared three children (with just 4 years and 2 days between first and third dammit) to school age without losing one or losing my mind.

And surely this natural high means I don’t need champagne?  It’s just there’s this niggling sense of redundancy that keeps creeping in.

Oops, got off track.

3. Shop for groceries without having to take someone who’s constantly and simultaneously cold, hungry and busting.

4. Permission to maybe, just sometimes, write creatively for myself.  A book?  A short story?  A kids book?  Who knows.

5. A course!  I could learn something new!  On writing?  Would I contemplate any other?  Interior design?  No, I have most excellent friends for that.  Meditation?  Hmm. Not sure I have the concentration.  Instead, there’s creative writing, feature writing, writing for kids etc etc.

6. Manage a renovation.  Well, there’s always that elephant in the room isn’t there?

Note to self: be positive, so many opportunities lie ahead.

And I’m so proud of all three of my kids.  Because they are lovely (in their own ways).  I know I haven’t wasted the last ten years.  I haven’t enjoyed every minute of them, but they are of course, the most important ones of my life.  I don’t think my husband and I will spend another decade of our lives with so much to show for it as this one.  Three healthy amazing humans!

Right, off to book a course and buy a kayak.  Must have the right equipment now.

** Kayak yoga: An ingenious invention where you get into kayaks, paddle off somewhere around the amazing harbour and land on a beach.  Do yoga for 40 minutes and paddle home again.  Total winner!