silence

(photo by melvelez on flickr)

That's what you get when a group of mums go away together - blissful silence.  I think it is the complete but unsaid knowledge that talking can be kept to a minimum without anyone being offended!  Two days without, "mum can I?", "mum can you?", "mum I need you", "mum where's the?" is like a week's worth of a luxury spa retreat - in fact it might be even be worth more than that.  Then there are the added extra's of being able to make breakfast for one, reading the newspaper, having a leisurely shower, doing your toe nails without having to keep everything out the way of little fingers, eating dinner - sitting down - from start to finish, going to the toilet on your own, sleeping in, reading your book until late into the night, sleeping in, not having the kids shows on, not having someone flick through all the TV channels, not even having to have the TV on!  Of course there is then the social outings that mean you can wander in the really expensive shops without having to grab things before they hit the floor, or be continually saying "don't touch that", or "just a minute", or "mummy just wants to look at this".  Browsing is such a luxury event when mums no longer have kids in tow.  And can be combined with enjoying a take away coffee without having to buy all the extra's to keep everyone else quiet so you can at least down it before it gets cold. 

Not having to share the chocolate. 

The rest of the Whizzme clan have been visiting Adelaide, and so I am quickly posting this before the silence is broken.  But don't get me wrong, as much as I have loved these last two days spending time with 'the girls', drinking wine, gossiping, watching movies, reading mags.  I cannot wait to see my family.  Even just two days absence, I have missed people telling me they "love me" and wanting hugs.  I have missed hearing their new ideas and experiences from their day.  And I missed having someone cuddle into me, knowing it is a safe place to be - with mum.  But I know that by tomorrow morning the spell will have broken and the routine will return, so, excuse me while I go and just soak in those last few moments of silence.