Can I Just Get 5 Minutes, Please?

Sometimes, I just want 5 minutes to myself. Is that too much to ask? I feel like all three children are tethered to me at all times. I go to the bathroom, here they come. Today I said, "Will can you give me two seconds to just go potty by myself?" He sat on the edge of the tub and said, "I will just sit here and talk to you. Privacy is overrated." Sure it is.

I get in the shower and as soon as I dip my head under the flow of water, I see the curtain pull back. It's Maggie, bringing me her sippy cup for a refill. Sometimes, if I don't catch her as soon as the curtain opens, she will climb right in with me. Clothes and all. If I sit down to eat a sandwich, one of them suddenly thinks a sandwich sounds yummy and insists on a bite. If I made them their own sandwich, it wouldn't have been nearly as appetizing. When I want to take a breather and sit in a chair to check my email or watch the news, my lap is immediately overtaken with some one's hiney. Never fails. Not even my bed is a sanctuary. Little arms and legs envelope me all night long. As soon as I move them over toward their Dad (who never seems to be tethered to a child or bothered by their octapus limbs at night), they immediately notice their body has become detached from mine and like metal to a magnet, here they come.

Don't get me wrong. I love them dearly. Really. I do. And even though I would love just 5 minutes to myself during the day, I don't ever question my decision to stay at home. I do question my sanity--regularly--but never the choice to be with them. I just want 5 minutes. That is all.

The last couple of days, Maggie has been difficult. She is becoming independent and stubborn but yet, she wants to be clingy. Tonight, I felt like my patience were pretty thin.

Ian knew it. For an 8 year old, he has a very keen sense of other people's feelings and needs. He is compassionate. And he always seems to know when I have had my fill. After dinner, I am working to put away laundry. Maggie is following me all over the house and Will is, well, being Will. When I come back to the kitchen, I find Ian at the sink, washing the dishes from supper. I didn't ask him to do it. He just did. I said, "Thanks, Honey, I appreciate you washing the dishes. You know that you don't have to do it. Momma will get those in a few minutes." He responded, "I know. But someone needs to help you around here. You shouldn't have to do it all by yourself." He is going to be an incredible husband and father some day. Rather than trying to talk him out of washing them, we cleaned the kitchen together. He fed our dog, Molly, and helped put up toys and laundry.

I never got those 5 minutes to myself today---and probably won't get those 5 minutes until Maggie leaves for college--but I did end the day feeling pretty good. Ian's simple act made me feel like at least some of the time, I am doing a good job raising them. I might lose my sanity in the process, but it will all be worth it.

He is such an incredible kid! Love him to pieces!