A Place to be Alone

Throughout the years, I have often found that I needed time to get away to be by myself, but the problem lie in the fact that it was difficult to find a place to be alone, especially as my children were growing up. While contemplating this, I couldn’t help but laugh, because it was then that I remembered where I used to go to find that precious solitude.

I was a full-time working wife and mother, having a position as a registered nurse in the operating room of a local hospital. I rose early in the morning because I needed to be at my job by 6:30 a.m.  I also had to be on-call at least once a week, which meant extra hours at work. In addition to this, I had to work my share of weekends and holidays. This was the lot of being a nurse, and I knew full well what I was getting into when I entered this profession. But still, I missed the time away from my husband and children, although it did mean that I was among other people, which was a nice change sometimes. I loved my job as a nurse, mostly because it meant I could help to change people’s lives for the better, sometimes even saving their lives. But it could be stressful, and when I came home after a long day, I often wished for time alone and a place to spend it in.

If you have ever raised a family, then I’m sure you know how difficult it is to find that kind of peaceful environment within the home, and it was no different for me. My children demanded my attention, which I gladly gave to them; however, I often wished for some solitary time.

Then I discovered that there was a way for me to be alone, and you may be surprised at what I did to accomplish this goal. Or, if you are a parent, perhaps you won’t be surprised. I discovered that there was one place in the house where I could go off by myself, a place where no one would follow me.

The bathroom! Yes, the bathroom was the one place where I could escape to in order to have time to myself! Silly, you say? Well, it wasn’t at the time. It was glorious, being able to finally be alone in a place where no one would bother me, a place where I could finally have some peace and quiet, just for myself. But alas, it didn’t take long before my family figured it out, and before I knew it, my kids would knock on the door and yell, “Mommy!” so insistently that I couldn’t ignore them and I’d have to give in to their pleas.

Now the years have flown by and our children are grown. Our son is out on his own, our oldest daughter is married, and our youngest daughter is away at college, save for the holidays and summer vacations. You would think that I would have sufficient time alone now, wouldn’t you? You would think that since I have almost the entire house to myself (except for my husband) that I’d find lots of places to be alone, wouldn’t you?

But even now, when I go into the bathroom and close the door, it’s not long before I hear scratching on the door and the whimpering of my toy poodle Lucy, as if she’s crying, “Mommy!”

Some things never change.