And I'm Not Sharing

My husband took my daughter to dance class today. It just so happens that her dance class is right near his favorite pizza place, so I encouraged him to bring my son along and go out for pizza after class, just the three of them. He thought that was a great idea.

And it was. Because guess what happens when he takes both the kids out? I get to do anything I want, and I don't have to share.

I already started, by eating a pumpkin custard with whipped cream. And nobody ate my whipped cream before I got to it. Or asked for the last bite of my custard.

You know what else I can do when no-one else is home? I can use the bathroom without an audience. On either side of the door. I can even take a bubble bath without a certain small person getting naked and jumping in with me. And bringing approximately 1,427 bath toys with her.

I can sit at the piano and belt out every Broadway tune I know (and they are legion) without anyone requesting that I a) stop singing, or b) sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" or "Boop Boop Dittum Dattum Wattum Choo" instead. Or cringing at missed accidentals. (I'm a good singer, but my piano playing is more enthusiastic than it is skilled.)

I can read whatever cheesy novels I choose without anyone interrupting to request that I read him or her "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" for the 382nd time, or "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" for the 248th, or anything by Dr. Seuss for the gazoomillibillionth time.

I don't have to share the sofa, or my bed, or my favorite armchair. I don't have to share my dinner, or my dessert, or my Kindle Fire, or my computer. I don't have to share the TV. I don't have to share my time.

Now don't get me wrong; most of the time, I'm more than happy to share. I willingly forego those last few bites of steak for my filet mignon-loving son. I don't mind letting my daughter have the whipped cream from my mug of hot chocolate. I'm happy to give them a turn with my electronics. I'll let them choose the TV show or movie they'd prefer to watch.

Sometimes.

But every now and then, I like having everything to myself. So if you'll excuse me, there's something I need to do right now. And I'm not sharing.