I have so many things I need to do and a million more things I want to do, but instead of doing any of them I’m sitting here in front of the computer. Part of it is because I’m lazy and I like to put things off, but a bigger part is because I know as soon as I try to start something Tage will be all over me quick as a flash and I’ll have to abandon whatever I’ve started to tend to him. When he’s playing quietly by himself, the best course of action for me is to sit here quietly and not make any sudden moves or do anything else to attract attention to myself. Otherwise he won’t give me a moment to myself.

I know I probably sound like a terrible mother, as if I want to get away from my baby all the time, but that’s really not the case at all. Tage is a very hands-on little guy, and I’m actively engaged with him, one way or another, for the vast majority of my waking hours. Add in the fact that I have another child, a husband, two dogs, and a big house to try to manage, plus several hours a week devoted to improving my Swedish skills, and the result is that I don’t have much “me time.” Mostly I do okay with that, but on the fairly infrequent occasions that Tage is occupied by himself, I do my best to ensure that he remains so for as long as possible!

And now he’s back, and I’m gone …