I was having coffee with a group of girlfriends last week, and one of them said to me that she’d been thinking about “alone time” and whether I ever got any.? She said she figured it must be pretty rare with this houseful of kids I’ve got, and I suppose she’s mostly right? Usually I do get to shower and use the bathroom by myself, and Olof is pretty good about taking the kids so I can get a nap when I need one, but I don’t get much time just to be on my own.

Lucky for me, I’ve never been someone who needs–or even wants–a lot of alone time. As a matter of fact, for as long as I can remember I’ve never liked being alone. When I was a kid and my mom didn’t get home from work until 4:30 in the afternoon, I always made sure that I could hang out with one or another friend until that time. Even during my teenage years, when I would hole up in my room with just my angst and the radio for company, I always wanted someone to be in the next room. So, it suits me just fine that I’m nearly never alone in my house. I wouldn’t want it any other way. That said, though, I’m guessing I get as much or more “me time” as most at-home moms with a couple of pre-schoolers. It’s just part of the territory, always having someone making demands on your time.

And, all of that said, I’m really looking forward to the overnight, solo trip to Stockholm I’ve just booked for the first Saturday in October. It can’t come quickly enough.