The light at the end of the tunnel

This morning I had a series of great revelations I thought I'd share with you.

It was so spectacular that I had to think long and hard about how long it's been since I experienced this level of satisfaction, bliss and complete independance. Then it came to me - it's been over 5 years!

So I'll set the scenario. Baby Blue Eyes and Frog Princess started swimming lessons this morning, which we haven't done since last spring. We all piled into the van and headed over to the pool. It's a big day, because today marked Baby Blue Eyes' first "parent-less" lesson. My first revelation came when I realized that I've finally surpassed the milestone where I no longer have to put on a bathingsuit and get wet. Not that I didn't enjoy those days (because I truly loved being with them in the pool) - but I really enjoyed being warm and dry, while sitting up in the "parent room" watching my kids do amazing things in the pool. The second revelation came as I watched all the "baby class" moms after class in the changeroom. They were either trying to juggle a slippery, cold, hungry, peeved baby and their own dry clothes, or they were trying to find a way to stay warm in a wet bathingsuit while they dressed their baby. Revelation . . . I don't have to be wet and freezing while I get them dressed anymore -- Wahoo! An even bigger WAHOO when I realize that even my own "baby" can dress himself now and all I have to do is supervise! Holy smokes - life is grand.

The third revelation came when I realized as we left that I no longer tote a diaper bag. It just hit me as we were walking out -- FREEDOM!

I guess I am so excited because I never really realized just how exhausted I used to be by the end of swimming lesson morning, until today. Don't get me wrong, I loved taking them swimming - but last year I had three dripping kids under five. I was feeling pretty insane most Monday mornings, and this was definately the first Monday morning that I didn't come home feeling like I needed a nap!