Monday, July 16, 2012

Why I Shouldn't Go Out Alone

As a homeschooling mom of three, I don't often find myself alone. I'm either teaching my kids, in the house with my kids, driving my kids to activities, or running errands with my kids. My husband is often around too. Even when I'm in the shower, someone is likely to be banging on the door with a question or three.

So I've gotten quite used to always having someone there to chat with. The problem is that I'm sooo used to it, that I have problems going out by myself. Really I do.

This was brought home to me last week. I had a dentist appointment, and now that K-boy is old enough to babysit during the day, I didn't bring the kids with me.

I did just fine at the dentist office. Instead of entertaining bored children, I was actually able to read the ancient magazines in the waiting room. Having majored in history in college made me really appreciate their antiquity. Seriously.

I was the model patient once in the chair. I shone at making awkward small talk with the hygienist and dentist while my mouth was full of fingers and gadgets. When I was done I got to make my way to the receptionist without a five minute deliberation at the treasure chest about which penny toy to select.

It wasn't until I got back to my car that the problems began. I started the engine and the empty light came on for the gas gage. My hubby will drive for twenty miles with it on empty before he'll stop for gas. Personally I think it's just his attempt at being a suburban adventurer. With me the warning light serves as an urgent summons to fill up. I find my way immediately to the nearest gas station, sweating bullets the whole time for fear that the car will just die before I get there.



Fortunately the nearest gas station was just down the road from the dentist office, no more than a mile. Unfortunately a great song came on the radio during that short drive, and I just had to sing along. I love singing in the car, at the top of my lungs. My kids love for me to do it too. Well, my youngest still loves to hear me sing. The other two kind of....beg me to stop.

But on this day I was alone, so I was singing.

The real problem was that when I pulled into the gas station, the very crowded gas station, I was still singing. Loudly. And when I turned off the engine, and got out of the car to pump my gas, I was still singing the final few words of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline". When I finally noticed people staring, I stopped, mortified.

My kids would have stopped me. If they had been there. They are embarrassed by love me enough to have stopped me. Sigh! This is why I shouldn't go out alone.

I finished pumping my gas with my face burning, and slunk home, happy to be surrounded by my family of music critics. I need them around me.


linking to:  Yeah Write, Finding the Funny

18 comments:

  1. Someone said you should sing as if no one is listening, and have a great time with it. If I could carry a tune I'd belt out songs--if I could remember the words.

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    1. See, in my head it sounds like I'm carrying the tune just fine. My kids claim that I'm not, so I don't know whether to believe them or not.

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  2. Sing it!!! Those people looking at you were probably really happy to see you doing what they wish that they did: singing loud and proud! And MY GOODNESS! You homeschool three kids? THREE? You are a saint.

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    1. Well at least none of them started holding their ears, like my daughter does to get me to be quiet!

      Homeschooling three is easier than you would think. They're mine after all, so I already know most of their strengths and interests to help in motivating them.

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  3. It's impossible NOT to sing to Sweet Caroline! I'm sure it was lovely!

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    1. It's just one of those songs that you have to sing along with, isn't it?! I had fun anyway!

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  4. haha!! Love it! And hey everyone at the pumps were probably just jealous they weren't so brave enough to let go and have fun like that. It is weird being alone huh?

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    1. Yes, it is quite strange being alone when I'm so used to being surrounded by people. It's not that I don't enjoy a few minutes to myself, rather I tend to forget that I am alone.

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  5. I enjoyed your post Patricia! They need to invent gas stations with karaoke so that there is something to do while people wait. Then even people like me who can't carry a tune could just go for it!

    I relish being alone now that I finally can for a few hours. Actually, I'm not alone but I have the illusion of being alone since my teenager sleeps until I wake him up at noon...

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    1. Oh that's a neat idea! I can just picture all of those people standing around the gas pumps and singing! My oldest is at the age where he'll sleep until he's forced to wake up, but I'm not quite there yet with the other two.

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  6. I think people who *don't* sing Sweet Caroline out loud when alone are the weird ones!
    How do they live with themselves? ;-)

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  7. I know better than to get out of the car while I'm still singing. Hell, I know not to turn down the volume while I'm singing. If I hear myself, the sound drives me insane.

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    1. If only I knew better. With the volume up, I sound great!

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  8. I always wonder why I don't pass MORE people singing at the top of their lungs in the car. I do it all of the time! This is proof you should totally go out alone more often, as you can let that freak flag fly without worrying you're scarring your kids ;) Then again, I think normal is highly overrated. Character is better than average, no?

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    1. Well said! Who wants to be just one of the herd?

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  9. I love it!
    Good for you for still singing when you got out of the car!!! I'll bet you were having more fun at the gas station than anyone else there! :-)

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    1. Well, it definitely wasn't a boring trip to the gas station!

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