The sound of silence

David went to bed around 8:30, and Johnathan put Emily down in her room shortly afterwards. It’s the first night Emily has fallen asleep by herself in her own bed, and it might not have gone as smoothly as it did if she hadn’t been dog tired. Still, I was rather relieved and a little sad to see her take such a big step. Johnathan is out and about on a rare excursion, which means that I’m alone in the house with two sleeping children. They’re both far enough from the living room that I can’t even hear the rustle of sheets when they move…only the steady hum of Johnathan’s computer fan. When my husband headed for the door, he kissed me and said, “Enjoy your silence.” I’m no longer accustomed to such long periods of quiet, and I expected to find it a bit foreign. But instead, I’m welcoming the opportunity for undisturbed thought and remembering what it was like to have moments that were solely my own.