It was still dark out as I rolled over this morning, clock read 6:32am. Why? I ask myself. The house was quiet and dark. I grabbed the blankets and rolled over … sleep longer I told myself, you have the chance to.

I was looking forward to this weekend. For the last couple months I have had the boys every weekend, or at least part of it. Work schedules aligned in just such a way and am I no one to argue with the opportunity. It is great getting the extra time with the boys, would not have it any other way. I was suppose to have this this weekend as well, but I guess there was a change in plans. This left me home alone for the weekend … a chance to relax, catchup, get some me time.

I finally rose and made my way downstairs for coffee, thinking to myself, “I should really have gotten up for a run this morning”. I was out of practice, out of the discipline of my morning workouts. I have been lazy of late, if I am honest with myself. Sat down at the computer to get some things done that just ‘need doing’, but focus remained difficult. As I sat there, chatting with a friend they finally said “I will let you get back to your work” … and it hit me. That was my only connection at the moment and I was bothered by it ending … I was lonely. It is not depression, more a desire for company — even if I know having company would only be a distraction from getting my stuff done. Having the boys provides endless amounts of company, and most days without them are so busy I don’t have time to sit alone.

Yet, today the house was empty. I had hours before I had to be anywhere. I had piles of work that needed doing. I have an endless TODO list … so there is no way that I can claim I am bored. But the house was empty, I had no where to be. Yet, I was grasping to conversations for a connection to someone and I knew that staying in my current mindset was not a solution. It was time for that run.

Running is not what is important … it was the break, and a break where you are not distracted by external sources. Leaving the phone, the computer, the tv … and life behind for half an hour allowed me to focus on listening to my inner-self. Loneliness is not new, but I thought I had gotten past this point. Where was this coming from? I have solid friendships. I have a new job that has captured a lot of my attention recently. I am not dwelling on my past relationship, actually quite satisfied with where my life sits. As the pavement passed beneath my feet I was able to release my mind, which grasped on moving forward. I needed to do this more. I needed to take care of myself. I needed to once again become comfortable with myself. Life has been so busy for so long … it is time for a break with just me. I just needed to accept that.

With the midday sun beating down I rounded back through the gates of the complex. Sweat was dripping from my forehead and I slowed to a walk. Close to 5k and it felt good. I could feel the blood pumping through my body. I closed my eyes and let the sensation of the light breeze run over my skin. I felt alive. Think it was more, I just needed to get out into the sunshine.

Alone time is important. Allows you to look inside and see some of the things you need to see, and it doesn’t always need to be a long time. Remember your inner-self often can shout loud enough to get through all the noise around you. You have to provide the time and space to listen to yourself.

Now … back to work.

Since the divorce I have noticed a striking change in our communication. We both started a power play, a jostle for control and dominance by being the person who felt they had control of the communication. I would like to say that those days are in our past, but tonight felt like another frustrating example that that aspect of life is not yet behind us…

Things started off not too bad, she contacted me to inform me of what days I had selected for my vacation – due to some miscommunication during the last few weeks I took as constructive and not as aggressive. The situation also gave us a chance to discuss an upcoming school event and allowed us to coordinate in preparation for that. Was a simple conversation started by responding to her initial text in short order. I treated her as if she was important, and the tension was quickly alleviated and forgotten.

Generally, if she texts I respond as soon as I can. With an email I try my best to respond within 24 hrs if a response is required. When she calls, I try never ignore a call – and call her back if I missed it for some reason. We may be divorced, but I still work hard to treat her as a valuable part of the family unit. Because, that is what she is … no matter how upset I may be at times.

This evening felt to be in contrast to that…

Today was the science fair at the school, so I thought I would check in with the kids before bed and see how it went. I called, voice mail. Called the house, voice mail. Ok, maybe they are busy which is completely understandable so I gave it another 15 minutes … called both numbers again … nothing. Sent a text to have them call me, and tried again a few minutes later … now we are bumping up against the kids bed time and my hockey game is about to start. So I have to leave it, they must have just been busy … such is life.

But now it after midnight and I am off the ice and headed home to bed. I was expecting a call or text saying that they just missed it, but nothing – does she not check her phone at all during the evening? Tonight it is annoying as I really wanted to talk about how things went this morning at school, so I know I am being more sensitive than normal. Yet, this is not a one time situation – simple fact is that she doesn’t seem to pay attention to her communication channels and it can be frustrating. Any time there is an email, text, or call that she does not like, she does not respond – she gets them, cause she gets all the others.

Tonight follows on the heals of a recent weekend when I felt respect for my time with the boys was also not shown. My youngest requested to call her and share that they had completed the science project. Simple enough and of course the answer is “ok”, never hold back communication right. Yet, the call went on for a good 30 minutes before I had to call him off to come ACTUALLY finish his work – so my other son got on to say “hi” and they talked for another 30 minutes. There was no big event to share and we had other things planned. I asked to wrap it up (she heard) … and yet the call continued. Eventually I had to become the bad guy and insist my son say good bye so we could keep our nights plans going.

Yes … right now I am feeling petty. In fact, I have tried for a long time to not go negative, but sometimes negative feelings exist. That is just what this is, emotions and insecurities brewing to the surface. I can’t change her, never could. There are a million and one reasons that they were unavailable tonight, and those have to be acceptable. The boys have a strong relationship with their mother, that is something to promote and not hinder. So I go to bed tonight knowing that I will see my youngest tomorrow morning before school and we have a vacation coming up.

All I can do is continue to act the way I feel is right, not always for me – but for the kids.