Peace and quiet are nice and all. But I don’t think I ever craved for it like I do today. In my defense, I did wait 15 days to bring up the much-talked-about Covid19 lockdown. At first, it never really hit me. Yeah, ok, we can’t step out. But we got this. And then as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the reality hit me. And walloped me. And right now, the thought that keeps running in my head is – oh God, All I want is peace and quiet. 

It never used to be so bad. I am a fairly social person. I don’t thrive alone. And it’s quite alright, I guess. I love hanging out with people, going out for brunches, and just chilling out. And then I got married. Things changed all of a sudden. And then kids happened. I could barely have any ‘alone time’ anymore. And I’d whine and crib about how I don’t know who I am anymore and that I never get to do what I want. 

But ironically, when kids go to a birthday party or are out of sight for a couple of hours, I’d miss them. And I would wonder what they are doing. And how I’m actually bored and don’t know what to do. This was the situation a few years ago. 

And then things became better for me. I learned not to act like I had an empty nest every time kids were away. I’d read or write. ‘Course I had my job too. It made me realize that I was the one who came in the way of doing something meaningful. 

And then the lockdown happened. And I cannot remember the last time I did not see the kids for even 5 minutes. It’s either hunger or boredom or a fight that required me to become a referee. It was a time when time both stood still and flew. Stood still because the days stretched for longer than 24 hours easily. And flew because it was time for them to eat before I could even blink my eyes. Einstein could not explain that in his theory of relativity. 

And my current state of mind is at – All I Want Is Peace And Quiet. A time when I do not have to yell. State the obvious. Supervise. Cook. Clean. And be this absolutely horrendous and unruly person to make sure that there is peace and quiet in the house. 

Ironic that, isn’t it? I’m pretty sure that the person who first said that they wanted world peace was a parent. And the desire for it still continues. 

Though I must add that when there is peace and quiet, I miss the kids. A definite schism right there for you. 

Probably in the DNA. No other explanation for it.