I look forward to Thursdays.

It’s the day when it’s my mom’s turn to head into the office, meaning, I would have peace and quiet in the house. No YouTube blaring in the background, forcing me to don on my headphones, no one shouting my name in a way that resembles an owner calling his dog, and most importantly, no one watches me while I use the stove to make myself breakfast.

It’s actually been the day when I would go out into the garden – freezing or not – and pick a little of what’s available. Of course, I always have something available for myself. 😉 Whatever I pick will usually go into a delicious soup with some noodles during the winter followed with poached egg while it can be part of a sandwich in the spring and summer. If my mom was here when I make this, she would be wiping off the stove before I’m done and then she’d yell at me about making a mess in the kitchen.

Last week, while at the office, my mom got into an argument with her supervisors. I don’t know the detail but it sounded serious as she was in a long meeting with the human resource department after she got home. From what I can gather from her side, it seemed like a simple case of miscommunication but knowing my mom and her reactive nature, I believe this simple case was then blown up. Honestly, from her voice in the meeting, I thought she was getting fired.

Someone at work once said, “You can’t get fired from this company unless you are an asshole.”

My mom did not get fired but I highly doubt she’ll get high marks on her review and a big bonus. Over the weekend, she’s been contemplating on retiring next year at age 61. She’s also thinking of taking Thursdays off in order to spend all of her paid-time leave, which brings me back to the title of this post.

Other than Wednesdays, which I’m in the office, and Thursdays, I’m with my mom every single day. Those are the two days a week where I can have a little independence. I’m approaching my mid-30’s , if I lose that sense of independence, I fear I might go insane.