It is amazing how much more can get done when there is little or no racket occurring in my immediate surroundings. Ok, that sounds like stating the obvious but let me elaborate:

The past year of school, for me took place during a hectic time in my life combined with a cacophonous blend of disruptions including cell phones ringing, dogs barking, idiotic neighbors with their music blasting so loudly they’ll certainly be deaf before they hit their 30s, automatic litter box rakes stuck going back and forth trying to dispose of the glue-like deposit (clumping, sure…but what are they drinking for crying out loud that makes the stuff stick to everything???), televisions blaring with nobody in the room, not to mention my family interrupting me for the simplest of things (no, I do not know where the remote control for the T.V. is). On top of this, the angst of adolescence overcame our 12-year-old who increasingly wore thin both my patience and that of his dad. Without going into detail, a ‘last straw’ scenario occurred recently resulting in the departure of our last nestling (he went to live with his mother and stepfather).

This week’s assignments were completed early. That has never happened for me. No, they were never late…they were always on time…just on time. This week, however, I was able to get them turned in early. Today, Sunday, is the day that I typically spend frantically pulling together a decent submission due by midnight. Sundays are rarely spent in clothing that are not pajamas, and I cannot recall a Sunday where I could just relax and watch T.V. or run errands or cook a delicious meal (that is not previously frozen).

It is amazing what a little peace and quiet can do for the online student. Working moms know what I am talking about. Between work and being a mom, where is there ever any peace and quiet?

By the way, the cell phone isn’t ringing as much (because a child is not calling me every 30 minutes to ask if someone can spend the night), the dog is still barking (but that is because he’s looking out for me), the idiotic neighbors are still stupidly going deaf and taking the neighborhood with them, and the litter box still gets stuck. Nobody is looking for the remote control because it is always where it is supposed to be now, and I’m thinking about having steaks for dinner tonight.

Silence is a good thing.