Day 24 of Linda’s #JusJoJan Challenge, hosted by the dear Judy Martin my blog sis! Find her here!

The Just Jot It January 24th  prompt, brought to you by Evelyn of Eclectic Evelyn, is: “Elusive.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. And make sure you stop by and say hi to Evelyn as well! Here’s her blog: http://www.eclecticevelyn.com/

Elusive – Difficult to find, catch or achieve. The definition in the dictionary.

A particular celebrity may be elusive, or a criminal. That publishing contract is most definitely elusive!

But there is one thing, so simple, but extremely elusive, and I can guarantee that pretty much every mother will agree.

A lie in!

I have been a mum now for over eleven years, and I can count on my fingers how many real lie ins I have managed to have!

Gone are the days of being a student, sleeping your whole day away, and partying all night (fitting lectures in somehow too!).

If I am home at my parents, I get the opportunity, but my children decide it would be much better to come and see me first thing in the morning, rather than listen to their grandma, who is trying to coax them downstairs!

When they have a sleepover at their other grandparents, often it’s because I need to be up early the next day, so that’s another lie in opportunity gone.

The one weekend away Hubby Dearest and I had a couple of years ago was one real lie in opportunity, and we took it, but still had to be up to eat breakfast, and check out of the hotel! Still 10 am was better than nothing!

You’d hope that as kids get older, it would get easier. For some it does. Not for me, though!

I have a dear Lil Princess who is a stealth bed hopper! I find an extra body in my bed most mornings, where she has snuck in during the night to sleep with us!

And she is not a morning person! Totally like her dad! I am best in the morning, fresh, and raring to go. Lil Man is starting to get that pre-teen thing of needing more sleep, especially at the moments that we need to wake him up. But he sleeps well and will keep himself occupied in the mornings if I request a little relaxation time.

But Lil Princess?

No. Usually, she will have a wonderful sleep in her bed, the night before I anticipate the hope of a lie in. This means she is up with the birds, chirping away.

“Mum! Can I go downstairs?”  “Yes”

“Mum, I’m scared, can you come with me?” “No”

“Mum, can I go on the computer?” “Okay” (anything for peace!)

“Mum, I’m hungry!” (Muttering)”Oh For God’s sake!” (out aloud) “Coming!”

And so, by 8 am on a Sunday morning, you find me with a cuppa, and a wide-awake kid!

And if by any fluke of a chance, we are at home, with no kids, and no need for me to be anywhere before 12 midday, you can bet it’s just my darn body clock which decided to work against me!

See? Lie ins.

TOTALLY ELUSIVE!