My children have gone for nine days, this is the biggest downfall of single parenting

[fairyfly]

I need the break. I should be over the moon at the chance to relax. But............ i miss them already, i want to have my guiding eye over them, i want to share their experiences and ( this is the saddest bit) i miss having company. I feel really alone. I also don't enjoy the constant feeling of guilt that i am not being a mother and left it up to someone else.

It's not ownership, it's belonging.

I see

I mean belonging with, rather than to someone.

You can't own each other, ownership implies one person owning the other, but you can belong with one another.

Oh you know what I mean really, take your tongue out of your cheek

yes it's odd isn't it. I use 'my partner' or 'my other half' and both are vile but boyfriend sounds like I'm 13 (which I patently am not).