Long hike

I just realized that, once my kids go to bed at night--or even when just one of them finally succumbs to sleep--I feel as though I've just shed a 40lb backpack, that I've been carrying all day on a strenuous hike. Ahhhhhh. Relief, exhaustion, a sense of accomplishment and glad that it's over as I sit down to take off my shoes, rub my feet, relax and reflect on the day.