Okay, now I'm ready for the year
I spent a wonderful few days away from home this past weekend. I started the trip feeling guilty that I was leaving my husband and kids for no other reason than a little R & R. Did I really do enough to deserve a vacation? Some days yes, other days not really. But that's not the only point.
Being away not only gives you lucid appreciation upon your return, but allows those you're away from the chance to breath without your help.
The kids were thrilled to see me last night, and I was delighted to see them. After only three days Harrison seemed to have matured three years. And Gigi had apparently earned a degree in English. They were all hugs and kisses. All charm.
But it wasn't simply the short passage of time that changed them. It was that Mommy wasn't there. The routine was changed. The vocabulary used was a little different (Gigi kept saying, "It's just gas." I don't say that). The snacks were slightly new. Maybe Robin, being the creative one, even dressed them in something other than jeans and a turtleneck. Change is good. Like most new experiences, it leads to growth. So having Mommy gone for a short time gave everyone a chance to experience something new and become a better person for it.
How do you like that for guilt-relieving rationalization?
And to top it off, Robin was the happiest of all to see me back. The house was immaculate, much cleaner than I'd left it. Everyone was bathed and fed and in a good mood. Any guilt that remained was gone, replaced by a fresh determination to get back to work, supporting my family in all the ways they need. What a great way to start the year.
Being away not only gives you lucid appreciation upon your return, but allows those you're away from the chance to breath without your help.
The kids were thrilled to see me last night, and I was delighted to see them. After only three days Harrison seemed to have matured three years. And Gigi had apparently earned a degree in English. They were all hugs and kisses. All charm.
But it wasn't simply the short passage of time that changed them. It was that Mommy wasn't there. The routine was changed. The vocabulary used was a little different (Gigi kept saying, "It's just gas." I don't say that). The snacks were slightly new. Maybe Robin, being the creative one, even dressed them in something other than jeans and a turtleneck. Change is good. Like most new experiences, it leads to growth. So having Mommy gone for a short time gave everyone a chance to experience something new and become a better person for it.
How do you like that for guilt-relieving rationalization?
And to top it off, Robin was the happiest of all to see me back. The house was immaculate, much cleaner than I'd left it. Everyone was bathed and fed and in a good mood. Any guilt that remained was gone, replaced by a fresh determination to get back to work, supporting my family in all the ways they need. What a great way to start the year.
posted by Anne at 1:12 PM
3 Comments:
Two comments:
It's a good thing you didn't come back and find that your kids had started drinking bourbon. That would be bad.
It's also good they didn't take up smoking.
Kids these days.
I'm also grateful my husband didn't take up smoking after a weekend with the kids. It would be understandable.
It's really good that no one found out about the bourbon drinking kids. "OK Its Nigh Night time!"
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