I’ve been back from my trip for a few days now and I can’t decide if it feels like I never left or if I’ve been ruined for normal life forever. I’ll tell you this, traveling alone is a pleasure that may only be fully appreciated by parents of small children or others who spend their days being responsible for Very Demanding People. Maybe I came off as antisocial but I didn’t care at all because I was ALONE! And I read a book and ate my snacks and enjoyed every single minute of my aloneness.
Visiting my friend and her son was a real pleasure, too, of course!
And what was my poor, abandoned family doing while I was living it up traveling and having some quality girl-talk? Did my babies miss me? In a word: NO. In fact, they had so much fun that by two days after my departure they were asking their father why they don’t have this much fun when mommy is around?
Ahem.
There is nothing to be done but for me to take more frequent sabbaticals so that my darlings can experience more joy in life. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the good of my offspring. I’m giving like that
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 am
I took my first trip away from my family after 24 years of marriage! Believe me, it was too long. The trip was a choir tour to Germany so I wasnt really “alone” but to be away from the demands and stresses of family life was a real eye opener for me.
It was also frightening because I have never been as happy for that many hours in a row as I was on that trip and realize I may never be again! Three weeks of no cooking, no grocery shopping, no helping with homework, no referring fights, no chauffering, absolutely no decisions to make beyond what great german beer should I try next?
It was heavenly so I know how you felt. Good for you for trying this early on in your parenting adventures!
November 25th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Yeah, mine always have more fun without me around too. Sometimes it sucks being the mom!
Glad you had a nice trip!