It seems as though my suitcase never gets unpacked. Because of what I do for a living I am forever traveling to and through airports. Not too long ago I had to ask the front desk clerk at the hotel where I was. I had forgotten was it Dallas or Memphis? They all seem to blend together after a while. My daughter’s preschool asked me last week when I was traveling again because my four years old behavior apparently is linked as to who puts her to bed at night. When I said I would be leaving again in a few days you could see she pitied me. People see my travel as impairment to good mothering. I wondered if I should fess up and say that my upcoming travel was not for work but was really a vacation with my husband. I immediately thought I should tell the truth and tell her proudly that this was our first real non- work related vacation together in almost six years. That we were leaving our children and our work behind for five whole days. And we were going to the ocean where it was warm and no children are allowed. Without making eye contact I explained this to the teacher her face changed and I am not sure it was for the better. I think I am supposed to feel guilty about this trip. I am suppose to “wish” my kids were coming with us. As we left our children with my very capable in-laws last week my husband looked at me and said he felt guilty. I told him, “Well get over it now, because for once we are doing something for us as a couple.” As we sat on the plane and my children, my work, the bills, the errands, the football games, gymnastics, halloween costumes, holiday parties, all began to disappear so did the guilt. Could I actually just be me? Or just be a wife without being a mother? My husband and I talked about this during the plane ride. We talked about reconnecting and enjoying each other. While we were away we found out a few things about life that we didn’t know before:
1. Childless vacations are awesome.
2. Sitting on the beach without the kids means you can actually listen to the ocean and hear music in the waves.
3. Dinner can be eaten at 8 pm.
4. We are still capable of sleeping past 8am uninterrupted.
5. We can go five days with any bickering.
6. I can still read a full novel cover to cover.
7. Wine tastes better after a day of leisure rather then a day of work.
8. I am still in love.
9. It’s ok to not miss your kids until you get off the plane back at home.
10. It’s ok that the kids didn’t miss us either.