J and I are getting ready to embark on a cruise on Monday. Yes, I know, the words "unemployed" and "cruise" don't normally mix. But we had the trip booked and half paid for way before I got the axe, and after some thought, decided to go forward with it. We leave from a nearby port, so we don't even need to pay for airfare, and all food is included. In the end, it made more sense to keep our plans. I think its important to get away as a couple once in a while, if only to remind ourselves that we still like each other. As far away as it seems, one day, the girls will set out on their own paths and unless we want to follow them off to college (which actually J is pretty set on doing...), we need to make sure we still have our own lives outside of being parents.
Planning this 5 night excursion takes as much preparation as a carefully planned military operation. Packing for 4 people, leaving careful instructions for the lucky grandparents, granting permission for pickups at preschool, the list goes on. And writing down "what you do" is tough. After all, how do you possibly capture all the nuances of raising young kids? Its hard to explain how a "mommy" cry can be ignored during the night but a "mommEE" cry cannot. That "gen" means "again," that yes, its okay to give Little A goldfish for breakfast if that's all she'll eat. In the end, we did the best we could, and figure that since our parents successfully managed to raise 5 kids between them, they should be just fine.
I am truly excited that for the first time in over 4 years, I can look forward to 5 nights of uninterrupted sleep. Some more highlights I'm looking forward to:
-5 days without cartoons. No Dora the Explorer, no Calliou, no Curious George. In fact, no TV at all!
-5 days without reading about what Bob or Sally had for dinner on Facebook or how Polly's son didn't sleep for the tenth night in a row.
-5 days without having to cajole someone little into eating something. No cries of "I don't like that" or "I don't want that" before I even announce what "it" is.
-5 days without having to get anyone dressed! Or brush anyone's hair except my own.
-5 days without having to stop my day in the middle for nap/quiet time. I could even take a nap MYSELF! Squeee.
-5 days without any whining. None! And if J tries it, he's getting the smackdown.
-5 days without breaking up fights, dealing with tantrums, reading the same book for the 50,000th time and going to the bathroom with company.
Okay, I'll be honest. I miss the little buggers already. But I'm sure I'll get over it after a few umbrella drinks. Have fun grandparents!!
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