Mom is Home!
First of all, I have to tell my dearest husband: Honey, I LOVED your post! Only you could have come up with reasons that make such brilliant sense…..and I agree with all of it, except that the idea of our children glued to the television screen (wii remote in action or not) for HOURS on end just doesn’t sit well with me, whatever the multiple benefits are. But because you were the Superdaddy while I was away – keeping our three angels happy, entertained and relatively healthy (I heard about the monster-size cones at Dairy Queen) while I lazed on the beach and drank cocktails, I won’t argue with you on this one – for now at least 
But back to my absence – going off with your girlfriends for a few days is one of the best things a Mom can do, and I highly recommend it. I am speaking of my best friends from high school, who I only see about once a year (if we’re lucky) as we live on opposite sides of the globe. To be honest, I wasn’t raring to go – they practically forced me on the trip, while I worried and hesitated, nervous that my little family couldn’t survive without me, or me them. Especially as I am still nursing Wills, the youngest. The answer to that one? f.o.r.m.u.l.a (I brought my breast pump too, of course) and some gentle (and unselfish!) encouragement from the hubby.
It goes without saying that my husband was absolutely right in saying that they’d all be fine and that I’d have a great time – and all my worrying was useless (as it always is). The past 5 days with my girlfriends was a totally lazy but lovely experience – we lay by the pool and read, went island hopping and mangrove exploring, ate and drank like we were teenagers, and best of all, talked, talked and talked. Oh, and it was also nice to be able to listen to my iPod without interruption.
And while I’m blissfully happy to be back home tending to scrapes, whining, and sticky kisses, I am so grateful for the trip, mostly because I remember who I was before I became a Mom.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:22 am
This reminds me I need to take a girl’s weekend.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:07 am
I agree with every part of this post! I have a group of girlfriends (who I am lucky enough to see 3 or 4 times a year) and being with them completely rejuvenates me when I’m back at home with my son. I’m happy to hear you went away while bfing. Son #2 is due soon and I need to remind myself that there is a world outside of sitting in the rocker and nursing. It’s hard to pull away when they’re that young.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Yes, isn’t it great to be with the girls once in a while? I left #3 for the first time when he was 6 months (for a week with the hubby) – my Mom stayed and looked after the kids and said the baby didn’t even notice I was gone!
May 18th, 2009 at 6:35 am
It’s great to have some time for yourself together with your friends. It releases stress of being a mom. And it makes you grow as an individual.