Holidays oftentime resound to time outs and vacations. It’s the thing working people look forward to aside from payday. Holidays are these extra treats we get apart from the weekend. But as mom, it’s nothing really special. Holidays for me mean extra work, extra effort in making the household clean for the husband to appreciate, the kids engaged for them to not feel bored. Holidays for me mean overtime at work. I’m more concerned as to what my three year old wants to do and how I can juggle all the free time she has along with the clingy-ness of her baby brother.
Lil’ Ms. GJG: Mom, I wanna go to school.
GJG: But honey it’s a holiday, there’s no school. Teachers are resting and even Manong Guard and your Ates (teacher aids) aren’t in school today.
Lil’ Ms. GJG: But I want to go to school!
GJG: (trying to be calm and progressive) There’s no one there now. Even if we go to school, no one will be there. Your classmates and teachers are on a time out.
Lil’ Ms. GJG: I’m bored.
GJG: *panics*
This has been our conversation whenever Gabbie doesn’t have school. She would really insists she go to school or go elsewhere instead of staying home to play or do activities. I don’t get it. When I was young, I would rather stay home when there’s no school. Enjoy my free time and simply do nothing or watch TV. But with this kid, it’s different.
So this long weekend, we were able to go on a quick trip up north. Somebody’s excited. I’ve been itching to go to the beach. Lie on a day bed, get a tan and have a drink. This would’ve been me five years ago. But now that I have two hyperactive kids, I get lucky if I have a minute all to myself by the shoreline. An overnight trip costs us two luggages, a playpen and the diaper bag. I tell you, I’m becoming an excellent Mother packer.- I’m doing a separate blog post for this as I am about to be one again in a few days.
I admit, I wasn’t at least bit excited for our quick getaway probably because I already know the drill. No vacation is a vacation when you’re a mom. We work twice as hard to protect our family from the unusual and unfamiliar territory. We’re twice as paranoid and twice and cautious. All I know is we just don’t get time outs on trips.
I was feeling a bit despondent the past few weeks now. I was too caught up with the workloads and the gajillion things I needed to do. Not to mention Christmas is so near! Don’t ask why, it gets me twice as worked up as I should. Holiday rush perhaps? I keep on telling I needed a break but when the break came, I wasn’t enjoying on it. Like it didn’t felt like one. Then I’m reminded of my happiness project: If I wanna be happy, I gotta act happy. And so I did.
This resonated too.
Demmit. I keep on focusing about the worst part that I keep on forgetting the best part. Don’t you sometimes feel this way too?
Visiting those who have passed was a wake up call for me. That life is short and that we should enjoy it more than just try to get through it.
I was reminded of how lucky I am that I get to have quick trips with my family. Regardless of the effort that comes with it. All my whining where put aside when I saw photos I took during our trip, indeed I was lucky.
My lady boss.
My explorer.
This is how we do it. Traveling with a baby ain’t easy but it’s always fun.
Time out away from home is something everyone should do, especially homemakers. Of course the packing & unpacking are inevitable and sometimes a drag, but the memories you make on a trip is definitely always a good take away. Because kids grow up too fast, too soon.
I hope you enjoyed your long weekend as much as I did. Now, I need a massage. Back to the daily grind tomorrow. Am I ready? Hell no! But I’ll take it. Bring it on Monday.
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