I spent the last few days at a conference in Washington, D.C. Not only did I plan my trip, I confess I also put in place events for my husband and kids in my absence. Example: Sunday a good friend came over with his two kids for our weekly “football watching/playdate.” And with my husband coaching football, one night I arranged a babysitter and the other night his mom picked up the kids from school.
OK, so I didn’t have it planned out perfectly. My husband said our friends showed up and our children weren’t home yet from their grandparents. After a few phone calls, I was told, every one was home and the kids broke out the hundreds of Legos onto the loft/playroom floor.
I missed them, absolutely. And it was a bit surreal to realize that for three days I didn’t have to cook, gather up backpacks, plan lunches or even pick up a single toy.
And while it was work - a very good conference held by the Education Writers Association - it was also a break for me.
I got up each morning with only myself to care for. I saw a cousin who lives in D.C. I even got to go see Smithsonian museums - the way only I would do it (quick tours in and out of a couple museums plus the National Archives). If I’d had kids with me, it would have been a much slower pace.
But for me - it was perfect.
The house is a wreck (four kids and a Lego playdate will do that). We ordered take out last night for dinner. And I probably won’t get laundry started until… well, I don’t know when it’s going to get done. But it’s very nice to be home. Still ringing in my ears is my daughter’s call of ”Mommy!” after she crawled in bed and found me there. And my son’s long embrace will keep me going throughout today I have no doubt.
