Search This Blog

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Vacation or No Vacation


We went to Rhode Island for 10 days. It seemed like two or three.

Time flew.

Of course it did. I didn't cook. I didn't clean. Other people (Auntie Ang, Aunt Jan, "Tittene") took turns caring for our kids. A couple of Grandmas, lots of cousins, great aunts and uncles, and a grandpa (titled "Nother Gampa") also helped make our trip fun. The kids were entertained by sand, water, lots of snacks, their cousin (Gracie), and the bed-and-breakfast dog (Max).
The B&B owners were a little protective of poor Max's sanity. He wasn't accustomed to being the target of toddlers, especially the target of THREE running, screaming, arm-waving toddlers. He was often called inside to the comfort of his puffy, feather pillow bed.

We're home now.

Instead of basking in the sun and reading whole novels in a matter of two days, I am reading a paragraph or two before closing my eyes at night, and making phone calls to various doctors, dentists and other specialists for my kids, I am scrounging through our (still-empty) fridge to attempt a suitable meal, I am dusting and vacuuming and cleaning dirty dishes. I am being a mom, I guess.

This isn't vacation. This is parenting.

It is worth it, really.

In between phone calls, paying bills, changing sheets, and doling out snacks, I am watching my kids live life....and it is so, so, so much fun. I mean, really, right now S is learning a key lesson in life: farting is really funny. The louder the better. Did you know that you have to teach a kid that farts are humorous? And I love when Z declares his undying love for me with an "I luuuuuv you, Mama" followed by a big, ol' wet, sloppy kiss. I am elated when B has whole conversations with his beloved "younger" sis. They sound a little like this: "Do you want snacks, S? Oh, you want snacks? Ok, yum! Snacks! Ok. Mama get you snacks, S? Ok. Mama, S want animal cakkers!" (Sounds a little self-serving, doesn't it? But very, very cute.)

Doesn't matter if I'm basking in the sun or changing dirty diapers, I still think you little punks are stinkin' adorable.