Kid Scoop
10 Reasons Why I Ran Away From Home
Friday afternoon I snuck away for a minute to use the bathroom. This pregnant body frequently does that. I had my trusty notebook sitting on my lap, a pen ferociously scribbling thoughts and a few rare seconds to myself. And that’s of course when all my little chickens went searching for mother hen. I sat there silently hoping they would search the entire house before finding me, buying me just a few more seconds of solace. Their senses are good however, and in no time, they were standing in the doorway gawking at me and asking me all kinds of ridiculous questions. Meanwhile, valuable inspiration, that only floods my brain once in a blue moon, was slipping away. I finally commanded them to leave and allow their poor mother some privacy. They giggled and walked away. I sighed, looked at the clock and felt so relieved that in just a few short hours, I would be running away.
My escape plan was all set. It had been set for a month. It was time for my husband to finally collect on his Christmas gift from me. Instead of more stuff filling up the house, I gave him (okay, me too) a night away. I lined up a nanny and a hotel and told him to pack his bags because we were skipping town.
Oh I am so good!
That was so inspired!
I had no idea at the time that I would need a break this badly. I was starving for some time away. And I’m pretty convinced that I am not alone in that aspect and that any mother who has small children needs to fly the coop once in awhile.
Here are the ten reasons why I ran away from home:
1. I am a pregnant mother of three whose kids are still on Christmas break from school. I could just say Amen, close the laptop and be done with this post. Really, need I say more? Sometimes the weight of the many hats we wear is just too much for our poor little necks and shoulders. Wouldn’t you agree? We need to hang up the hats once in a while.
2. I would like my iphone to be my iphone for just one day.
3. I need a nap besides the one where I ask my kids to tell me when the red light turns green so I can shut my eyes for .3 seconds in the car.
4. I obviously would like to go to the bathroom without spectators.
5. The idea of not cooking or cleaning for 2 days is way better than the most beautiful vase of flowers or slew of kind compliments, in my opinion.
7. Because I feel contrary to the old “Cheers” bar theme song. My version goes like this: Sometimes I want to go where nobody knows my name.
8. My young children need a chance to miss me and appreciate me.
9. There exists such things as hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, malls and adult conversation and I should experience that part of life every once in a while.
10. Finally, I needed to get away to appreciate them and miss them.
That list could obviously go on forever.
While we were on our little hiatus, we sat through the movie, “We Bought a Zoo.” I wept through the entire show. I mean, I wept and sobbed like the Niagara had been re-routed through my tear ducts. It was pathetic. I had the lip quiver going on and all. It was lovely, I’m sure, for those around me. I was desperately missing my mini suitcase purse full of wipes and kid essentials. My dumb little clutch didn’t have one Kleenex in it.
So, I was having my moment. The one where I appreciated and missed my little ones. I was a sobbing disaster because I love my family. I love my kids and there’s not one thing on this earth that could replace any of them, as crazy as they make me. And that’s why running away can be great sometimes. It’s hard to have that moment when you’re sitting on a toilet with an audience.
Thirty hours later, I went running back home. I was a better mother because I had given myself a break.
So, I’m curious, do you allow yourself to take breaks? Where do you go and what do you do when you need to take a break or run away from home?
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9 Comments
Leon commented on Jan 16 12 at 12:31 pmGlad to hear you had fun. Glad to hear I’m not the only one who got teary-eyed in that movie. Glad to hear you missed the kids; we’ve missed them, too. See ya soon.
Amber commented on Jan 17 12 at 6:43 amI know what you mean completely! My husband is gone 11 months out of the year (he is a contracted firefighter). When he came home on December 13th I was so happy to see him after being gone for 6 months but of course I didnt get to just hog him all to myself. Our little boy who is now 13 months old hadnt seen daddy in all that time as well so he wanted to spend time with him as well. So I decided that since we werent going to get anytime to ourselves just me and him that I would surprise him. I booked a hotel for new years eve got an over night sitter and got tickets to the hockey game for the same night. We dropped off our son at 5 pm at the sitters house then headed to the hotel, after leaving the sitters house I started to cry. My husband looked over at me like what is your problem, I just looked back and said this is the first time that I will spend this long away from him. We live 12+ hours from any family memebers so I am the full care taker of my son. So my husband had to get a few drinks in me before I would really just loosen up and enjoy my night with him. But needless to say I loved being able to just spend that one night with just him and not having to worry about who was taking care of our son. So yes I agree every mom and dad should get a day or 2 alone each year to just reconnect and enjoy each others time.
Terry Elisabeth commented on Jan 17 12 at 7:30 amThe baby is not born yet but I know how one needs a break sometimes and my boyfriend and I already planned some escapes so we can breathe a bit and be a couple instead of wearing the parent hat all the time.
Lynn commented on Jan 17 12 at 8:16 amA couple of years ago one of my 2nd cousins got married at a really nice ski, spa, hotel resort and I arranged an overnight babysitter, a room and – got so sick I barely made it through the reception. [sigh].
I agree 100% though. We usually try to get away on our anniversary though I had a similar idea this past Christmas and suggested that we not spend any money on each other and go on a ski weekend instead. I think he had already purchased most of my gifts because it didn’t happen. I have to admit, maybe the idea was partly inspired by my frugal nature – I thought it would be much cheaper to go skiing than to buy all that stuff!!
Amber commented on Jan 17 12 at 8:46 amI would love to run away!! My oldest child is 8 and in those 8 years since her birth my husband and I have only ran away once, for our honeymoon to Germany for one week. We now have our second daughter who is now 18 months old. I have never been away from her for longer than my standard 8 hour work day. I am now a stay at home mom so in the last year I have not left her side for longer than it takes to have dinner with my husband on my birthday. We were seriously gone for an hour and a half. The sitter even asked us what in the world we were doing back so soon. I am sometimes envious of my husbands time at work because for those 12 hours a day he gets to talk to other adults without having to keep one eye on the kid or without her tugging on his pants because she wants to be picked up. Our anniversary is coming up and I have caught my husband looking at fun stuff for us to do, im not sure if hes planning on taking the kids or not . For my sanity I am going to plan a trip to see my sister who lives about 5 hours away, and I’m going to leave the kids with my husband.
Julie commented on Jan 26 12 at 2:51 pmI want to DESPERATELY leave my kids overnight but we can’t afford an overnight sitter right now and grandma has excuse after excuse of why she can’t watch my kids overnight. It’s eating at me daily. I’m also pregnant right now with a 2 1/2 year old and a 13 month old. I’d love a free day to spend lounging, eating, lounging and not thinking about my kids. I had a different picture of how involved my mother would be when I had kids. She drove me nuts before my first was born about how she was going to be here EVERY WAKING MOMENT and how she would always be available to help with her amazing grandchildren. We barely see her once a week and it’s on her terms.
Tragic Sandwich commented on Jan 26 12 at 3:00 pmWe haven’t yet, but I’m sure we will do something very like this at some point!
Jennifer commented on Jan 26 12 at 4:25 pmWe have a 4yo 3yo and a 2 mo. I don’t think we have ever taken a trip without them. Hence the Welbutrin I take everyday to stay sane. On that note, I also have a friend who has offered to take them for 10 hrs. Not a weekend get away and as soon as I find a day when someone isn’t sick or needing to be somewhere, we are so taking it. In that time I plan on taking a nap and getting a gift for my friend :)
Michelle commented on Jan 26 12 at 5:08 pmi have 4 kids aged 5,3,2,and 3 months… I never get away. have never been away for more than 15-20 minutes *cry* i would LOVE a break..but its not happening.
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