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Just get on the plane

In broadening my horizons and striving to move forward in my life, I am going to attempt to do something in which I have never done – I am going with my spouse and go on a holiday without my children.

Dawn Potvin, It Dawned on Me

 

In broadening my horizons and striving to move forward in my life, I am going to attempt to do something in which I have never done – I am going with my spouse and go on a holiday without my children.

I don’t know how some do it, but I am actually going to fly outside of the Vancouver airport, again something I’ve never done.  It’s really quite sad, but when you have three kids, three jobs and a busy existence, some things just get left behind, and time to one’s self is certainly one of them.

We’ve never been the type to go on extravagant vacations or spend exorbitantly – to a fault really.  We always feel that there are more important things to spend our earnings on – like hockey registration, renovations, and weekends at the cabin.

Why does the leaving the kids behind part tend to be so difficult?

My children are absolutely flabbergasted that we are leaving them behind, as they can’t imagine us functioning without them, and in some ways they may be right.

When you don’t ever leave them and have time to yourself, you don’t really know what life is like otherwise.

There are times when you no longer know how to behave as an adult, a spouse or an individual without the feeling of constant responsibility of parenthood.

I think it is vital to ones’ sanity and overall happiness to enjoy your life as a grown up – and have a little fun along the way.  I’m not saying I would trade being a parent for anything, but I know that everyone will be for the better if we all just get a little break and take time to relax and enjoy – which is certainly what we plan on doing, even if it is for only a week.

The kids will survive without us (although Gramma and Grampa might need a stiff drink when we get back) and we will survive not worrying about them.  I need to diffuse anxiety about going and have fun.  My mantra for this week is – “Just get on the plane”.