All moms should be divas...this one just happens to be in Jersey!

Friday, August 13, 2010

I know I should miss my kids

Last weekend, Sons1 & 2 embarked on journeys to that great American nirvana, "sleepaway camp." Sure, convenient would have been the same camp, perhaps the same state at least. Still and all, it's been nearly a week of Son1 & 2-free peace and quiet. Tomorrow, the retrieval begins as the hubs heads to fetch the 10yr old from his NJ camp and I head down to VA for Son1 accompanied by Jersey Diva Grandma. I miss the weasels, I really do. But I'm laying it on the line because we don't mince words in Jersey. I don't miss them enough to want them home this minute.

Think of me what you will. In six days, I have not asked a single human to brush his/her teeth. Dirty clothing has not appeared, as if by Harry Potter apparation, in the middle of the stair case. I haven't sounded like a mob-boss with threats like, "I really don't think you want to find out..." or "How would you like it if I slapped/teased/kicked you like that?" Not once, this whole week, have I looked at the clock at 10pm and thought, "Oh alright, I guess I'm on bedtime patrol tonight." Our utility bill has plummetted with every single light not left running 24 hours. The toilet has not backed up once.

The house has been so much calmer, I look like I've had botox. A lot of botox. I may have to get some if it will make me look so much less angry all the time. When I go to take a shower and get dressed, I can ... (wait for it)... take a shower and GET DRESSED. There are no fights to break up. No one has used my flat-iron as a light saber and broken it. I start my make up, then *poof* I simply finish my make up. It's amazing. I'm getting ready for work in a third less time. My days fly by in productive bursts without calls from school teachers or bored stuck-at-home-kids. It's like I picked up a billable hour each day. If  the recession would end, I may actually bill that time. A girl can dream.

I know I'm not alone when it comes to being ok with longer separations. There are multi-week and multi-month camps. There are even boarding schools. There is glaring geo-political evidence to prove other parents share my feelings. In addition to secured banking, gorgeous watches, and killer chocolate, the Swiss have some of the world's finest boarding schools. That's why no one invades them. That's why they can remain neutral all the time. EVERY country wants some place to send their kids from time to time. They carved out this much needed niche, surrounding the little hellions with the soaring Alps to "safeguard" them. Every country has a vested interest maintaining this haven. It's political genius, really.

Please don't get me wrong. I do miss my sons. I do want them home, at some point. Soon. Basically.

I'll be really happy to see Son1 on Saturday morning at his Naval Cadet Corp graduation. Obviously, I'll be happy because that means I'll be off I95 at some point, but in a bigger sense, yes, I'll be excited to see him. I'll be psyched to get his half-hearted "please don't cry or hug me in front of the guys" greeting. I'll be happy to see him greet Jersey Diva Grandma warmly. (Apparently it is always cool to hug one's grandmother, even through tween years.)

When I return to NJ late Saturday night, I'll creep in to kiss Son2's little blonde head. I'll be excited Sunday morning to hear all his stories. Sunday evening will be a return to routine in the house, the semi-contained chaos that is our zoo. For now, I do have to say I'm enjoying the waning hours of quiet. Time to stowe the keyboard and head for one last romantic dinner with the hubs as our mini-holiday comes to an end. And so, as we'll await our cocktails, and discuss the practicality and affordability of the boarding school near my aunts' home in Maine, I will think of them fondly. And then I'll fondly think how nice it is to start eating without cutting anyone's meat. Like I said, think of me what you will. ; )

22 comments:

  1. It sounds like you have enjoyed your down time. Have a great weekend! Stopping from Mom Loop!

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  2. Came by from Mom Loops. I could sooo go for a nice long break at times. My 3 are too young for camp though.

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  3. I can't wait until my kids can go to camp.;)
    I worked a summer at a camp in Ny. So much fun!

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  4. I understand! I am sure you will be excited the minute you lay eyes on them! (oh, how I'd love to take a shower, get dressed and have time to put makeup on!)

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  5. I am looking forward to overnight camps. Maybe it'll give me a chance to reconnect with Hubs.

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  6. You are my new hero....I know we are supposed to be lost without them, but there's nothing like a little peace and quiet once in a while!

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  7. You mean to tell me that you don't cut E's meat for him????

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  8. LOL. That must be such a weird feeling to be temporarily childless! Haha- I hope you are super living it up. And that you have a wonderful Reunion with the boys when they get back!

    Found you through Mom Loop Comment Follow!

    Shan
    milkandcuddles.com

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  9. You are so funny! I've been "on" a lot this summer, and can't wait until I get my break and my husband picks up the slack. Sometimes you just need to recharge your battery (alone) so you can be the mom you were meant to be.

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  10. Thank goodness for honest souls such as yourself. I so wouldn't miss my kids either...now how can I get them to leave the house?
    I'm jealous and I'm glad you can shower. I know, right, what a luxury!

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  11. I hear you 100%. Out little guy is only 5, so we periodically escape and leave him in the care of his grandparents at our home.
    It's sooo important to get a break like that from time to time.

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  12. So you have recharged your battery and can go another year without charging it again! LOL! Glad you got a chance to have some Me" time. :)

    Visiting from the Mom Loop.

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  13. You are so funny.... Still laughing about the botox! You earned you time out from the boys and I hope they'll give you peace for a week before the mayhem starts again. I have teens, I know... LOL!
    I stopped by from the Mom Loop Comment Follow Day!
    Best,
    Eliz

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  14. O yeah, please follow me back too!
    Elizabeth

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  15. I know exactly what you mean about relishing the peace and quiet but just at first! Oh how we miss those little dolls after a while!

    So glad you stopped by from MomLoop. It's a wonderful place here!

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  16. Well written. Bitingly funny. True! I had this exact experience recently when I dropped off my kids at my mother's house and went to New York with the hubby for 10 days. He told me I looked 10 years younger. It was BETTER than botox.

    I guess we don't realize how big of a toll the little hellions take on us while we are LOVINGLY devoting our best years to them.

    My 10 days were heavenly!

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  17. I couldn't wait to let my daughter go to grandma and grandpas for a few weeks this summer...then it seemed like it dragged on so i was worrisome and missing her to death...It's a much needed experience for all parents:) There's nothing like running to your kids with open arms when they been missing for even a short period of time:) enjoy!

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  18. Came by from Mom Loop. I hear ya. Sometimes they have to go away so we can miss them.

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  19. Are you supposed to miss them? Not really. We're not talking about a cross-atlantic trip, here. Moms need time away. If we don't, we go crazy and then we'll be missing them from a hospital bed in the crazy unit.

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  20. Too funny. Love the botox comment. I have 4 teenagers of my own so I can relate to what you are saying. Seperation is good...

    Thanks for stopping by blog last week. I enjoy the Mom Loop Community.

    Anne @ http://lessonsthrulife.com

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  21. Visting back from Mom Loop. Loved your take on the neutrality of Switzerland! I thought I was following you after the last Mom Loop Friday Follow I participated in, but you never show in my reader, so I'll try again :)

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  22. Hey, you're just being honest. Enjoy the peace and quiet while you can!

    http://www.newjerseymemories.com/2010/08/giveaway-win-free-tickets-to-see-my-big.html

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