If your life is anything like mine, it runs on a schedule. And if your kids' lives are anything like most of the kids I know, their schedules may be busier than yours!
Work/school - hurried snack - practice (sports, plays, music) - feed dogs - homework - trips to buy $15 worth of stuff at Target for school project du jour - pick up from practice - oh, dinner?! - laundry - (do I have clean scrubs for work?) - endless email - dishes - organize life for next morning - fall into bed at 11:00pm or later - begin again.
Whew!
No wonder you're tired!
And vacation - whether it's staying home and not working, or going away and separating yourself from all of the above does, in fact, do something for you.
It reminds you what it's like to live an unscheduled life. It allows you to breathe. To think. To laugh. To ponder.
Last night after a 2 hour walk with my daughter that included conversations ranging from teachers to tidal pools, we all ate dinner together. Then for the next several hours, we played Pictionary (laughing hysterically at our lack or sketching talent), and then just sat and talked, told stories and laughed. This is how our time has been.
And what I know is that it's hard to make this kind of time and space in our lives.
And that we desperately need it.
This time away made it clear to me what makes each member of my little family unique. My son's humor, my daughter's sweetness, my husband's thoughtfulness.
And that I'm capable of sleeping for 8 hours in a row if given the chance.
Sometimes you don't plan a vacation, saying you don't have the time. Or that you'll do it next year. Sometimes you pretend it needs to involve lots of money when you know that vacation is more of a decision than a destination.
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