My dad is under the weather this year so I used that as an excuse to spend the holiday separate from my spouse and my son. I am the primary and often times sole caregiver for our 7 1/2 year old son so I felt it was important for the other parent to spend time with him so they can figure out their relationship. Me, I needed a break!
Wednesday morning started out with our son’s 2nd grade publishing party.We stayed for all 30 minutes of that and then left town. That 1/2 hour kept him from showing a day absent, and I got to drag them to Target before it got crowded.
I left them at my in-laws and I ran home to blog! I had been planning my Holiday Shopping Guide for 2 months and it was about time to get it out of my head and onto the blog. I hope you read it a few days ago!
I am not used to sleeping alone so I locked myself in my room and made sure the closet door was securely closed – I watch way too many Zombie shows as I said yesterday!
So guess what? I woke up 2 days in a row, did some work around the house, and too a nap both days. Why? Because there is no one here making demands on my time! Yay! Freedom! I don’t want it all the time by any means, but a 3 day vacation is quite nice. And my son is with his grandparents so that is a good thing, and didn’t we all have sleep-overs with our grandparents when we were growing up?
What else did I do today? I took a shower. I took a very long shower. Why? Because there was no one to tell me I couldn’t, no one to rush me somewhere, no one to ask me to wipe their butt!
And I did buy 1 item on Black Friday. I went to CVS for an electric toothbrush on sale for $39.99 down from $87.50. I had a $10 coupon. Then I had 20% off. Then I got a $10 rebate that I just mailed. Then I got $4 extra bucks. Then I used a $5 off of $25 coupon. So I paid $5. More than 95% off!
I also went to the Verizon store to donate a shopping cart full of toys, they had a Toys for Tots stand. It’s not that I am so charitable, it just seems that I bought too much for my son, stuff he doesn’t even need and never opened! The sign of a true shopaholic, me! And the blog world is quite generous, most bloggers, including myself, do give our extras to charity.
But seriously, on Thanksgiving Day I drove up t my parents house and met my sister there and we went out for dinner. We had all canceled our Bahamas trip for various reasons, that is where we had spent the last several years as a family. My brother’s family where able to go and my sister and myself did not want my folks to be alone. Thanksgiving has never been a quiet time for them, or for any of us for that matter.
We had a great time. Just the four of us. My sister and I , ages 50 and 51, got to relax in our parents home and we got to be the children again. We weren’t spouses, we weren’t parents, we had no one else to tend to. No worries, no stresses, just relaxation and hanging out with the folks. It was a wonderful holiday. Then we went out to the only restaurant opened in Rockland County and had a delicious meal together.
This was my gift this year, to spend a quiet holiday with my smaller family, and build a wonderful family memory that I may not get a chance to do again with all the normal hustle and bustle that usually surrounds us all.
Thanks mom and dad!
Yakini says
That sounds like a wonderful and relaxing past few days. And you really do deserve it!
I agree, there’s nothing like being home with your family – you can just kick back, regress and, in a way, be a kid and free agent again. Feels great!
tripleZmom says
That sounds wonderful. Honestly. And you definitely deserve it.
I’m also dying to know what restaurant is open in Rockland County.
Jill says
Good for you! Gotta get away and relax sometimes! Hope to see you soon.
New York Chica says
That is an awesome way to spend Thanksgiving. Isnt’ it a great feeling “being a kid” again? Love it! See you soon!
Crissy says
I just want to say I know how you feel I was reading somewhere where you said you could take a shower without someone yelling wipe my butt! HAHAH That is so how it is in my house! When I take a shower I have one of my three kids, coming in there saying, “she’s not sharing, or he hit me, mom, mom MOM! Anyway Great blog! I love it
YOu can check me out at http://www.armytankerswife.com
Leslie says
LOVE this post for so many reasons, a shower, a few hours alone and time not as a spouse or a parent and didn’t have to wipe a tush all day! Wishing you and your family all the best and will be thinking of your dad. May he have enjoyed the day as much. 🙂 Happy holidays. xo L
NYCPatty says
Sounds like an amazing Thanksgiving! I’m glad you too some “me” time! Especially with the crazy weeks ahead! 🙂