Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Countdown

10 days, 6 hours until I wake up before dawn and place my children in a car for a twelve hour car ride to Opa and Nana’s house.

11 days, 5 hours before Jeff and I check into a San Francisco hotel without our kids.

11 days, 15 hours until I hear the sweet sound of a jet plane leaving the runway bound for Cancun with me and my sweetie on board.

12 days, 3 hours before I put on a bikini and make myself comfortable beside the pool at this resort.

My mind is already there. The anticipation of relaxing alone with my husband swims through my every thought. I dream of a sailing a catamaran on a beautiful ocean to the Mayan ruins at Tulum. I can feel the sand of Akumal beach between my toes. I know what I am going to order from the swim up bar at our resort. I am already there.

In so many ways I am prepared. I decided to keep both the bikinis. I’ve managed to lose five of the eight pounds that have been haunting me since the birth of my second child. Yesterday I wore a pair of Ann Taylor cashmere slacks that have been shoved in the “size two, never going to wear those again” section of my closet for too many years. All my efforts are paying off. I am ready for the beach.

What I am not ready for is leaving my children.

A couple months ago I sought advice on a message board. “How do I prepare my children for spending a week without us?” One woman told me to get them excited about what they are going to do while we are gone and not mention where we are going. This shift in focus made a huge difference in our preparations. My children are only aware that starting in ten days they are going to spend a couple of days with each of their grandparents (3 sets in all). My girls, who LOVE sleepovers, are so excited for their vacation to California.

But I am not ready to leave my children.

Jeff and I have written our will. We have decided who will care for our children in case something happens to us. Unfortunately this document is only valid if notarized. It is such a simple task, but it remains undone. I wonder if I am shirking this responsibility because the thought of having a will makes me feel old. I wonder when I turned into a responsible adult. Probably around the same time I turned into a mom, 4 years, 73 days, 4 hours and 35 minutes ago.

23 comments:

Irene said...

Wow, I am SO jealous. I can't even imagine going to Cancun, for a week, with JUST my hubby! But, I am not sure I could leave my kiddos that long. Unfortunately, I don't think we would have anyone willing to take the kids for that length of time, and my 6 yo, who can't stand when I leave for a hour to go to the gym, would go beserk. But still, it would be amazing if we actually could pull it off.

Have a wonderful time with your hubby, in your bikinis. I am sure you and he will!!!!

Anonymous said...

You will have a GREAT time and leaving the kids will be hard, esp while your flying. And then you will land and feel the tropical air and feel better. I just returned from a four day trip away from the kids and I totally understand where you are coming from but they will be okay. They will miss you, and you them but when you get home the reunion makes you feel like you just won a billion dollars.

Melissa said...

We had a swim up bar on our honeymoon in Cozumel, very nice. What a great picture of the resort too! I would have a hard time leaving my kids too, but I am sure you will have a great time.

OHmommy said...

WOW.... all that it will take is one fruity beverage, some sand, and a massage from Jeff and you will forget all about the girls.

Have so much fun. Check out my blog tomorrow for some bling.

Anonymous said...

It is difficult to leave the children. We did that back in October for a short trip to Aruba. But, man, Amy, lemme tell yah girl! You are gonna love it! And Cancun! I am sooooo jealous! Not to mention jealous of the size 2!!!!! Love the post composition too. Very clever!

ConverseMomma said...

Sweetie. You are going to have such a great time. And, smoke that beach in those bikinis. David and I just planned a trip for July. Just two nights, but I'm already worried about how I will leave the babies. Your darlins will have a rockin good time with their grandparents. You deserve to enjoy yourself.
Love and peace!

MommyTime said...

You are going to have a fabulous time. My husband and I vacationed in the Yucatan before we had kids, and it was magnificent. If you are going to have a rental car at all, email me: I have two suggestions of places off the beaten path that you really should see.

You will have a wonderful trip. You will miss your children. And you will come home so rejuvenated that life will be even better.

Also -- size two?! Good for you!!

JLow said...

That's a great idea, getting them psyched about the distraction! Talk about wagging the dog!

So, have a great time!

Be sure you bring your camera, plenty of space for the snaps, and the I-don't-care-which-bikini-cos-you-look-great-in-both-already bikinis.

Better yet, maybe you'd come across an even more exotic one there??

The Sports Mama said...

This time apart is as much a growing experience for you guys as it is for your girls.

Its still hard to be away from my boys for long periods of time, though. When Jock was at football camp for a week last summer, I think I might have driven Coach slightly bonkers wondering about how he was doing so often. And he's a teenager. *sigh*

Isn't it strange the things you realize you miss after the fact?

Jules said...

I know it can be so very hard to leave your kiddies. But I bet the grandparents are SO excited to get a chance to share them. And a little alone time can be so wonderfully romantic...

Mamarazzi said...

oh i am absolutely GREEN with envy!!

a vacation...a vacation...i REALLY need a vacation. and time ALONE with your honey??!? awesome!

pb&j in a bowl said...

That sounds like so much fun! We left Maddie for 5 days with my mom in October. We had psyched her up so much, I don't even think she realized we weren't there. It kinda hurt my feelings, but she wouldn't even talk to us on the phone.

Have a great time! Order a huge margarita from that swim up bar, for me.

Amy said...

It is going to be hard, but everyone will be okay. Them, you, Jeff. And everyone will have fun, and I will be thinking of you, skinny minnie, on the beach in your sassy bikini. And I will be the only one not okay ;-)

Rachel said...

Pardon me, SIZE TWO!
We are no longer friends :-) LOL.
You go Amy! I hope it's a wonderful time, and you'll be okay. The kids will be much better off than you :-) They will barely miss you and you'll be in so much bliss you'll forget to miss them (maybe)
Have a wonderful time!

Just My Type said...

Size 2!?! I don't think we can be friends anymore.

I hope you have THE best time. It is much harder on you than it will be for the girls. I hate to break it to you, but they probably need a vacation and going to grandma's will be perfect.

We've traveled without the kids and the biggest mistake was calling home. They can hear the concern and worry in your voice. The days will fly by for the girls. It's a chance for them to grow and become more independent. They are in excellent hands.

Any chance of coming back home with a brother or sister? The resort looks fabulous and it sounds like you are ready to enjoy every minute....not that you're counting.

AEH said...

Oooh man, I'm jealous! I live in the perpetual gray skies of Seattle. It's a beautiful city (and OK - we do get sun and blue skies sometimes) but seriously - I'm jealous!

Lisa said...

Oh....that trip sounds SO, SO, SO nice!!! Please have an extra fruity drink on the beach for me!!!

That being said, we left our girls this past December for the first time (at least to fly somewhere for an extended time) and I must admit it was hard. But you'll enjoy it, I promise!!!

Karen MEG said...

I am so green ... I have yet to see water as clear as that I experienced in Akumal, uh, that was about 17 -choke-years ago! You will have a lovely time; enjoy with hubby and your bikinis.

It will be hard leaving the kids, but once you're there hopefully you'll relax knowing that they are being well taken care of. Since we've had kids, we've only left on a 3 day trip (when boy was 3); and then for 5 days when boy was 6, girl 18 months. I hate to admit it, but they were the furthest thing from my mind when I settled into the jacuzzi...

Stephanie said...

Oh yeah..Tulume. That's where my sister went. They snorkeled in bat caves.
I still haven't left the kids. Next summer.

louann said...

Oh reality bites, yes.

Do enjoy yourself. The kids will be fine. And I know you will have a blast!

Anonymous said...

How fun! It's so tough to leave the kids . . . hubby and I try to go on an adult vacation every other year . . . whether it's canoeing around the Boundary Waters, hiking Pikes Peak, or taking a Caribbean Cruise. I made little goody bags for each of the kids for each day we were gone . . . a love note and a picture of us in each one with a small "gift" - stickers, a piece of gum, whatever - to let them know we were thinking about them. We of course e-mailed them pictures of us on vacation and they loved it.

You'll have so much fun - how awesome! And you know your kids will have the time of their lives with the G'mas and G'pas :-)

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

Wow! What a great vacation you have planned! I am not a mom, so I can't imagine that part of it... but I bet you'll have a great time.

LunaNik said...

Yes, focus on how much fun they will have! Hopefully that makes it easier on you. Then again, it's much easier to say it than to do it. I have a hard time leaving my kids for 3 hours a day to go to my part time job. I can't imagine leaving them overnight let alone for like a week.

But, hey, congrats on the slimming down! That's ALWAYS a good thing!