Daniel's cousin got married in Fredericksburg over the weekend, and so to Fredericksburg we went. I've always enjoyed road trips, Texas road trips especially, and so I was looking forward to the weekend. But though I've been a parent for four and a half years, I continue to delude myself into anticipating quiet and relaxation, free time, and family bonding. A fool I am.
With Dan and Theresa, we rented a beautiful country home on 250 acres of rolling hills, complete with deer and cattle and an electric fence. We were only six miles from town, but when the children were sleeping, we felt a world away. Of course, not even the quiet of a rural home can assuage the tattered nerves of a mother whose child, upon waking at 4 am, demands to be held and simultaneously attempts to throw himself to the ground. No, it was not the romantic cock-a-doodle of a rooster that woke me, but Jude's cries instead. He rather took a liking to country night sky and so determined not to sleep. He enjoyed sunrise and set, as well as the bright Texas stars. And so we were awake, together, for much of the weekend. He was a train wreck. I was worse.
During our drive back to Houston, Daniel and I had the conversation that all too frequently concludes our family trips. It went a little something like this:
Cathleen: What the hell were we thinking?
Daniel: Seriously. I think there must be something wrong with us.
Cathleen: We're never taking another weekend trip.
Daniel: Agreed.
A half hour or so of silence . . .
Cathleen: Hey, I forgot to mention that Soandso invited us to go camping for the weekend.
Daniel: Awesome. Did you say yes?
Cathleen: Absolutely!
We're learning to expect never to relax, and so to be never disappointed. And if nothing else, these weekend trips give the kids and us a whole new perspective (albeit a sometimes-tainted- by-our-stress perspective) on other folks, on other places, on other ideas. And there are always fond memories like these:
Times can sure be tough, but they're sweet too. Just today I overheard Ella talking to her doll:
"Boy, having a baby is hard work, but it sure is worth it."
At least they know we love them.
3 comments:
The the conversation -- we can totally relate.
And I'm off for a weekend with V by myself at our friend's cabin.
I need luck. Please let her sleep through the night! Please let her sleep through the night! Please let her sleep through the night!
Love that I stuttered in my comment.
Painfully sweet!
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