No Children = Vacation (sort of)

The girls are with their father for a full six days.  I took childlessness for granted when I was in my twenties.  Now in my forties, I relish rare periodic times sans children.

 

I have a few friends who share child custody.  Secretly, I envy them for their “week on/week off” duties.  But in all honestly, I know sharing custody of the girls in such a way would only hurt them, so I accept and am proud of my repsonsibility to and for them.

 

So, the girls left two days ago and I was released to dine, dance, and have fun.  But the thing is, when the girls are gone, I work.  It is my catch up time.  No phones ringing each weekday afternnoon from 3:00-4:30 as each child reaches home to announce their safety or make requests.  “Can I go bike riding?”  “What can I eat?”  “Will you take me to…”  The lack of phone calls, the uninterrupted days without dropping off or picking up, the lack of homework to be attended to, the stove that awaits nobody to cook on it.  My reward for such freedom is the ability to delve into my work for long and productive hours.

 

And that is like vacation.