So I went to a scrapbook retreat this weekend and had a most incredible time. Staying up late, sleeping in, laughing with friends, and working with pictures of the cutest little kids on the planet. I’m only a little bit partial, I know.
It may be hard to believe, given my love for all things scrapbooking and my friends, but I almost didn’t go this time around. You see, when I first looked at my calendar for that weekend, Jeremy had a fishing tournament and would be gone. And not just gone for the weekend, but gone for most of the week leading up to the weekend.
That meant not only being an overwhelmed single parent that week while trying to pack for a 3 day weekend, but also trying to figure out who would watch my kids while I was gone. I didn’t have anybody that I could leave them with for that many days. One of my friends encouraged me to make it work. “You need this,” she said.
Amazingly enough, 4 phone calls and 3 babysitters later, I had it worked out. And you know what? I did need it.
Yes, by Friday afternoon I was pulling my hair out, loading up my car, sweating like a pig wondering why I agreed to do it…but by Friday night I was chillin’ out, tearing into my very own bag of Milano’s, and at midnight debating who would make that nights’ batch of brew to get us into the wee hours of the morning.
Good times, I tell ya.
Today I was chatting with another homeschool mom who had tried to take up tennis. She rolled her eyes when she said, “I should have known better than to do something for myself.” It wasn’t working into her schedule very well and even though she is the mother of more than 3 times as many kids as me (WOW!), after this past weekend I felt confident telling her, “Yes, but it’s important that you do stuff that’s just for you.”
On my way home from school today I kept thinking about what I told her and realized it’s true for me too. Not just twice a year when I scrapbook. It’s true all the time. And now that Jeremy’s job will be taking him out of town 4 and 5 days a week, 9 months out of the year, it’s even more true…not less.
I will have to get over my issues with how much it costs to get a sitter. Get over my pride about not asking for help. And make time for myself again. I’ve been wanting to take up golf for a couple of years. Just walk 9 holes every now and then. So that’s my new goal. Now let’s see if I can work this out too!
2 Comments
I say forget golf… Boston’s great this time of year. ;) Chalk it up to homeschool research – for the social studies years. I’m in!
Way to go Jodi! Proud of you. I’ve really enjoyed catching up on your blog.