'Mom mode'

For the first time since Liam's  birth I took off and went out of town without my family. It was scary, entertaining, and dispite a full schedule of family wedding festivities in Atlanta,  relaxing.  I didn't have to worry about nap times or packing graham crackers and sippy cups on me at all times.  It was nice to deactivate "mom mode" for a bit. I got to be a sister, a friend, a daughter, a cousin. It was nice to enjoy the moment and also enjoy my family without being loaded with responsibilities.  .  I met up with my BYU freshman roomate for breakfast in my hotel lobby and we laughed about good times. I wore a bright red dress, stayed out 'til 1 am, and even danced under a crystal chandelier with my mission-bound, little brother Jake.   

I think that my carefree weekend vacation was a dose of good kharma for past mothering behavior.  I have weathered more discouraging airport and airplane meltdowns than is reasonable. My anecdotes always involve crying and sometimes include strangers handing me coloring books, food, an additional arm, and mental health advice. The most recent time I was coming home from Fairbanks, Alaska- I was by myself dragging 3 small, tired, children through 4 airports during the midle of the night.  One kid had an antibotic resistant ear infection, the others needed an emergency change of clothes mid flight- one from pee the other from apple juice. It was an ugly experience and it knocked the wind out of me.  I think it took this two day vacation, 2 months later, for me to recover.