On Sunday I waved goodbye to my big boys. Tom was off on his very first School Camp, to Magnetic Island none the less, and Harry was heading home with the neighbour – Mrs Sav – for the week, just so I didn’t have to teach him myself. Harry would be doing school with Mrs Sav’s son and their Home Tutor – perfect!
Tom was off before the crack of dawn for his 10 hour bus trip. He was a little (ok a lot) nervous. I was doing ok, dreaming about the peaceful week I would have with just one child at home (oops did I just say that out loud???). All aboard the bus and off it went, I saw his little hand waving for dear life and I got a tear in my eye, but then the bus disappeared and no water actually fell from my eyes. I knew he was going to have the best week ever with all of his friends.
Back to the cabin to pack up and get Harry set to leave for the week. Next delivery – Harry. Unlike Tom he was super excited to be heading to his best mates house for the week and just said “bye Mum” and that was that. I think Clancy was more upset than anyone, I think he wanted to go too.
I enjoyed my peaceful trip home with just one child and let me tell you – i have enjoyed each day with an only child. Should I be saying this out loud, does this make me a bad Mum. Even Mr Chardy commented last night that perhaps he should be missing them more than he was…… Now don’t get me wrong, we absolutely love our children to pieces….. but out here in the middle of nowhere you are with your family 24/7. ALL. THE. TIME. Home for lunch, no after school sports, where you go, they go. If you go to town, or anywhere for that matter, then 9 times out of 10 they will be with you – everywhere! There is nowhere to hide (apart from my wardrobe sometimes, but they usually find me). So I think, perhaps, it is healthy to have this break.
My apprentice gardener
It has made me realize that I am in fact NOT bat shit crazy as previously stated. I am in fact NOT a complete psycho. I have been so calm this week. So perhaps I just can’t deal all that well with 3 kids. I truly take my hat off to all of you women out there with 2,072 children, I don’t know how you do it, day in and day out. I can barely cope with 3. Perhaps once I am out of the toddler fog it will be ok, but until then, the craziness will continue.
I have 2 more nights of peace (not that I am counting) before I head over to Mrs Sav’s to collect the little darlings. I need to get my shit together because on arrival back here I will be teaching them for a few days in the school room. Yes, you will probably hear the cries from your house. So all this peace and quiet will come to a grinding holt come Monday morning when I am back to my anxious self running around like a crazy lady. I had best enjoy a couple of wines with Mrs Sav on Saturday night to prepare myself.
But it is all ok, I only have to do a few days….after that I have some angels arriving to complete the school year for me…. I really do have a guardian angel looking out for me, I do!
So tell me – am I being unreasonable, should we be missing them more? Are we bad parents or are we just normal? Are we the only parents who actually enjoy time out from the cherubs? Maybe I don’t really want to hear the answer to those questions.
I can guarantee you this – I will be very excited to see them both on Saturday, and looking forward to a cheeky Chardy with Mrs Sav!
The day I finally lost my shit last year and rang my parents to ask them to have the kids for the school holidays, my Dad yelled out in the backgraound ” we will come get them now” He was so excited that I finally was going to let them go visit the grandparents on their own, he didn’t want to risk me changing my mind. After venting to my mum I was over it and had almost changed my mind. The kids went to the grandparents for a week and it was the best week ever. We had date night every night. It was weird I felt like I had forgotton to do something or like
I had lost something. The hardest part was the rejection every night when they didn’t want to skype me. They didn’t even come meet me at the bus when I went to get them from my parents. Any guilt I had was quickly forgotton when I realised they were having a great time and other people are able to care for them as well I do.
O god I love hearing stories like these……. I have no doubt there are people who can’t bear to be away from the gorgeous little things, but seriously, sometimes enough is enough! It IS healthy to have a break and remember what life was like before children (although I say this all while I still have a bloody 2 year old here with us….so it is perhaps not the holiday I think it is). I love that story Npot!!!xx
I packed my babies of yesterday for s few days at their uncles, I’m sure I heard them throughout the night but I knew they aren’t there ! Coming home from work tonight and walking into a quiet house was strange, but now I’m relaxing and not having to deal with them fighting for attention … My babies are fur babies ,!! But still miss them x
It is a nice change isn’t it Andree!!!!! Like a holiday!
You are a bad bad bad mum!!!!! How could you throw poor Tommy to the wild wolves? Only joking. You deserve a spell from those crazy monsters. now if you could bush the emotionally stunted robot Mr Chardy then you will be having the time of your Life. Haha. This is probably the only time you can have a big soaking in the tub, especially as its in the little cherubs’ den of destruction. Enjoy your break Miss Chardy, looking forward to hearing more about your adventures at Chez Chardy.
You crack me up FBH. Den of destruction indeed…..no soaking in that filthy tub, I can’t get in for all of the toys.
I can’t handle 3 either and it depends on the combo as to whether I can handle 2… 1 is ok but a little bit boring. I’m definitely a bad parent!
Oh thank god for that Maxabella!!! I struggle with 2 also, one has been lovely this week although he is starting to get a bit bored now so I am ready to go and collect his little babysitters. I love hearing stories about bad parenting!
Ummm…No, not bad, perfectly normal I would say. And as you mentioned you still have one little Treasure at home! It is 100% parenting out here especially when we often teach them too! Whoever invented Govies deserves a Sainthood! Funny isn’t it, now I am home alone and working alone most of the time and would welcome a child asking me for food or whatever…maybe for a few days!
I have found myself over eating this week, the Jatz and butter have had a good run as well as anything even half bad I could get my hands on….just about to get ready to head off to collect them. Yes I agree, i would be lost without a Govie….just a few days this week and my Angel arrives.
How I love reading your posts, they get me through the wee hours of the night feeding the 6month old, and let me know that I am not alone in my occasional feelings towards he and his 3yr old brother! Your bat shit crazy post came at a perfect time to help me through a mental week – and I haven’t even been able to comment yet as my brain doesn’t function at 3am with an ipad in my lap and a baby on the boob! You should check out scarymommy.com, especially the ‘confessions’ section – plenty of mums out there getting through ‘those’ days!
So great to hear your feedback Jac, and really glad you enjoyed the bat shit crazy post, ha ha ha. Night feeds….could there be anything better? thinking of you!!!
I went on school camp to Magnetic Island (Mt Isa SOTA). They shipped us across there on the train, I can’t remember how many kids there were (at least 30) or how long we went for (a least a week I imagine) but I do remember having THE BEST TIME. Those teachers deserved a medal. I expect your Tom will remember it forever too 😉
Oh and you are hardly alone, we all need a break from our kids sometime, even if it is just to miss them and look forward to having them back.
Hi Fashionista, Tom did have the BEST time ever, and yes, I agree those teachers do deserve a medal, but I think the children are so much better behaved and mannered for other people. So funny that you also went to Maggie, I love that place.