I’m getting ready to leave town again, but this time without my 2 older girls. I’m having a really tough time. It seems like this whole blended family thing should be getting easier, but it seems the older they get and the more we enjoy each other’s company, the more difficult it gets to separate. We spent 2 wonderful weeks together on a family vacation and now it’s their dad’s turn. David and I and the little ones are taking off on vacation and I’m filled with separation anxiety. I feel like a child myself. Maybe it’s because only half of my children, half of my family which means half of me will be on vacation. Maybe it’s also that Neriah and Sierra know that I’m going away with David and the little ones and they feel a sense of alienation as well. The good news is that I know time will fly when they are with their father. And they all deserve that special time together. They’ll be busy, but it still never seems to get easier. And today has been a crazy day.
At 6 am Shaya was roaming the hallway looking for hot cocoa, so I woke up early only to find my two German Sheppard puppies sick to their stomachs outside. One more thing I added to my list before traveling is to fit in getting them to the vet. Then breakfast with the kids, and I missed Pilates so I ran to the gym. I had a few appointments of my own so I was juggling entertaining the kids, but luckily my nephew is in town so they went to the park. I ran back to see the kids and tried to comfort my stressed out 8 year old with her summer reading list. We ran to the library to find out that it was closed so we had to rush to the nearest bookstore. I had a conference call with my writer to try to wrap up a couple more chapters of the "Naked Mom" before I leave for vacation where I may be out of touch (hopefully not). I fit in a mani-pedi with my older girls so we could catch up. I wanted to spend some time with Nana so I had lunch with her. At 4pm I rushed back to Malibu to the post office to pick up a pack of bikinis that I’ll be taking on my trip. Then I rushed home to make a pot of chicken noodle soup, the kids’ last request before I take off. There was terrible traffic, and all I wanted to do was be home to cuddle my girls in my arms and spend all the time I can before we have to say goodbye tonight. I keep saying that I need a few more hours in the day, actually I need another me so that I can do all the things I don’t feel like doing so the other me can just be catching up with my kids! Packing up the final details, making sure I have everything I need in my carry-on baby bag just in case the luggage doesn’t make it. Then, 30 minutes time with Neriah and 30 minutes of alone time with Sierra. Changing and getting ready to head out the door for the airport. Sad goodbyes, always hate them. Never easy.
I’ll be writing my girls a few letters and leaving them in their backpacks so they can have a piece of mommy when I’m away. Thank goodness for Skype – that’s how we’ll communicate when I’m gone. I know those kind of things make a big difference for my girls, and I’ve realized that the intimacy of writing has been a really helpful point for us when we are checking in and trying to stay connected even when we are oceans apart. It seems like the summer is flying by and I’m excited to squeeze in one more little vacation. Before I know it summer will be over, and we’ll be full force into back to school. As much I’m excited about one final trip I’m looking forward to being home for the rest of the summer – keeping it simple and spending a lot of days at home. I will be taking pics and tweeting if I can, and I will be writing lots of blogs. Hopefully I won’t have as many internet challenges as I had when I was in Italy. David and I are going back to a place that we love and haven’t been together in 13 years. I’m hoping for blue skies, beautiful water, lots of romance and some great one on one time with my little ones. I will be ringing out the days and also counting them down to when I can return and be back together with my whole family. I’ll keep you posted! I hope you are enjoying your summer!
