Time With Your Children: Priceless

Working for a school district has some benefits. Last week I was off for a much needed Spring Break. Although I did enjoy a couple of days to myself, the time that was really priceless was the few days that I spent with Stella. I often feel guilty that she goes to day care five days a week. I know many children go to day care every day of the week but that doesn't make it any easier. Although I have been feeling financially restricted with trying to save up for my time off when the new baby arrives, the hubby and I decided that a trip out to Palm Desert was something that we should do.

On a side note, Palm Desert is one of our favorite getaways. Back in the day, we would head out with a cooler of adult beverages and plenty of water, heading to the hotel with the best pool scene. Things, of course, have changed but as I looked around at what used to be, I was more than happy to head to the quiet pool with my water, Stella's milk cup and some Goldfish snacks.

We have Stella in swim lessons but to see her enjoy the pool just for fun was a treat. In an attempt to spare other guests the view of me, six months pregnant in a bathing suit, I handed over the pool duty to hubby. I could not have been happier sitting in the sun, watching the hubby and Stella splash around in the pool. One day it rained so we stayed in our hotel room a good part of the day and played matching games, put puzzles together, and napped (my favorite.)

As we prepare for the second baby to arrive, I am realizing how important my time is with Stella. Weeks shy of her second birthday, she has grown so much and each day I see her accomplishing some new task or speaking some new word. Many of these things come as a surprise (yesterday when I sneezed she told me "God Bless You Mommy") and are things I did not teach her. While this shows me how much I miss out on, it also reminds me how precious my time is with her.

As always, there is never a perfect balance in life. In my eyes, being a career mom that can stay home with her children would be a dream but is not quite realistic. I figure that I am lucky to be able to spend days off with her when I can and even luckier to have realized that my time that I do have with her is priceless. So many people have told me to enjoy this time with her and it couldn't be more true. I know while there are things that I won't remember one day, these are the days that I will never forget.

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Back from Heaven

After an absolute amazing weekend at The Gorge in Washington, it is back to reality. To me there is nothing better than the Dave Matthews Band. To top it off with a completely surreal venue like The Gorge takes the experience to another level.

Although we left Stella behind for four days, my hubby and I were soon thankful for my parents (who came down to watch her) while enjoying the view and free cocktails from the VIP tent. Friday was the first of three, wonderful, music-filled days ending each night with the Dave Matthews Band. I looked longingly at the small kids that were there and even got my baby fix by holding a few, but was grateful to be able to share the weekend with my hubby and some baby-free time. There were some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities (like a midnight screening of a movie after the concert) that we were able to enjoy, which would not have been possible with Stella. I even met Boyd and Jeff, two members of the band, after the screening!

This weekend taught me that we all truly need and deserve some time off from parenting and that when you do have the chance, take it and make the very best of it. I was so happy to come home to my baby girl and will never forget this weekend. I am not do happy about the extra pounds I put on from endulging myself all weekend but these tight pants are a small price to pay for the weekend. Have any of you had similar weekend getaways? I hope they were as great as mine and if you haven't...take one! A haute mom deserves it!

The Gorge

Me and Jeff Coffin

Hubby and I in the VIP tent

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Hitting the Road

A haute mom is always dreaming about that "escape" vacation where the children are just a loving thought and the concept of time to yourself has returned. The reality of actually getting that vacation is not easy but every now and then a chance pops up and you grab it!

The first time I left Stella overnight was to fly across the country for one night to go see my favorite band Dave Matthews Band. I cried all the way to Chicago (a 5 hour flight) but once I got there I had a blast. Today I am preparing to leave my little sassy pants behind to head to see the Dave Matthews Band in a 3 day music festival at the Gorge in Washington. Did I mention we are going as VIP; haute all the way! Four days is a lot more than 36 hours and I must say the excitement is squashed by anxiety.

My parents are landing from San Francisco in a couple of hours to hold down the fort for four days. The hubby and I take off at the crack of dawn until Monday afternoon. I have some guilt mixed with that pang in your heart you get when you know you will be away from a loved one. My husband keeps reminding me how much I need and deserve this trip but the mommy in me wants to be home with Stella. I keep reminding myself that Stella is going to have so much fun she probably won't know we are gone but I still can't shake that feeling.

I know we will have a fantastic time and that the feeling will pass. I am already changing our flight so that we get back earlier Monday then originally planned even though it will involve us waking up at 4 a.m. This is just a reconfirmation that even when you can grab that kid free vacation the mother in you never goes away. :)

"It's just me and you doggy."

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