I have tried to bring myself to the point, where I am comfortable with leaving them, but that comfort slips away after a very short time...as in, the 15 to 20 minutes it takes me to go to the store and come home. My mother invited me on a cruise, and I had to decline. Yes, I know...who in their right mind says NO to a CRUISE?!
Believe me, I wanted to go, and I probably needed it; my mother and I needed that one on one time, but what good would I have been to her, or to myself, if all I was thinking about was my kids? The question was raised about whether I trusted my husband to care for them by himself, and the answer is YES, absolutely. Its not an issue with trusting my husband, and their father, it is an issue with me.
Lets face it, our kids are only little for so long; soon they will be starting their own families, and running off to have their own adventures, so I cherish every single moment I have with them. Yes, there are the headaches from the constant sibling bickering, and yes, there are times when I wish for a little peace and quiet, but even then, I cant bring myself to say...I need a babysitter, or I need to drop my kids off with my parents (although, I am sure my parents would love it).
These are MY kids, they are MY responsibility, and I will defend them to my last breathe. My kids are my whole world, and even battling my sons Autism, and my daughters anxiety, cant make me say I want to do things any other way. Am I a helicopter parent? Probably, but I wear that badge with pride.
What about my life, and my dreams? Well, I have a BS in Legal Studies, and I plan to go to Law School. I want to practice Family Law, and open a home for neglected and abused children, and you know what? I want my kids there every step of the way.
I know that people mean well when they say that a break from your kids is healthy, but I just can't do it...they are my whole world, and that's okay, because this is what works for my family, and it is where I am happiest.
