Happy Saturday. I don’t know about you guys, but this has been a long week! I so wanted to sleep in a bit but no, my smoke detectors had another idea. They have been chirping since 6 AM! And every kind of battery but a 9 volt in this house! That is a jump start for the heart for the day!
So I have sat in bed and drank a wonderful cup of coffee–with a squirt of whip cream no less–and scrolled through Facebook. All the while the dectors are taking turns chirping! Looking back through the memories that show up, memes, events happening for so many people. I think I have an over posting problem lol. I have shared a lot of thoughts over the years.
I have been a single mom for a long time, 16 years. Gosh, that is a long time. During that time life has been crazy, scary, rewarding and challenging. I have been blessed with 2 great kids, with a family that has stood by us through many trials and triumphs, a group of co-workers who have loved me and my kids and become family and a very small circle of friends. It hasn’t all been easy. I look back and wonder how we have come this far. My son who falls in the autism spectrum and a daughter who has bever known her dad (his choice and definitely his loss. He actually missed out on both of his kids). From an 18 month old girl to almost 18 years old. From an 8 year old little boy to a grown man. I have worried a lot over the years about their well-being, their needs, their future. I have cried tears of pride and joy and tears of hurt and frustration. But I digress…
So we take a week off every summer and my kids suffer through a staycation. It has always been a financial thing. Don’t feel sorry for us, we have what we need. Maybe not all our wants but all our needs. I don’t see how families afford these destination vacations these days. We miss going on vacation and surely miss the beach, however we seem to always make the best of it. Don’t get me wrong, if we could we would be surfside in a heartbeat, but we have made the most of what we have. What has sparked all of this has been looking at Facebook memories and my posts of staycations. I am grateful and thankful that I have a job that provides for us and I will take a roof over our heads anytime versus a trip we can’t afford. One day we will get that trip away. For now, we make the most of what we have and marvel in the blessing of time spent together.
Looking at those memories brings a smile to my heart. Putt putt, bowling, driving just to be driving. Day trips to Pigeon Forge, pool days and pajama days. Trips to get ice cream while wearing pajamas. Picnics and movies in a theater to movie marathons in our pajamas. Painting rooms at home, wii tournaments and board games. Trips to train museums and trips to see future colleges. Zoos and nature centers. And some memories not associated with staycations….a trip on the Polar Express when the kids were small, a gift from a very sweet lady. A once in a lifetime experience to see Hamilton for myself and daughter, a gift from some very special women. A Christmas blessing guven to us. We have been blessed more than we deserve. Moments that were small but carry such memories. Getting lost by using google maps, loud music, soft sounds of sleep. Laughter until we cry and cry until we laugh. Moments of both kids being so small to young adults. From someone being sick during our time off, to me falling atleast once a year in public (believe me it happens and is very comical and usually happens during this week off–our driveway, grocery store, off a ladder while painting) to days of being lazy in our home, our sanctuary of peace, to being in a car waving at every car that passes by much to my son’s embarrassment!
So we may not have fantastic vacation pictures and our memories arent of magnificent sunsets but of silly, personal moments. But each and everyone of these memories is carried in our hearts. When my kids look back, I hope they remember the fun times and silly times and most of all time spent together. Each moment woven in time. So yes, I feel guilty to not have given my kids a vacation getaway. That staycation has been on our radar for too many years to count. The last vacation we had was with my parents and it was about 10 years ago and it was a quick 3 day trip, but what a fun time that was. I worry about resentment and disappointment that they may feel. Then I hope that they see beyond the here and now and see a bigger picture. One where they see the small, simple joys of life. That they remember how the three of us braved a whole new life and made a few memories on the way with the most heartfelt love ever given.
Now, in no way am I saying that those that take great vacations don’t have these same moments and kudos to you for making those vacations happen. I am just looking through my lens and my moments. And you may have Paul the cabana boy bringing you towels and fruity drinks and yay for you!! I have myself serving a beer or shot of fireball and a small oasis of my backyard and the company of two patient, loved more than they know kids who put up with my silly ideas to make a memory in time.
So no matter what each of you do this summer….fancy vacations, staycations or just regular days, make the most of it. Go on vacation for you, not because it is expected or to keep up with everyone else. Have a pajama day, go drive to get ice cream in said pajamas. We get so busy in the rat race of life, why not slow down and take a moment to make a memory? It doesn’t require a lot of money, but it does require the desire to spend time with the ones our heart beats for. Our kids, our spouses, our significant others, our families. Sometimes the most insignificant snippets of time that can mean so much. From fancy cruises to Disney, to a picnic by the lake and a drive on the parkway with the windows down just to get out of the house. Each carries their own special heart stamp of that moment in time. So may each of us take that moment in time and make it into a memory that we hold dear.
So staycation starts today and first thing is to go buy batteries and stop this incessant chirping, try my best not to trip and fall in public. To buy a great bottle of wine and items to make smores dip (daughter request) and take a moment to make another week, another day, another hour, another moment to make a memory with those that my heart beats for. And if this damn chirping doesn’t end soon there will be a moment of rage. Joking. May each of you have an amazing day and week and moments that make your heart smile!
