Letting Go of Mommy Time for Quality Time

There are few occasions when I get to run errands alone. On those days I leave the house early, grab my music and my headphones and rock out to whatever the latest my at-home DJ (a.k.a. The Husband) has loaded for me. I enjoy those moments like I used to enjoy going out for happy hour. That’s my way of saying, I love them. Saturday there was a craft fair and I am the only person in my family who really enjoys such things. I had planned on taking my happy lonesome tush and my music off to the fair for some shopping, a trip I had been looking forward to all week.

Oldie but a goodie. Little Man and me at a summer's party.

When I woke up that day I was still a little sniffy, but was ready for a morning of solitude. Then I saw my poor sad husband’s eyes. If you’ve read my last post you will note that we have a sickness running through the members of our home. Saturday morning, my husband woke with all the symptoms our children and I had been fighting the week. There was no way I could leave this man with two rambunctious (oh yeah, they were bouncing off the walls) toddlers while I basked in my music and alone-ness. So, I decided to turn my mommy time into a mommy-son date.

Little Man was so happy to leave the house for the first time in days that he was beside himself. Even after he realized it wouldn’t be the type of fair he was hoping for (I had to explain more than once that there would be no games or balloon animals, just shopping) he ended up doing alright. Except for the moment when he lifted my skirt so all our fellow shoppers could see my goods; thank goodness for opaque tights. Or that moment when he got overwhelmed by all of the people and insisted I carry him even though we had a stroller, a purse and a small shopping bag. But he was right about one thing: they did have balloon animals, or rather, a balloon alien. A purchase that I still feel was worth the trip.

Coolest balloon alien ever. Totally won points for this one. 

We were there for maybe an hour then ended our morning with lunch at a local family restaurant. So I didn’t get to spend the morning with my iPod. I got to spend it with my son. There are plenty of days in my future that I will be able to spend alone. The ones I have with my Little Man are fewer every day. I have no illusion that these moments will last forever and this isn't to say I'll never again request alone time (a girl needs a break). I’m just glad I get to spend time with him while he thinks I’m still cool.