I did it, I went to NYC without my babes!!!!!
It wasn’t a first, I’d left them once before just after Lola was born. Lee and I went to Mexico to scope out a house for us all to move too. I’d twisted and turned with grief and anxiety the entire time!
Waking in the night full of fear that they were missing me too. Poor Lee, I’d have these moments of internal anger with him that he’d TAKEN me from them! ha,ha…
Of course all of this fear only made things worse for the situation, Bella ended up with the stomach flu and I missed the Christmas school party, leaving me to feel like a negligent momma!
Don’t sleep on me, I left them in well kept hands – Nanny and Bubba their grandparents, Fab Gab my BFF, Olivia our nanny and two visiting high Lama monks sent directly from the Oracle of Tibet himself! (That’s another story for another time).
My house was full of capable loving hands and yet my heart ached for my babes!
My craziest character “Hi I Control EVERYTHING” was seriously freaking out!
This trip was different, I knew we were ready for a few days away when both girls let me know how they felt about traveling again. Bella is now almost 7 years old and Lola will be 3 soon, I’ve been toting them every where and they didn’t want to board another plane! So once again I called on my tribe to step in and help rear them.
These are my tips for NOT TOTING BABES:
1.) Leave a detailed note about everything from early morning wake up to mid-night potty trips.
2.) Prepare as much food as possible in advance – this takes the pressure off of who ever is watching them, lending way more time to play!
3.) Type a note granting who ever has been left in charge with the right to provide medical attention – naming the pediatrician and their address/phone number.
4.) Don’t forget to leave your medical card ( I happen to have two so it’s easy, if you don’t then make copies).
5.) Pack light: enjoy the fact that you don’t have to carry a ton of stuff!!! For me, my laptop and one magazine was plenty!!! NYC without kids was a great opportunity to rock high heels!!!!
This trip was super overdue!
I knew I was in need of MEE time when Lee offered to help a young woman with a tiny baby strapped with way too many carry -ons, an over sized stroller & car seat. I grabbed his sleeve and whispered in my best “MOM HISS VOICE” – “Lee we don’t have to help today, just one time I’d like to walk down this ramp with out a ton of crap!”He gave me a look like “WOW who are you crazy?”
I knew NYC was going to be great but the real surprise was how FANTASTIC it would be for Lee and I, the first night the two of us crashed – knowing my babes were safe and sound I slept for the first time without waking since birthing them!
The second day Lee and I walked the city without talking much, enjoying the alone mental time! Our hotel was really super cool too, located in the East Village and way groovy. We LOVED our toy free, no kid t.v space…check out this hotel www.thompsonhotels.com.
What I DIDN’T KNOW was that a marriage definitely needs time and space of it’s own….Lee is my best friend and yes I’m the momma in our house but being a wife and being a mother are two different things!
