Okay, all my children have at one time or another (actually several times) stayed the night at other places or with other people....my best friend and in-laws. Not too far a distance at all. Yesterday, I met my sister half way (she lives in another state) to have lunch with her and my niece, and to give her Avery to take back and stay a couple nights with them. There was something different about this time. I knew Avery would have tons of fun because she loves playing with my niece (5) and she loves her aunt and uncle. But my heart had a hard time letting her go that far away without me. I'm better now, but I was surprised at my feelings when putting her carseat in my sister's car.
I'm not one to normally check up on my kids a bunch when they're with someone else. I have friends who will call every 10 minutes to check up....nothing wrong with that.....I just don't do that. I've done well this time too. I called last night after they were in bed to see how she did, and I called 1st thing this morning to talk to her. She's doing great.
One of the reasons we did this was to give it a test for the summer time, when we'd like for her to stay a week (or shorter, if she misses home) there. It's really been tough for my sister and I to have our kids live far apart. It's hard enough for us to live far apart. We are only 13 months apart in age and our oldest kids are only a year apart in age. ( A lot of "aparts" there) I think Jim has a hard time understanding because his family all live within 15 minutes of us. It's great most of the time (there's still those 'in-law" moments every once in a while), but you know how it is.....just not the same as having MY family when I need them. I've gotten somewhat used it since I've been here since I was 18. OMG, that's 21 years now (as of next week when I hit my last 30-something birthday). I definitely don't think we could have made it (mostly emotionally) without my best friend and in-laws here. They do so great with our kids and love them so much. My best friend even takes them all on at once by herself! And she loves doing it!
So, with growth comes heartaches too. But they're the good kind of heartaches, if there's such a thing.
2 comments:
It sounds like you need a mental diversion. So I tagged you. This is one is very easy. You only need to come up with a 6 word sentence about you :).
I was never good at leaving my kids with someone else. Chelsey spent a week with my sister-in-law a couple of years ago (I think she was 16!) That same sister-in-law watched her for a weekend when she was almost 2. The three older ones have spent the night at my parents a handful of times. That's about the extent of letting people take care of my kids. One might say I'm a bit over-protective (and a worrier) :)
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