Dear kids,
I’ve decided to write letters to you. One day when you are much older, I hope that you can read these letters and remember my story and your story and how our story was intertwined once upon a time.
It is spring break 2013.
As we drive down the road on our spring trip vacation, I am reminded of how I traveled as a kid. You never met my dad, but he taught me how to love long drives. We did a lot of driving around when I was a kid. That was before leapsters or even gameboys (which was the portable video game device that came along when I was a kid). The gameboy was a monstrosity compared to the nifty devices they have these days. Moms and dads did not carry cell phones every where and kids were expected to behave in a restaurant without them. Not all restaurants had a “color-sheet” menu and crayons either. I don’t recall parents in my day particularly catering to me to keep me quiet, but I was just a kid then, and I don’t have any idea what they may have done to keep us quiet. Now I am your mom, and I am painfully aware of what it takes to keep kids quiet or occupied. It thrills me with hope that you may read this as a parent yourself.
But where was I? As we drive, I reminiscence the weekend drives we went on – mom, dad, Aunt Jenn, and me. We drove all over the countryside – to backwoods Alabama just to find a highly acclaimed BBQ restaurant to Atlanta for a Braves game or later when us kids were older, to the wild west – to Arizona and Wyoming and Nebraska and more. As we drive now, I think that I could easily be a nomad. I like the driving, the watching out the window as the scenery passes by. For a country girl, like I was, this was the life – give me a driver, a spot in the van, a window view, and a book, and I’m all set. My daddy showed me the world, and in doing so, he kept me sheltered to its realities. {You are too young to know what I mean, but by the time you read this, perhaps you will know.}
This is our first just-the-five-of-us vacation. We arrived to the hotel late, and as I think about my growing up travels, I appreciate my parents more. It takes a lot to keep tired and hungry children happy, not to mention that it takes a lot to make tired and hungry me happy. Honestly, I’m proud to say I’ve remained mostly patient with you. My growing up family and daddies too was a family of 4. You are part of a family of 5. Finding a hotel that accommodates all of us is challenging. I don’t even know what other 5 person families do, but Libby is in a pack in play, there’s a bed for mommy and Annabelle, and one for daddy and Elijah. You have no idea what we are doing here. We are surprising you, and you have enjoyed every part of our journey (except the tired and hungry part where you melted down in public and squabbled with your brother or your sister in the car as we drove to another eating establishment). I have enjoyed this time devoted just to you. So far this spring break vacation is exactly what I’ve needed. I’ve had some troubles transitioning into the age of school.
Annabelle, you think staying in a hotel is the best thing ever. You’ve forgotten the travels we did when you and Elijah were little. Staying in a hotel feels fresh and new to you.
Elijah, though you are often stuck in the middle begging for attention, you’ve got it here, bud. You kept thinking nothing was going to be as good as the surprise promised to be and then you enjoyed it. By the time you read this, I hope you trust us more.
Lisabeth, you are still our little diva. I doubt you will remember this trip, but with any luck perhaps you will remember always traveling with the family.
Daddy and I love you each and all more than you know.
You are loved, and I am glad to be your mama.
Truly and gratefully yours,
Mama xoxox3
Linked at the Extraordinary Ordinary
🙂