Too Much to Do and Not Enough Time

So yesterday DD#1 left for 3 weeks in Florida with her father… and even with 3 other kids still running around, the house felt empty.  What’s it going to be like when she moves on campus next month? 

Sunday, the remaining 3 DD’s head off to a week of sleep-away summer camp.   This will be the first time in 18 YEARS that I will be child-free for more than 48 hours (excluding my hospitalization 7 years ago but I don’t think that really counts.)  You’d think I’d be planning on a week of vacation days, spa days, and leisurely dinners out with the DH.  And you would be wrong.  I’m working 3 days (DH is working 4) and I plan on using my 2 days off to:

·         Clean the basement pantry (we have a ranch-style house and because of lack of space in the kitchen, I’ve carved a part of our basement into a second pantry)

·         Clean the lower-level family room/den (time to dispose of all those toys that no one has touched in 4 years but still refuse to dispose of on their own because “I might want it later!”)

·         Donate blood (seriously, folks, it takes half an hour and is so important – check out www.redcross.org)

Saturday will be a hellish nightmare of trips to Walmart, Target, the sporting goods store, etc., so I can finalize the stuff the kids need for camp.  Oh, and I need to find time to hit the mall because Sunday is DD#3’s 10^th birthday.  Naturally I haven’t started shopping yet (don’t judge!)  She got one of her presents earlier this week, when DH & I took her and her younger sister to see The Jonas Brothers in concert.  Nothing like seeing an aging boy band with an almost 10 year old and a 7 year old, I’ll tell you that.  Hopefully I can see another concert soon, so if I’m ever asked “What’s the last concert you saw?”, I can answer without feeling too embarrassed. 

Okay, let’s get back to today though.  I’m at work, trying to enjoy the last little bits of my lunch break, and an email comes across that there’s a going-away party for a departing employee in the canteen as we speak.  And it wouldn’t be my workplace if there wasn’t some sort of fattening goodies.  Today it’s punch and cake.  Enough with the food, coworkers!!!  Or maybe someone can help me find some will power, so I can resist the siren call of buttercream icing.  Seriously, the last thing I need is a huge piece of cake on top of the BLT I had for lunch and the pizza we're having for dinner.  Uggh!

Bye for now!

Am I a Bad Parent if I Occasionally Need to Get Away From My Kids?

In July, all 4 of my kids will be out of the house for a week.  DD#1 will be with her biological father in Florida for 3 weeks, and the 3 younger DD's will be at sleepaway summer camp.  While I was relishing the first week without any of my kids in the 18 years I've been a parent (excluding a week in the hospital 7 years ago), I mentioned this to a friend.  This friend said that she's the opposite, she loves having her kids around all the time.

And that got me to thinking... does wanting to escape my kids for a week make me a bad parent?  It's not like I'm taking a week off from work (I'm planning on taking 2 days, so I can clean the basement without hearing "But Mom I need that *fill in the blank*!") or going away while they're not home.  I'm just looking forward to not hearing "Mom... Mom... MOM!" and not having to cook dinner if I don't feel like it.  (DH can throw something together for himself, if I do that.  lol)  Oh, and being able to use the bathroom without someone knocking on the door.

Does that make me a bad parent?  Or does it make me a wise parent because I'm realizing I need an occasional break from being responsible for everything?  I was thinking that a week to recharge my batteries while the kids were off having their own adventures would make things better for everyone involved.  Now I'm afraid that maybe I'm looking forward to that little freedom a little too much.  What say you?

Mary

*****Tonight's dinner:  Italian Chicken and Pasta

1.5 lbs. boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, sliced 

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1/8 C Italian seasoning (or you could use a mix of fresh basil and oregano, if you got it)

1 can Cannelli beans, drained and rinsed

3 pieces of bacon, cooked and chopped into small pieces

1 quart of homemade spaghetti sauce

1 C shredded Italian cheese blend (I used Sargento's 6 cheese Italian blend)

Parmesan cheese, grated

Salt & pepper, to taste

1 lb. cooked pasta (I used fusilli, but you could use anything)

Brown the chicken in the olive oil, and cook until done.  Add onion and garlic, cook for a few minutes.  Stir in tomatoes, seasoning, beans, and bacon.  Cook until everything's warmed through and hot.  Stir in sauce, cheeses and salt & pepper.  Cook until hot, then toss in cooked pasta.  Serve with garlic bread and olives on the side.  (You could add the olives to the chicken and pasta as well, but one of my kids prefers the olives plain.)

*This is a "nothing fancy" dinner that really hits the spot when you don't know what to make.  Oh, and it only takes about 30 minutes.  (Take that, Rachael Ray!  You don't need to stoop to using pre-made sauces and crap to make a good 30 minute meal.  lol)