Time Tripping

Ever wanted to go back in time? For two weeks in June, I felt like I had done just that. I was offered some work with my former full-time employer. I do lots of work for them from home, but this work required me to be in the office for 10 days. I don't have any family or trusted babysitters near to my home, so the girls spent the weekdays and weeknights with their aunts in North Georgia. This meant that I was going to work and coming home to a childless house again. It really did feel like time tripping.

It was nice to see everyone again and catch up on all the happenings in their lives. Pek Suan is going to be a first-time aunt soon and will be travelling back to Malaysia to visit her family and meet her niece or nephew. She is very excited! Kim, her mom and her sister are selling their triplex home. Kim's mom will be moving into an assisted living facility run by her church. Her best friend lives there already, and the accomodations and services sound really great, so I know she will adjust to it and enjoy it in no time. Kim will be living with her cousin for a while, while she saves money for her dream home. She is very excited about getting a fresh start! Susie's "little" daughters are now 10 and 14. Yikes!! How did that happen? She is attending church now. Psych! She and I were very much alike in thinking we'd never be "church-goers", but like me she has found a church that supports her beliefs. In the "news of the weird" department, Carol's husband-to-be, who also works at SP, is the father of one of the "Barbie Bandits"! And, Mack is still Mack. Bless his soul! I think I miss him most of all.

The first two or three days were fun. It was nice to dress up again and "have somewhere to go." It was nice to talk with adults. It was nice to do my work in a quiet room without being interrupted by a kid every couple of minutes. It was nice to go to a movie with Dwayne in the evening.

But, I was over it by day 4. I was missing my kids so bad!! I was so tired at the end of the day, even though sitting in an office was nowhere near as mentally exhausting as dealing with two kids all day. I think the constant sitting caused my fatigue. Sitting at a desk virtually all day, prefaced by sitting in a car for 45 minutes, followed by sitting in a car for another 45 - 60 minutes. All day spent inside with only a few moments outside at lunchtime. I truly believe this is an unnatural state for humans. I remembered quickly why I had become so tired of devoting most of my life to my job. I know I would not be happy going back to that lifestyle. When you're raising kids, there are many times you don't get to do what you want to do when you want to do it, but it is still nowhere near as constraining as being tied to a desk all day.

By the second week of being away from my kids, my heart was aching for them. My sister Sandy was kind enough to bring them home a night early and spend the night with us. I was so happy to see them!!

I had the unusual privilege of taking a trip back in time. It made me appreciate how lucky I am to be home with my girls. On those days when I'm at the end of my rope, I can look back on those two weeks and smile. Life is good. : )