As you read this, I am probably on a plane, off to see a good friend get married.

We’re flying solo – just my husband and me. We’ve always been good about date nights, but four nights away from my babies will require some meditation at times.

Instead of dwelling on how much I’ll miss them, I’ve made a list of all of the things I’m excited about on a vacation with no kids.

I can’t wait to:

– Eat without someone laying on me.
– Eat while my food is hot.
– Eat with both hands, not holding a binky in someone’s mouth with one hand.
– Eat.
– Sleep. All. Night. Long.
– Not sit with someone while they take a 15-minute poop in a restaurant bathroom.
– Silence.
– Read a book and catch up on TV on my computer.
– Drink (it had to be said).
– Not wrestle anyone into their clothes.
– Not figure out how to get the requested five braids into hair that’s 5 inches long.
– Have a reprieve from bath night.
– Not do laundry.
– Maybe go to the pool, do some shopping or hang with friends — or not.
– Driving without one hand on the wheel and the other reaching back to hold the binky in.
– Not carry someone into their bed three times.
– Not get settled into bed and hear, “Moooom.”
– Did I mention sleep?

The other morning, my husband got back into bed after feeding the baby at 5:45 a.m., just as I was waking up and checking my calendar for the day (which, by the way, is not a fun way to start the day). He thought I couldn’t sleep and had no idea that I always get up at 5:45 a.m. to get ready, get the kids ready and get out the door by 7:30 a.m.

On vacation, if you can’t find me, it’s a fair assumption that I’m asleep somewhere. Anywhere, really.

Melissa Cruickshank is married with two children. She works full-time. Read her here on momaha.com

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