Friday, June 22, 2007

Persistence is hereditary

Children must come out of you innate with the knowledge that nagging a parent to death is a surefire way to eventually get your way.

My children have been nagging me all year to go stay with my brother in Winslow.  My nephew and niece were up there spending a couple of weeks with him, and so my kids were "mom please please please" -ing me to death about going.

Nevermind that they've never been away from us like that.

That my brother exhibits, um, questionable judgement from time to time.  (Not that he'd ever do anything wrong in regards to my kids, but you know, just enough of a wild card to make me worry--albeit needlessly.)

I caved last week, and said they could go.  My brother picked them up on Tuesday.  Audrey stayed behind, as she is still too little for that kind of thing.

So my boys, 13, 11, and 8, are spending time with my brother, his wife, my almost-3-yr-old niece, and their 11 yr old cousin that they always see.  My other niece opted to stay in town here with her Mom (my bro's ex). 

I figured it would be good for them, to see it might not be a huge party every day, that they could be just as bored in someone else's house as in their own. 

Audrey is upset that they are gone, I get "My brothers" this an "My brothers" that all day long.   She is counting on her fingers every day--"Today is the third day," she says, holding up a finger, "two more days."   They will come home Monday night with my brother (he's coming into town again, so it worked out fine.)

I've talked to them on the phone, expecting, at the very least Ryan to cry a little that he misses me.

Nope.

"Yo,"  Nolan says when I get on the phone.

Ben acts like I am interrupting some serious business, and it sounds like Ryan is taking time out of his packed schedule to spare me a few words.

Yeah, my nose is a little out of joint. The house is way too quiet, and while I realize I was counting down the days till school starts last Sunday, I do miss them.  Alot.

I can't even make cookies.  I made some for Audrey, and there they sit, unscavenged.

I watch their shows or at least have them on as background noise, and when Mr W comes home, it's like the King is arriving, I'm so happy to see him.  I do fun stuff with Audrey, like taking her to the movies yesterday.  Where I instinctively looked for six seats together, in an empty theater, needing only two.  Sigh.

I'm going to have to get used to this.

But I'm not sure how.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the perfect time to visit LIBBY LOU!!!!!!  You can make your own flavorful and glittery lippy!!!!

Anonymous said...

Teakwoods is within walking distance. Ask for the prickly-pear margarita and a kid's menu.

Anonymous said...

I remember the first Christmas I was alone in the house.  We were going through a divorce and the kids were with their dad at his mom's.  I thought I was going to be very sad.  Instead I got to sit down with a glass of egg nog and enjoy the tree without having to make a big holiday dinner, put toys together, entertain relatives I could do without or wait on my husband. And I could actually listen to music I liked.  

Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

I know the feeling your going through. My older two have been at my SIL's house since Sunday. They hopefully come back home today.

Although when they are at home, it seems I am constantly saying:

"stop that"
"leave your sister alone"
"go to your room"
"calm down, your giving me a headache"
"turn down that tv"
"go find something to do"

I have missed saying that this week. Its been a looooong & quiet week in this house. Sure my 2 1/2 year old is great, and its been nice to have some time alone with him, but I miss that 8 & 6 year old conversation with my kids.

Anonymous said...

oh my word!  i cannot believe any sane relative would agree to having that many children visiting at one time!

Anonymous said...

I'm the same way as you!! I wonder what in the world I used to do before I had kids? Before I had kids, I remember thinking "people with kids must be so bored"... Now I think "I must have been so bored before I had kids"!! LOL

***Monica