My ME week

Summer is here!

How fantastic is that? I know there is all this awareness out there that teachers put in plenty of work over the summer and some don't get paid and yada yada yada... but, let's not act like summer isn't still pretty amazing. I've worked my behind off and then, like some sort of magic spell, I got to turn off my 5am cell phone alarm the night of the 19th and not need to turn it back on until Labor Day.

Yeah, I know, I still have two precious alarms named PDG and MDG, and yeah, one of them does still sound his own feed-me alarm between 4am and 6am, but we're counting blessings here.

So, how did I celebrate the dawn of summer vacation? What makes me so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed during today's nap? It's a secret I will tell you so long as you promise to only judge me secretly and not to my face.

I took a ME week.

Not a MOM week. Not a TEACHER week. Not a WIFE week. Not even a H-FAMILY week. It was a week just for Nicole. I took the boys to daycare, spent the day as I pleased, and then picked them back up.

I think it is one of those things every mom, whether working inside or outside the home, daydreams of enjoying.  (right?)

I felt so guilty leading up to it that I had to practice how to describe it to people. I worried about what they would think. Would it make me a bad mom? Do good moms want a week without their kids? What would I even do?

But then Monday came, and aside from the two round trip schleps down south to Miss S's, I found myself with about 6.5 hours or so to do with as I pleased.  So I napped, obviously, and I pumped, naturally, and I put on crime shows, and then I....  cleaned!

Ha! Surprised? Me too!

I cleaned and I loved it. No one immediately trampled in the dust piles or proudly unfolded clothes to announce who they belonged to. I sang to myself, and not Wheels on the Bus. I did something I used to think was a chore and I loved every minute of it. And then my heart melted when at 3:30 I picked up those little boys of mine and saw their smiling faces.

Everyone had a good day.

And so went the next four. I napped daily, and pumped daily, and did indulge in one massage (thanks J-Man). But I changed out all MDG's 6mo clothes for 9mo, and finished changing PDG from 2T to 3T. I did a billion loads of laundry.  I cleaned the bathroom and the bedrooms and the kitchen. I completed my first ever craigslist transaction and bought a sit-n-stand stroller for when I'd have my boys back full time. I shopped in Target instead of online! I cooked something that didn't call itself a 30-minute meal, and didn't come in a box.

All this, and when I picked up my kiddos, I still got to play with them.

At church on Sunday I was asked a few times how I felt because I looked refreshed. I finally had the courage to admit what I'd done. And to admit that now, after my me-week, I couldn't wait to have my boys all summer. I was/am excited to spend all day with them. I feel prepared. I'm not nearly as nervous as I was those final weeks of school leading up to this alone-with-two adventure. I may not be long-term SAHM material (and you know I give props to all those who are!), but I'm ready and willing and excited for my two months of it.

Bring it on, summer! We G's are ready to make some memories!