The Under-Rated Stay-Cation

Just hanging out with mamma!

17 years ago, my husband and I spent our spring break on our honeymoon.  This year, we spent spring break at home. And it was grand.

Being at home is a luxury for me.  During a normal week, I'm gone quite a bit for work.  Many times, the last thing I want to do when I'm not working is packing to take a trip.

Originally, we had planned a trip to my in-laws.  But, with King Diaper's surgery the week before, we needed to be at home.  It wasn't the week we had planned.  But it turned out to be the best week for all of us.

We had time to just be a family.  We watched tv.  I cooked breakfast and dinners for us to enjoy.  We all took afternoon naps.  There was lots of time to "make something" - build towers with legos and play with play dough.  There was ice cream at night.  Dinners with friends.  I enjoyed working out every day.  We slept until we woke up and went to bed whenever.

The best part was no packing, planning or driving.  Sure, I still like to take a trip.  We all do.  But being at home is truly under rated.

Our brave boy with his favorite tablet!

Sunday night, I decided to go to bed at 8:30 just so I could look at magazines until I fell asleep.  Usually, Sundays are the day that we finish up cleaning our house and getting organized for the week.  But this week, we were just keeping up with the house and enjoying no routine or schedule other than naps and meals.

I don't think that we accomplished one thing or checked off any lists.  We just lived a simple existence and loved every second of it.

Sure.  I'm itching for a weekend in New Orleans or a simple day trip to the zoo.  Those days are fun too.  But it is just so easy to settle into our home and lives.  It is something that we really haven't done in a long time.

After my time off, I went back to work on a Thursday.  My husband will go back to teaching.  And we will return to our lives much more rested and bonded.  I feel like sometimes I'm in such a rush to get the next thing done, pick up the groceries, pay the bills or do the laundry that life is a chore more than a joy.  It is hard to enjoy reading that bed time story to King Diaper when there is so much left to do.  And yet this time is precious.  Its fleeting.

Just a quick selfie before putting him to bed
on our anniversary night

I know that there will be days ahead where we as parents will be in the way of what our son wants to do.  He won't want bed time stories or need me to fix him a snack.  I need to enjoy every day of this.  It won't last forever.  And I will miss those tasks that I take for granted.

I think this year was just what the doctor ordered both literally and figuratively.  People talk about God's timing and planning for our lives and how it is infinitely perfect.  Yes.  I think it is.  We all needed a break from everything except ourselves.