Vacation From Reality

Lately, I have not been caring for Mom in Sun City Center, Florida, but I have been enjoying a vacation in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. I call it, "my respite with guilt", as I've left most of the mom stuff to my sister for a good part of the summer. Pushing the guilt aside for the moment, I'm feeling happy about a recent visit we had with family here at the shore.

Our beautiful daughter arrived from Michigan with her great husband, fun-loving 4-year old, cuddly 9-month old, a stroller, portacrib, tons of toys and three diagnosed cases of very contagious pink eye! You have never seen so much hand washing and laundry as when there is pink eye in the house. My husband was soon joining them in the eye drops ritual. Somehow I avoided the pink eye but I did get sick with a virus the minute they drove out of the driveway on their way home. Other than that, our son-in-law had to make a trip to the walk-in clinic to the tune of $200 for an ear ache, the ocean was an unseasonably cold 58 to 60 degrees, but no one got a sunburn and that was a miracle in itself.

My brother drove the 2 hours each way to visit with his niece and her family. He enjoyed a great day on the beach and reconnected with that side of the family. During the week we ate a few meals at home but had many dinners out to add to the fun. We played card games at night after we read the kids their final book before bed. Took the kids to the boardwalk to listen to live music and I danced the conga line with the 4-year old. My daughter and her husband went on mini-excursions to get some alone-time while we happily babysat. My husband took the older one to the arcade and out for ice cream. All simple acts but memories for us all to keep.

We've made it a practice to try and see the grandchildren every three months even leaving the paradise of sunny Florida to go up north in the snow. Every time it has been worth it and we come home (or they leave after coming to us) filled up with love and smiles. As anyone with a grandchild knows, there is nothing like spending time with them, watching them change and grow. It is also a joy to watch our daughter as she parents her children. Not once in 8 days did she raise her voice to them. She managed to keep both boys under control with laughter, praise, attention, distraction, and mild discipline. She played on the floor for hours with both of them mauling her and roughhousing. I'm in awe as I know I was never as patient when she and her brother were young. Only lately, after spending time with mom and her disease have I developed the skill of distraction and patience that seems to come so easily to my daughter. What a joy to witness her and her family together.

I'll go back to Florida soon enough to help out with mom. In the meantime, I'm looking at photos of the visit and reliving every minute of a happy time during my hiatus.