I was the kid in college that went home every weekend. And I’m not kidding. I mean every weekend. In my first two years of college at the University of San Francisco, I spent one entire weekend there. One. My roommates and friends complained, but I got my husband, and subsequently two beautiful children, out of it so I’m definitely not complaining. (I transferred after my first two years to New Jersey so didn’t get home nearly as much after that.)
But regardless of why I did it, the fact of the matter is that I missed out on things that my peers were experiencing by being around on the weekend. Even though I was content with my decision, I still was never fully in the groove of being away at college.
Recently, I’ve got that feeling again: the feeling that I can’t possibly keep up with my Monday through Friday life because Saturday and Sunday requires traveling to another world, and vice versa. To be fair, this is all my own doing. But I actually told Scoot this morning in the car that I can’t wait until D starts playing sports and having other activities on the weekend so that we have to stay put.
Honestly I’m not sure when the most recent round started. We had a good streak going early in the year. But recently, the trips to the Bay have picked up. We tend to go through cycles when a bunch of things happen all at once and we end up going away more weekends than not. Most of the time that means going home to Palo Alto. Sometimes it means going elsewhere.
Recently, I’ve been lucky in that I’ve “had” to go to awesome places. Two weeks ago, my cousin – whose name, strangely enough, is Emily Johnson…and yes, she’s older than I am…which says a lot about my parents’ creativity …no offense, Mom and Dad – sang the lead role in the Opera “Carmen” in Santa Barbara. Given that Carmen is my favorite opera (though I admit my opera knowledge is fairly shallow) and that I will be naming my next child (if I’m so blessed) Carmen or Cameron because of this opera, I had to see it for myself. And sure enough, I agreed with the reviews. She was awesome. She was hands down the best actor on the stage and her voice is beautiful. Apparently I come by my not-so-soprano voice naturally (though I claim no actual skill in singing).
Anyhow, there was no way I was going to miss this, but I couldn’t bring a 5 year old and a 2 year old to the opera, so I drove down on that Friday night to Palo Alto by myself (in a rental car), then drove on Saturday morning with my parents to Santa Barbara, returning to PA on Sunday and Roseville on Monday. (Read: entire weekend without my boys or any of my chores being done.)
The following weekend we went to Monterey to visit Scoot’s brother and his wife and their son. It was a great weekend. Again we went to PA first on Friday night, this time to drop off the dogs so we didn’t have to deal with doggy daycare, and then on to Monterey on Saturday morning. We had good eats and sweets and just hung out. Then on Sunday, Scoot and I took D and B to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was quite a treat for all of us. I haven’t been there in ages (though Monterey was one of those secret places that Scoot and I stole away to when we were cutting school in his last weeks of high school…shhhh…don’t tell). But still, no chores done.
This past weekend, we were home.
*cue music * HALLELUJAH!
The boys and I were up early on Saturday. I had some work to do so sat on the couch as they watched TV. We then dropped off the rental car (which we rented because of a totally different trip that Scoot had to take to the bay for a funeral) and went to see Monsters v. Aliens. We grabbed some cupcakes from our new favorite spot and then came home. I made dinner and Scoot’s childhood friend came over with his kids.
On Sunday I slept in and we all spent time outside (I even got a slight sunburn) doing yard work and attempting to fly a kite in ridiculous winds. We cleaned up a bit around the house, took a nap, and even had the chance to go to the “ice cream shop” (frozen yogurt joint). Yet at the end of a great weekend with my boys, I still felt unaccomplished around the house.
I realize it’s because I simply can’t maintain my house during the week or over the weekend when I take into account all the other demands on my time. I need both…a full seven day week, or maybe even two or three in a row, at home. The weeks between Santa Barbara and Monterey and the weekend at home were both crazy chaotic. It wasn’t just my around-the-house stuff that fell off. I have been eating worse and not working out as much and my sleep schedule is all off.
There is no particular end in sight, as this weekend we’ll be back in Palo Alto for Scoot’s alumni game (and Happy Donuts, per D’s request). Then on Wednesday we’ll be leaving for Michigan for a week.
I fully recognize I will never be able to properly express my gratitude at having family so close. I just hope none of y’all care when you come over and my dishes or laundry from three weeks ago are still awaiting my attention.
