Ok, so it’s great for mom to get away but there’s always the fallout.
I call it re-entry. Going away and leaving the kids behind is bliss — it’s even better when Dad stays home because you don’t necessarily have to leave the instructions and lists since, presumably, he knows what to do. But there’s always payback when you come home.
Initially it’s nice. The kids are so excited to see you. When I got home on Sunday after the trip to my reunion, there was the sweetest note taped to the front door. Each letter was individually cut out and it said “Welcome Home Mom.” They all greeted me with the biggest hugs and told me about their weekend. Dad even had them clean the house.
But before bed, Lilly, 8, started complaining of a stomach ache. It still hurt the next morning, even though she was able to eat breakfast and seemed fine when she wasn’t complaining. My friend, who also went on the trip, had the same illness in her house. Her daughter, 6, was hysterical the morning after she got home and could not be convinced to go to school. Jonah, my 4-year-old, was crankier than usual too.
I guess it all boils down to the fact that they love us, and they miss us when we go away. When we get back, they need extra attention — however they can get it.
How do your kids act when you get back from a trip?