Since my children were born, I’ve been away a handful of times. There have been a few conferences and work-related trips, as well as several girls’ weekends with my friends. That time away is so good for me, and I enjoy it to the fullest, but I always look forward to coming home to my family.
The very first trip I took away from my son, he was just a little over a year old. I had a really hard time saying goodbye, but once I did, the next few days spent in California with my friends were just what I needed following an exhausting first year of parenthood. But my absolute favorite memory is walking in the door and seeing my son run full-force into my arms.
I had a similar experience after leaving my daughter for the first time, again, shortly after her first birthday. That reunion was even better, because the journey home involved a 10-hour drive. I was never more happy to get back to my kids and husband after that road trip, as much fun as it was.
Leaving home for any length of time can be stressful and involves lots of preparation, but it’s always worth it to have some adult time and actively practice self-care. That has been especially true attending AMTA national conference sans kids these last two years, because I’ve been able to focus on learning and connecting with fellow music therapists.
But towards the end of every trip, I start feeling anxious to get home. I’m feeling that right now as I type this, and luckily, I’ll be there in just a few hours. I can’t wait for the hugs and kisses from my babies and husband, and just the familiar comfort of being home.
There will probably come a day when my kids aren’t quite as excited to see me when I come home as they are now at ages 2 and 4, so I appreciate and eat it up as much as I can while they are this young. I’m pretty sure that it will always be just as exciting from my perspective.
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This post is a part of my 23 Days of Gratitude series. Click here for the full list of posts. Thank you so much for reading and helping me celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving!
