As I was laying in a beautiful king size bed with a pair of size 7 toddler feet neatly jammed into my ribs, I started thinking about how different vacations were before I had children.
Before I had children, when I walked into the enormous bathroom and saw the beautiful jacuzzi tub, I would have pictured myself relaxing in the bubbles, enjoying some music on my Ipod while reading a book.
Now when I see a jacuzzi tub, I think, “Great, it’s gonna take 10 hours to fill this sucker and I am going to end up mopping the bathroom floor. Not to mention the drowning hazard.
Before I had kids, I loved balconies that overlooked anything – beach, mountains, lakes, ponds, even a dumpster. I would take my morning tea outside, bring something to read and enjoy the fresh morning air.
Now when I arrive at a location and see a balcony, I think, “How the heck and I going to keep both my kids from launching themselves over the edge to their possible death. I have long scary conversations with them, making them fear for their lives to even step out on the door.
Before I had kids, vacations meant sleeping as long, as often or even as early as I wanted.
Now, that I have kids, I go to bed praying that the little critters (who have flat our refused to sleep in their own beds due to possible monsters, unusual sounds and shadows) will sleep until the sun has completely risen.
But truth be told, even though the “before I had kids” seems so much more relaxing and refreshing… I wouldn’t change sharing vacations, making memories or seeing their faces explore new places for any of the above. Recognizing that while those little toddler feet might be uncomfortable now, they won’t be there forever. So I need to cherish each memory because when I am older, and my babies are grown, I can sit on the balcony, drink my tea and reflect on once was.
Ohhh this is so beautiful! I loved it 🙂 Funny too! My hubby and I are starting to thinking about having some little monsters of our own…sounds like quite the adventure- but so worth it!