Why do weekend’s away always have to be family trips or couples retreats?
As a Mum, I think it would be fair to say I am all tinselled out and if I see any more wrapping paper I may just breakdown and cry. Yes I am probably being dramatic, however my Christmas is ready to go and the hyperactivity of the children has now reached epic proportions. No amount of Thomas Tank can now pacify the tantruming toddler and no amount of begging and cajoling the hormonal tween into angst submission is working so instead, my thoughts have turned to escape.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids and believe it or not I love the festive season, New Year and all the hope that It holds, but right about now I am struggling: struggling to keep my sanity, struggling to keep my temper and struggling to wonder why I bother.
With that in mind I dream of a weekend with adult conversation longer than a fleeting exchange over the to-do list. I miss nice warm meals without floating food in a beaker, burping and having to get on my hands and knees to clean the floor under the table.
Taking all that on board I have decided to take a leaf out of my little one’s book and write a letter to the man who can make dreams come true:
Dear Santa,
I have tried to be the best person/parent I can be, I tried breathing deeply and counting to 10, I have got so much better grinning through gritted teeth and I have even attempted to learn to bake, albeit slightly unsuccessfully, but I am trying to remain positive as I promised I would last year.
In return for my effort I have decided to ask for something this Christmas for myself …. In fact I think this will help my whole family and it doesn’t even have to be expensive.
I would like to go away for a couple of nights to London. I would like not to have to organise the family meals, clean up the living room, change the bedding or dry the pots. At this time of year I would settle for the chance to not have to see another roll of wrapping paper for a few days. If you could do this one thing for me, in fact I could come back to my family refreshed and ready for the remaining Christmas onslaught without gritting my teeth or weeping in a corner.
Love
Jaime (aged 34 1/4)
P.s Santa If time constraints are making this more difficult to action, just to let you know I wont mind hanging on till the New Year .. if I have too.
