I don’t do well with situations that split up the peapod squad. In my mind and heart, they just belong together. Now, of course, I recognize that they are three separate people with individual needs. I don’t treat them as a "set." But I feel this weird sense of panic whenever they are apart. It’s like my heart is fragmented or something. I also am a complete control freak with their transportation. I can count on one hand the number of times anyone else has driven them anywhere. And it was either my husband or dad in those situations. I know…I’m a mess. I think I’ve already admitted that here, though, so let’s not digress. OK?
Today was a big adventure for us. Split and Snap went out-of-town with Daddy and Pop. They went to see a ballgame and were soooo excited (so were Split and Snap). Sweet Pea went on a shopping trip with Mommy and Nana. I could not sleep last night. I kept worrying about things like car accidents, men getting too involved in a ballgame and letting one of my sweet boys wander off, falls from bleachers, accidental ingestion of peanuts (severe allergies). And I WOULDN’T be there to prevent/fix these things. That scares the stuffin’ out of me! And yet, as some of my friends pointed out yesterday, I have to eventually let these sorts of outings happen. And one day they’ll be going off to school without me (unless I can talk the teacher into letting me hide out in the back of the classroom each day).
Bottom line: I survived. The kids (the big ones and the little ones) had a BLAST. My precious family is together again…under one roof…happy…safe. I can sleep tonight. And look at the kiddos. Don’t they look more grown up? Oh, I was afraid that would happen.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
One of my friends used to marvel that, while she couldn’t wait to leave her daughter with a sitter, I’d pine for Robespierre the moment I left the house. Although I’ve traveled with my kids a fair amount, and my parents practically share custody of them with me, when first Robey and then Cleo went on trips with my parents, I fretted until we were together again. I think this has something to do with having endured the insults of infertility — I felt that I’d fought so hard to get them into my life that I never wanted to let go of them.
Your kids are still delightfully, deliciously young, however. I’m fairly confident that in a few years you’ll at least occasionally contemplate locking yourself in your bedroom or entering the witness protection program, as I have many times. I always feel guilty but the guilt is tempered by the sweet satisfaction of knowing that I’m a real mom to real kids with real personalities.
They are just so adorable!!!
Your comment on my post sort of reinforced my original opinion as well as gave me shudders for you! Oh my word, how frightening. There are some crazy people out there.
oh they are soooo SWEET!
i would worry too…i kinda freak out a little when J goes places alone with her daddy…just a little, cuz she is big enough not to wonder off, but still….i don’t think the feeling that YOU yourself will ALWAYS take the BEST care of them ever really goes away…because the feeling is TRUE!!
I wonder multiple parents get that weird scary feeling when we split our kids up? I had the singleton after the other three and I’ve never felt weird about leaving him on his own.
But I’m just giving you support for splitting them up and just want you to know that it gets easier and easier as they get older. They will cherish the special time they got away from each other too. You are doing a good job.
I’ve also noticed completely different attributes in my trio when they get away from each other. I’ve taken all three on separate individual vacations over the last 6 months and really gained a new understand with each of them.
Okay, I’m here to also give you YOUR BADGE!!!