Saturday, July 18, 2009

Vacation recap. OK I'm ranting

I got home from El Salvador two weeks ago and immediately planned a road trip with my family to Maryland to see my mom.  I had to go up for work and the kids/husband were feeling restless.  'cuz they never get to go anywhere (i'm rolling my eyes while i type this).

Things I do not particularly like, in no particular order:

•road trips with my family

•preparing for road trips with my family

•staying with my mom

•watching my mom poke and needle and drive me and my family crazy

•not being home

I really meant to post while on this trip but within five minutes inside my mom's house she had started in on me.  First attack:  "looks like D7 has gained weight since i last saw him" -- the truth is he has lost a bit.


We did have some good times.  Took the kids to some of the museums on the mall in D.C. and J11 is old enough now to enjoy them.   It's so nice to see him recognizing pieces of art or history that he has studied in school.

D7 is still a little young and you would have thought we were torturing him dragging him around for a few hours.  Although he did provide us with the most entertainment while at the museums.  Example:  While walking through the mammal section of the Natural History Museum (or whatever it's called) they started playing a loud video on a huge wall video screen and D7 covered his ears and yelled, "OK!  I am out of here!"  

Also, my mom's thermostat doesn't work. She thinks it is 78 degrees in there.  But I think it must be closer to 90.  Really.  It was horrible.  And humid.  It was not a dry heat.  Sleeping was impossible, especially with little legs and arms clinging to me all night.  We got home, walked into our 85 degree house and breathed a sigh of relief.  

Also every time I tried reading blogs or doing anything on-line she would peak over my soulder and ask what I was doing.  Even my kids have learned to not do that.

Apologies to all of you out there who have wonderful, or at least healthy, relationships with your mother. I know I always horrify you with stories of my completely dysfunctional relationship with my mom.

Anyways, we are back home.   Pretty much my favorite part of a trip.  Today is unpacking and laundry and errands and I always feel like when I get home I see things a little differently then I did when I left.   Being gone always gives me a better perspective, at least for a while.  I guess that is really my favorite part of vacation.    I'm dying to get to the quilt I started hand-quilting and I found a bunch of new knitting projects.  Have a girl's night out coming up this week, I hope.  A couple of yoga classes...  Yep.  Definately glad to be home.

21 comments:

Vodka Mom said...

i HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. Except it's my MIL. She always comments on The Golden Boy's weight, etc.
I feel a bit of your pain.......


and YOU totally crack me up.

Marinka said...

I love when you rant.
Definitely being back home is one of the most awesome parts of vacation. Welcome back.

Coco said...

Thanks for stopping by. The dog under the covers is part Boston Terrier and part unknown. That is where she stays all the time. These are my sisters. The Silky is mine.

I don't think I could have handled that heat. I was living in Georgia until a few weeks ago. Now I am in Louisiana. It is still hot. It is the South. I feel like relocating to Siberia for the Summer.

JCK said...

El Salvador? You intrigue me. I'm thinking CIA or superhero secret life.

Welcome home! Glad you were able to vent. Family stuff....ugh. I always get a fresh perspective when I return,too.

The going around D.C. sounded fun. Loved D7's comment. I'm outta here! Too funny!

Irene said...

I would say, no more road trips and no more staying with your mom, but I guess it's not that simple, huh? Or take a road trip to a fun place and have your mom stay with you? Just for a few days?

J. Notes said...

i thought it wasnt a vacation. or was that an inside joke. and also the bit about ranting while or after the vacation a joke too? funny.

you forgot to say "and i know a lot of you dont get a vacation..." that would be more p.c.

i like this blog. if you cant beat it join it. at least you talk here. thats a good thing.

welcome home. sorry your vacation that wasnt a vacation sucked so much.

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

Vacations are so much darn work!Coming home rocks, except for the laundry part.

Louise said...

I'm not horrified AT you, but FOR you. I have to wonder what makes moms act like that. What makes them not see how much they hurt people. What makes THEM apparently not want a better relationship.

I love home, too, though, and I don't deal with that kind of stuff. I can only imagine how much more you love it.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

It's great to have a home you love to return to. Even though the pesky laundry always has to come.

Anonymous said...

I need to be alone a certain amount too...which is why vacations with others aren't always so healthy for me.
And as far as my mother? She hasn't spoken to me since Christmas, so your rant is all cool with me.

Mouthy Housewife said...

not many have such a wonderful relationship with their mothers. Trust me, you're not alone


jessica - TMH

Cookie said...

Ugh :S i'm going to visit my parents in northern VA nixt month. Can't say that I'm really looking forward to it either :S

Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels said...

No apologies needed! Even if I did have a great, non-dysfunctional relatioship with my mom... which I don't. So I know exactly how good it feels to be back home ;-) Welcome back!

Jennifer S said...

Complicated relationship with one's mother? I have no idea how to relate to that.

Ahem.

apathy lounge said...

I don't have that great a relationship with my mother either. My mother is like a hothouse plant and most of us start feeling very drowsy and weak after a visit...their house makes me want to lie down and take a nap.

Rebecca said...

I know exactly what you mean and it wasn't a rant at all. I love home and anytime I'm away from it, after a day or two I just want to go back. Even if I'm having a great time I just miss my stuff, my bed, my WALLS! And coming home after being away for a while always gives me new energy and perspective about my life too.

And the mother thing....hmmm, is there anyone out there that has a wonderful and healthy relationship with their mother? I talk to my mom every day and we're very close but when I visit there are many un-wonderful and un-healthy moments.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Welcome home! I totally agree about family vacations to families homes :-)

This is my first visit. Nice to meet you. I'll be back again soon.

Maggie May said...

Boy do I get this post.

Your mom picking on weight would make me nuuuts.

Audrey at Barking Mad said...

Reading this post makes it even more amazing that Megawatt just took a small road trip with me. Am wondering if she's going to be willing to do the same when she's 29 and not 19? Heck, I wonder if *I* would be willing to! There's no way in h3ll I'd be willing to go to the grocery store with my mother, let alone a road trip with her or stay in her home for more than dinner. You're pretty brave!

And I agree...home is the most awesome part of a vacation. No matter how much I love where I've been when I'm on holiday, there is absolutely nothing like coming home to my own familiar scents, my bed and most importantly, my PILLOW!

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