And in that dream, I get one month off from my responsibilities as a mother, where I don't have to get up early and make lunches and take to school and pick up from school and supervise homework and hear another story about the imaginary unicorn who went to school.
Of course I am more realistic, and so God Willing, this coming Shabbat, my daughter will be having a sleep over from Friday to Saturday night with my parents, who will be visiting from the United States. That is assuming that Raphaela's cough does not develop into anything real; my parents are essentially coming to meet my brother's new baby, and I don't want her making anyone ill, especially not a newborn.
What will I do for that 36 hour period? I am hoping to make arrangements with friends and have some grown-up play time. Or maybe I will stay in my pajamas all Saturday and eat junk food all day. But this would be the first time that I will be alone, away from Raphaela, since she was born, unless you count the three days I was hospitalized with my emergency appendectomy.
There is, however, a major catch: the last two times my parents have visited Israel, marks the last two times that Raphaela fell and split open her chin, necessitating a visit to the emergency room at Shaarei Zedek Hospital. One of those events occurred when Raphaela was playing with my mother, who has never gotten used to my child's high level of energy.
Accidents, both times, totally unintentional and I do not blame my parents in any way. The second time we went to the emergency room, they looked at me funny and asked many questions to confirm that I am not a negligent or abusive parent. If we show up a third time with the same exact injury, I can pretty much guarantee that Social Services will show up at my door.
So yes, I admit that there is a part of me that does not trust my parents to keep my child out of harm's way, given their track record. Three times is NOT a charm. Considering that the entire weekend will be spent running around with cousins, I pray that the cycle of dangerous falls and stitches is over.
2 comments:
A mopnth is too long. 36 hours is just about right and you will be itching to see her by the end of it. My daughter does up to 48 hours with my sister when we go to Lonond and it's just enough.
She's older now, too. Gd willing you'll both enjoy the "vacation."
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