What I learned on my non-summer, non-vacation

I’ve never been so tired from a vacation trip in my entire life.  I’m not complaining about spending a week in the sunny mountains of Colorado, but oh man, if someone would have told me I would have been woken up at 5:30 every morning only to take care of a delerious non-napping toddler for the duration of my vacation trip, I would have asked to be sent back on the next flight back to O’Hare even if the only spot was in the cargo hold.

Vacations trips as a solo parent are exhausting.  While Nana and Papa are supremely helpful, no one is mommy.  No one can put a jacket on like mommy. No one can fill a glass of milk like mommy.  No one can wipe a nose like mommy. No one can play with the zebras and “smooth tigers” like mommy.  Yes, we bring the Schleich on vacations too.

There were times of pure joy and happiness in between the mommy mommy whining.  Ever see a 3-year-old on skis? It’ll melt your heart.  And your wallet, but that’s where Nana and Papa’s helpfulness come in handy.

I ignored couldn’t hear the shouting for mommy through the helmet.

I know I’m extremely lucky to have been able to get away like this.  But I just once wanted the roles to be reversed.  Mommy, can I get you a glass of milk? Mommy, would you like to sleep in after sunrise?

But as such, I am the mother of a toddler, who, in strange locations, just needs a familiar being to latch onto.  Besides, by the end of the vacation trip, everyone around me was too tired to pitch in even if the little man would have let them.

Ski lesson for the grandson: $100. Falling asleep on bench at lunch spot: priceless.