I began daydreaming about a mother/son trip when I first saw the Expedia Find Your Storybook advertisement on TV. The one where the mother is reading her son a bedtime story and simultaneously on an awesome adventure with him.
…where villages floated on water and castles were houses, dragons lurked and giants stood tall and the good queen showed the boy it could all be real.
And then Lucas and I started butting heads.
Bad!
He’s five, so not listening, pushing my buttons and being defiant come with the territory. But I know that there’s more to it than that because when it’s just the two of us, he’s super.
Lucas has been very patient and understanding of my now divided time between him and his six-month-old sister but he doesn’t quite understand how much his Lola truly needs me right now.
I get it.
He misses me and being the center of my attention and this has been demonstrated by him asking more than once, “Can’t we leave Lola at home and go do something, just you and me?”.
Sigh.
I miss him too.
It has been particularly challenging now that it’s summer and he is not in school for a large portion of the day. We play a game of Uno or Connect Four in between diaper changes and bottle feedings. I’m constantly running back in the house to listen for cries while I should be focused on our game of Ring Toss in the backyard.
We’ve had some awesome mother/son dates, which for some reason are growing increasingly harder to schedule and since it’s summer, I really want to make an impact, leave an impression, do something grand with my son. And yes, put the mommy guilt at bay for a while.
So, with only two more weeks of vacation, what better time to get away, just the two of us? I’m hoping our mother/son trip becomes an annual tradition. This year we are tackling Chicago and leave Thursday. Lucas and I are both bursting with excitement over getting away and creating our own adventure, one that will include Navy Pier, Millennium Park, The Shedd Aquarium and deep dish pizza all without his little sister.
The idea of visiting the Windy City came from my desire to go there and all that it offers children. I’ve been to Chicago several times and I’m looking forward to seeing it through the eyes of my son.
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That sounds so fun! And I totally understand the divided attention. This is a really hard stage for kids AND moms. But you are such a patient and gentle person, I have no doubt you handle it with ease.
I think this is a great idea. I bet the two of you will have a wonderful time together. Hopefully this will help him to see that he is still extra special too.
This is such an incredible idea. Hope to see you both! If, however, you guys get caught up in the awesomeness of alone time, no worries. 😉
Wow! That will be so much fun! I cannot wait to hear all about y’all’s awesome trip! 🙂
What a great idea, I know you guys will have fun!
I totally get the need for one-on-one time with the little guy – I really miss that with both my boys. They are always together, either with me, their dad, all of us, or with their grandparents. It’s hardly ever just me with one of them. Need to do a mother/ son date with each one before the twins arrive!
Have fun in Chicago!
I’ve taken both my boys to DC with just the two of us. They are probably two of my favorite vacations ever. Reading this makes me wish I had started when they were younger.
Have fun!
I absolutely love that you’re doing this!! You’re going to make so many memories. I wish I could do that with my kids but I don’t even know if there’s enough time in a summer. Maybe someday… 🙂
When push comes to shove, I consider myself a pretty good dad . . . but the one-on-one time, well, I absolutely fail in providing it. When my kids are with me, I fear that they almost lose a bit of a sense of their own identity.
I need to fix this.
Here’s hoping the trip does just as you’re hoping it might 🙂
I am so happy that you and Lucas were able to get this trip together. I am sure he loved every minute of just having you to himself!