I get my kids back tomorrow.
I’m heading towards them today.
Yes, I won’t see them until Saturday and I’ll be spending Friday night in Atlanta and not in Nashville – the drop off point that is halfway between here and there.
But at least, finally, I’m heading towards them.
Knowing that makes the ache left by their absence at once stronger and more bearable. They are so close – and yet not. quite. here. But closer than they have been in a month.
A month.
I can feel their bony arms and legs. They are, both of them, already too big for the squishy round parts of babies and toddlers. Their elbows and knees are pointy, their limbs always flailing. And I miss desperately the way they flail in my general direction. The fleshy parts of my hips are desperate for the lankiness of those tiny legs.
The legs that are less tiny now, having had a month to grow without me watching.
I’ve had snippets of Devin’s sarcastic chuckle over the phone. I’ve heard Emma’s tiny voice exactly twice in the last month, but have gazed upon her enormous grin a hundred times. The grin that comes from her toes and makes her chin jut out exactly like mine and her eyes squint up because her joy is just. so. big that her tiny face cannot contain it all.
I need to feel Devin’s sweaty head against my chest as he endures a hug from me, complaining and relishing the closeness at the same time.
I need to feel Emma push herself closer into my arms as she burrows into her favorite sleeping spot.
One. More. Day.
And I’ll have my children back.
And the part of me that has been sleeping for the past month will finally draw breath again. The house will once again errupt with the noises of fighting and squealing and bath times and cartoons.
One. More. Day.
And the two anchors that help keep me rooted will finally be back where they belong. Underfoot and in my arms, under my roof and a part of my daily routine.
One. More. Day.
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Posted in Kids and Parenting - Real Mommy Blogging Tagged: devin, emma, joy, kids
I’ve always found those kids with the blank black circular faces to be sort of freaky. Call me old-fashioned, but I just wouldn’t let my kids play with them if i had a choice.
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i do so love the sounds contained in a home with children. you have great kids.
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I totally get where you’re coming from. I only had to deal with a week and it was brutal.
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I’m just trying to figure out if they’re posing for a shitty cell phone camera or if someone used a real camera to take an actual photo of them.
I can tell how much you miss them, especially when you keep trying to tuck me into Emma’s princess bed and tell me stories whenever I’m over visiting.
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Awww. On a completely different note, how awesome and evolved are you for trusting your family with your children for an *entire* month? Good for you.
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My kids started taking what we call vacations without mommy about 3 years ago for my daughter and this year for my son. This summer was the hardest having them both gone at the same time. And we never seem to quite take advantage of the situation of being childless, but that reunion is the greatest. Be careful on your drive. And keep tissues for those “happy tears.”
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That photo makes me laugh. Devin looking disgusted and Emma looking entitled. hahahahaha
Enjoy, m’hija. And please drive safely.
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They are so freaking cute! I know how you feel – missing your kids is something that only having them around again can fix.
Woohoo! Safe driving!!
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Dude I dont know how you did it. It is awesome that you have people you can trust like that. There is NO ONE in my family I would trust my kids with even for one night. Sigh.
Glad you get to see them soon
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I so know that feeling, and my son has only been gone for 8 days at the longest stretch. The part of you that’s been sleeping, I KNOW that, but you described it EXACTLY. I can’t imagine a whole month away.
Horray for reunions. Safe travels.
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Yay! It feels weird coming over to your house and the kids not being there, all cute and crazy! I can’t wait to see them again.
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I think at most only one kid of our three has been away three days. I can’t imagine all three gone for a month. Yet, given our break from school and swimming meaning they are at each other’s throats, teasing incessantly, and constantly bored, I want to ship them off to college NOW. Do you think universitied take seven year olds?
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A month? Dang. It’s been a week for me, and it hurts.
Luckily, bourbon makes a great antiseptic.
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I’d love to witness the reunion. Enjoy!
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A whole month? Wow. You are a strong woman! I would have been curled in a fetal position with a bottle of vodka! I am so happy you will get to see them tomorrow! Smother them with a million kisses and breathe them in for hours before you let them go!
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Thanks for letting them come to IA! We had a blast both of the times we got to hang out with them! I’ll have to send some pics that we took
Good memories!
Do you and Jared come to IA every year at Christmas time?
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This is going to sound weird, but until I started reading momblogs, I never realized someone would miss their children. I thought they would be GLAD to get away. You can file this comment under “Obviously Not Motherhood Material.”
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My son goes to his dad’s for half the summer. I see him every-other weekend. In that 2 weeks he is gone he changes so much it is bittersweet.
I almost know what you are feeling. I get anxious when I know I get him back soon. I count it down and can’t wait to get a hug–even though he usually makes me wait a day or two. Enjoy!!!
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Oh how exciting!! Not long now!!!
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I can not imagine being away from my daughter for a month. Four or five days? Yes, please.
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I bet they can’t wait to see you. It won’t be long now. Awww. I am touched by this post, Britt.
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Britt, I am so glad you are getting them back tomorrow. Mine were gone for three weeks and I thought C and Sam and I would die.
We were all miserable and mopey. They came back this week, and there hasn’t been a quiet moment since. Enjoy!!!
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Yay! I bet they’ll be so glad to see you too after a whole month.
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well, having them away meant that I got to see you…so I’m happy about it for purely selfish reasons. I hope your drive today isn’t too crazy and your reunion with the kids is GREAT!
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they all wanted on the same rock, Elle & Emma were already on their tummies and the boys wanted on too, I had no camera, only my cell. I got way better pics the following night when I took them to play again. Great fun, the kids were devastated today when we went to the pool and they weren’t there.
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Awww! Enjoy your kidlets!
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I hope you’re enjoying your reunion with the kidlets, Britt. They couldn’t ask for a more loving mommy. Seriously. Especially cuz she’s a mad dancing queen
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I was gone from my brood for a week. Still, I understand the feeling completely.
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