Claire (Modern Family): I'm a mom traveling with my kids. This isn't a vacation; it's a business trip!
Deep down, I sorta, kinda find holidays with my young children a bit hard work. Same shite, different location. There's never a question of 'getting away from it all' - the whining, the bickering, the 'mum can I'ing... it's all coming with us.
Still, that doesn't stop me from being euphoric at the idea of getting away from it all. The relaxing, the lack of routine, the newness of it all. Frankly, these days the thrill is in the idea of a holiday.
So, theoretically, I've already had my holiday. I've been looking forward to this week away up the coast of NSW for two months now. We're in a house on a lake (the view above is what I'll be looking at - the photo was taken the last time we were at the lake) with a darling cafe right by us. There are little tinnies for fishing and bikes for riding, a playground, a sandy beach, a BBQ, a deck with a view. Magic. And for all my moaning, I really can't wait to be with my gorgeous tsunamis and their equally yummy dad for a whole week, uninterrupted. Gran and Pops are even joining us, so quality time for everyone - something I cherish.
While I'm gone, I've asked a few of my most favourite writers to come and write on the topic "What my children have taught me about myself". It's a topic that interests me hugely and my guest writers are all so very unique in their approach to blogging and mothering that I think we're in for a real treat.
My Friday writer is Gillian Martin, co-author of Cocktails at Naptime: the Woefully inept Guide to Early Motherhood . Gillian has generously given me two copies of her very funny, very fabulous book to give away. To be in the draw, all you have to do is leave a comment sometime during the week to show my guests some love (or WTF?, of course. We're all about honesty here in Maxabellaland!!). Every comment gives you an extra ticket in the draw.
I hope you enjoy the week! I'm sure I will... really!