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One of the perks of being a teacher is that you share holidays with your school age children. Not only does it cut down on the daycare costs to be off at the same time, it also opens up the vacation possibilities. Unfortunately, circumstances over the past few years (birth of a baby, tumour, and poverty in consecutive years) have prevented me from taking advantage of the opportunity and going on holiday over March Break.

This year, though, circumstances are different: No one is being born or having major surgery, and I've been working fairly steadily this past month. Steadily enough that when my parents suggested that we get away for a couple of days, I was able to leap at the offer. I think I was as excited as the Ladies at the prospect of hitting the open road and heading out into adventure, which is how I found myself wedged in the backseat of my parents' car with the booster seat, the car seat, and the dvd player, heading of to Niagara Falls.

Not exactly your traditional vacation spot for a Canadian family on a March Break getaway, and it certainly had the potential to end very badly: Vast expanses of water, Marineland, and one of of the tallest ferris wheels in North America--pretty much all of my greatest fears, conveniently located in a few blocks radius from our hotel. However, from our room overlooking the dinosaur mini golf on campy Clifton Hill to the butterfly conservatory, to the absolutely perfect weather for walking the Falls, it was a perfect trip. The Ladies even got to ride the dreaded skywheel, and I didn't even have to take them. My dad, forever cementing his position as Best. Grampa. EVER. took them up. My dad, who hasn't been on a ferris wheel in roughly 30 years--ever since vowing "never again" after taking me up on one. Ah, the things we do for love.

Traveling with my parents again after so many years brought back memories of many other trips sandwiched into the back of many other cars. Some, like the tour around the Great Lakes as a sullen teenager who would have much rather stayed home, and made no bones about it, came back with total clarity. Others, like a half-remembered ride on a ferris wheel, crouching in terror behind my brother's legs, or the dreamlike impression of pink elephant footprints that my mother assures me signify a trip to the Detroit Zoo, are so hazy as to be almost mythical. All of them are treasured, though; reminders of a childhood that was filled with adventure, love, and large older brothers crowding the backseat.

I wasn't sure how it was going to be, travelling with The Ladies, and I'll admit I was pleasantly surprised. The novelty of the attractions cut down on a lot of the whining I think, and, thanks to that portable dvd player, we were only treated to a couple of courses of "Are We There Yet?" sung in the Key of Diva. Having my parents along also meant that I got to spend some one on one time, something that doesn't often happen when you're a solo mom with two kids. But with Gramma and Grampa there to wrangle the Toddler Formerly Known As Zen (I am in deep denial and refuse to acknowledge her new preschooler status), I was able to spend some one on one time with Diva Girl, watching her strut her stuff in the pool and hanging out on Clifton Hill after dark were highlights of the trip not for the huge excitement or fun factor of the activity, but because it gave us a chance to just have fun together without any distractions. And, cute though she is, making sure that the Baby doesn't drown in the pool is nothing if not distracting.

I'm so very glad I took my mom up on her suggestion of a March Break getaway. The escape from our ordinary lives was a refreshing change of pace, and a far more pleasant way to spend the week than refereeing sibling wars, negotiating tv time, and generally dealing with the fallout of a week of disrupted routine. Sure, the routine was disrupted anyway--it's not everyday that Regan naps while touring the Falls--but it's somehow easier to take when it's my choice, and not the inevitable fallout of having Sabrina home for more than a couple of days at a time.

Pleasant though our flight from reality was, we're back in the real world now. The world of responsibilities, deadlines, mealtimes, and laundry. I'll try to do the Bookclub post tomorrow or Saturday at the latest, but I won't apologize for the delay; I wouldn't have missed those rainbows for the world.

Comments

what an awesome experience for the girls, having grandparents who are so keen to be involved. I envy you the trip, its one of the places I have always wanted to go.

Sounds like a lovely trip! And I'm with you on the Ferris Wheel fear...now that I have kids, that is.

Good for you for taking a break! You go mama! You sound energized.

FYI, the singles columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Diane Mapes, wrote a piece yesterday called "Don't be childish about dating a mom."

Read it here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/307321_singles15.html

Alas, those anti-single mom guys are at it again, claiming in their comments that we "are not really serious partner material" and we are "over-focused" on our kids.

I want to encourage single moms to speak up.... If you want to read the comments -- and I encourage you to respond if your skin is thick -- please do so here:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/soundoff/comment.asp?articleID=307321

Best,
Rachel

Rachel,

I read the article and the attending comments and I have to say that I thought, excepting Mavery, who is clearly an idiot, they were pretty rational.

While I don't think single parents are "over focussed" on their children, I do think they view those children as their primary relationship, and I can see that being a real stumbling block when trying to build a relationship with another adult. Afterall, how many people want to go into something with the understanding that they will always come second? I know I wouldn't. And I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with someone who would accept that role for himself.

Hooray for vacations! My family and I visited Niagara Falls once when I was a child and again about a decade ago, since it was near a family wedding. I remember being fascinated by the stories of people going over the falls in barrels, but on the second trip, I was much more interested in how they converted water movement into electric energy. Ah, how times change. ;)

Good points Kimberly!

Interesting: a feature came out this weekend in the Star-Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) which partly addresses this issue that you mention: "When kids become confidants: Single parents often enjoy a special bond with their children. But too much togetherness could stunt growth -- for both."

Check it out here: http://www.startribune.com/218/v-print/story/1057762.html

Best,
Rachel Sarah