Mama’s Going Out of Town: Reactions From a Concerned Community

When I was three years and three kids into Motherhood, I embarked on one of my most exciting journeys. A trip the HELL out of dodge. Without my husband. Without my kids. Just me, a cruise ship, the open ocean, and 9 of my best Mamas.

I was excited and apprehensive and happy and nervous and all the emotions. To be honest, I love to WATCH a Mom vacation a la Real Housewives of Every Single Franchise Ever, but there was always a part of me that was like, “why do they want to go out of town without their families so often???”

Now, I know.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Because unlike the Real Housewives of Everywhere, the drama surrounding my trip happened entirely before we set sail. Basically, the moment I told anyone I was going somewhere. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, “Who’s watching the children?,” I could probably have paid for the entire trip. If I got another dollar every time someone had to pick their jaw up off the floor when I answered, “Uh….their father,” I could have covered my bar tab. Which, for the record, ended up being a very significant total. But I digress.

The people around me were VERY concerned with me going on this trip. Offers to assist Chad flew in from every corner of my universe. I could leave confident that no one would go hungry, because the neighborhood was going to band together and bring a collection of casseroles and baked goods. His arms would never ache because the biddies at church all volunteered to come over and “just hold the baby” while he tended to the other children. Other people got fancy with their plans. “I’ll take Evie, we can do something fun! Then see if your Mom can take the baby, that way Chad can just hang out with Cole! Guy time!”

Basically the message was this: If Mommy was irresponsible enough to just go and LEAVE her children with a practical stranger their Father, then my village was going to step in and provide backup.

Perhaps this leaves a questionable perception of my husband. By all accounts, he’s a pretty hands on Dad in every day life. He changes diapers, he plays and reads, he knows his way around a onesie.

But I get it. Three days is a lot of time with the kids. He isn’t as used to doing everything day after day after day. Alone. Let’s be real, three days would be a lot for anyone.

Know how I know that?

BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAS TO TRAVEL FOR WORK AND I DO THIS ALL THE FREAKING TIME.

When he went to Wichita for three days, where was my casserole???

When he went to Utah for a week, who was coming over to hold my baby???

When he left to Connecticut for two days when our third baby was TWO WEEKS OLD who the EFF took the reigns and doled out my other children so I could focus on the tiny ball of NEED???

Yeah, crickets.

So I stood there, patiently listening to all the concerned voices and when they felt like they’d said their piece, I told them all the same thing, “Thank you, that’s very generous, but he’ll be fine.”

And guess what?

He was.

With a little help from my Mom.

Mamas going on vacation

19 thoughts on “Mama’s Going Out of Town: Reactions From a Concerned Community”

  1. Ha I love this! Sometimes mama has to get a little time away, and props to your husband for taking it on. I do have that mom guilt when I go away and plan way more than I do when I am just at home to make sure that no one starves (which my husband knows how to do a few things on his own, ha).

  2. LOL!!! This is SO SO TRUE!!! And the best part….when you are back or have the nerve to complain that it is hard to be home with the kids his reply is… “It’s not so hard….”

  3. This is so true!! I also love when you go out for a momma’s night and everyone says, “Oh, daddy is babysitting.” No, dad is parenting, he doesn’t just babysit he is the father who helps in the parenting process.

  4. Whooaaaa. Sounds like u had a gala time! N thatis so crucial for the well being of a mom. She is also a person who needs a break sometimes.
    N yesss!?
    I hear you about the incapabilities of fathers. It annoys me no end everytime someone behaves like dada is only half a parent. Ugh.

  5. Haha I love this! It’s amazing how judgmental people get about moms leaving their families to get a breather. A cruise sounds wonderful!

  6. All moms deserve some time away. Mine usually consists of a spa day, but good for you! With the amount of judgement on fathers, sometimes it makes me wonder just what kind of men some are involved with when they express such surprise that a father can actually do his part and more.

  7. I cracked up! Everytime ‘dad’ has to be alone with the kids everyone throws on their capes. I’m not going to lie, when I leave my boyfriend alone with the kids I am a nervous wreck but he handles them so well. We should really be more confident in dads!

  8. So, so, so dang true…. My husband travels at least once a month and I handle it just fine. My in-laws usually come over one afternoon to “help,” but we all know it often feels like more work when in-laws come over, even if they’re awesome like mine are. I’m so happy you got a vacation!! Moms NEED IT!

  9. This is so funny ? I cant believe it. Im alone with the kids ALL the time too. My husband has been encouraging me to go away with friends and has offered to stay with the 3 kids. Theres no doubt in my mind he would be fine.

  10. Hahaha, I love this. When I have things to do for an afternoon, my husband will suggest seeing if his mom wants to come over and help out. . . he gets a “look” until he adds, “I mean, not that I can’t handle them. Just so she can see them.” Mmmmhmmm.

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