After Vacation Blues

The “after vacation blues” hit me today.

I wasn’t sure they’d come my way this time around. Yesterday I was flying high. I made a gourmet dinner, fancy dessert, elaborate drinks, and even dressed the formal dining room table in honor of our Family Valentine’s Day.

But then, today arrived. No holiday to celebrate. No vacation fun. No warmth.

Just. Reality.

Oh, I love my life and this is not disregarding how grateful I am. I also recognize that reality is a very different state of being than “vacation life”. There are responsibilities… alarm clocks, dirt on the floor, four meals a day to shop for and somehow make happen, returns to make, shuttling of children, cleaning…

And the reality of raising humans weighs heavily today. My middle child and I went over his spelling words and I worked with him on writing his letters more clearly. My oldest is randomly inviting everyone and their brother to his birthday party that I have yet to plan. And my youngest didn’t make it to the bathroom again. This one hit the hardest because he did on vacation. It’s like vacation is when we are all at our very best! And reality is where we stumble, trip, and contemplate sleeping an extra hour – or two.

It’s just the blues. Perfect indication that our trip away was that good.

The letters will come. I will figure out the birthday details (and somehow stuff hundreds of children into our home). And no average child goes to college in a pull up. The blues don’t last forever. Just for a day or a few days – tops is a week. Right?

After all, St. Patrick’s Day is literally just around the corner.