The Gallinats

proudest momma

We passed a major milestone this week – Bean had his first sans-parent sleepover Tuesday night!

Dave and I dropped him off at Gramma and Papa’s house to go to the hockey game (and for anyone who experienced the weather that night – don’t get me started on whether or not THAT was a good idea). He basically ignored us when we left, so I was the only one who cried – yea, me. Then, despite a good deal of pointless concern, he went to sleep at bedtime with minimal fuss and slept his usual 12 hours. He napped on Wednesday afternoon, just like (or perhaps even better than) he does at home and was well-rested and charming for the festivities on Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful time, even though he wasn’t really that interested in opening presents, and he went to bed like an angel when we got home three hours after bedtime. He even did me the courtesy of waking up and calling for me a couple of hours later, just so I’d know that he did miss me after all.

Dave and I haven’t had a date (a sans-baby date, that is) in … well, a long time, and I’d actually forgotten how much I love going to the hockey game with him. I looked forward to the date (and – trust me – sleeping in the next morning) for weeks, but it was so much harder to walk away than I thought it was going to be! Don’t even know what I was so worried about, just this vague thought that I was abandoning him, that he might need me and I wouldn’t be there. Not so. My little boy is not afraid of anything, and I should have known that he was going to be fine. But it wasn’t just being worried about him. I missed him. Our house was too quiet and empty without him, even during the hours that he would normally have been sleeping. Sure, it was nice to sleep in (and I slept more deeply that I have in the past year and a half) and drink coffee that was actually hot in the morning, but there was definitely something missing from my life.

And the same breath – I’m not going to lie – I really needed a break. As much as I love being a parent – and believe me, I really do – it is a FULL-time gig, and I don’t know how anyone does it without being able to set that responsibility down for a minute from time to time. It’s been a rough year, and I … it was good. I am beyond grateful that Dave and I have parents who are so willing to help out when we need it; okay, so Papa’s motivations are purely selfish, but that works to our advantage too.

Mostly I’m just unspeakably proud of my little one for taking everything in stride. I learn a lot from him.