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homesick

kids inc

Slumber Parties – bring your own mommies

Photo from inmagine.com

Photo from inmagine.com

My friend’s kid (Tru’s new best friend) had a sleepover at my place over the weekend. I’ve got no idea what eight-year-old girls are into these days (I was a real geek back then), so we got the Nintendo Wii and a bunch of board games to keep her occupied. I can’t imagine why she’d want to hang out with a couple of old fogeys, but I guess it means we’re still relatively happening.

I think Tru’s got his first crush though. (I told you he’s advanced for his age) He’s besotted with her and the whole time she was here, he would giggle hysterically at everything she did. Mommy has been displaced now that he’s found a new friend to play with.

I’ve brought him on many play dates with kids his age, but he isn’t as enamored by them. He’ll grab their toys and tolerate their presence, but with big kids, he seems to know that they’re much cooler and a lot more fun.

I hope it doesn’t become a trend when he grows up. I mean, older women are great, but I’d recommend someone closer to his age. (See, mothers worry about all kinds of unnecessary trifles. It’s like a disease. I’m taking medication for it.)

We had intended to stay up to play all night, but since I’m way past the age of pulling an all-nighter, we called decided to call it a night at 12.30. It’s the responsible parenty kinda thing to do anyway. It was all good until bedtime, when our little sleepover friend decided the sudden drop in adrenaline from the day’s excitement was too much to handle. Which resulted in a bad case of mommy-sickness. It was a good thing she stayed 5 mins away, so we could rush her back home at the drop of a hat.

The thing about mommy-sickness is that there’s only one cure – your Mommy. I think it’s the smell or the feeling of being held and snuggled which makes everything better. Totally psychological, like how kissing a boo-boo works wonders. Someone else’s mommy doesn’t work cos it’s just not the same. As it turns out, a reassuring chat with mommy over the phone seemed to do the trick, and two bedtime stories later, she was out like a light.

It was all really sweet actually. I was also hoping Tru would miss me like that when he grows up and has his first slumber party. But somehow boys seem to have an immunity against mommy-sickness, or they’re just too macho to admit it. Good thing I’ve got a girly girl on the way.

i embarrass myself sometimes

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Before I gave birth, I used to laugh at parents who developed severe separation anxiety disorders. A friend of mine had originally booked a holiday without the kid, but then decided it was too painful to jet set off to see the world without her little precious for five days. She started bawling her eyes out at the airport, and came right back after spending a grand total of 24 hours in the Maldives.

Naturally, I had a ton of witticisms about that particular incident. In fact, my mom can attest to the fact that I declared I’d take a 3-week holiday to California without Tru within a year of his birth. Apparently, I said “I’m too cool to be that clingy and needy.” (it’s all a little fuzzy in my mind right now)

Obviously, I spoke too soon, and I’ve got a funny feeling I’d have to eat my words at some point.

So during my prolonged battle with the flu, my mom offered to watch Tru for 2 nights so I can take a break and get some rest. It seemed like a brilliant idea. My mind told me to shut up, thank my lucky stars and celebrate 48 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

But as soon as I stepped out of the house, I started experiencing a whole host of unexpected symptoms, including but not limited to nausea, breathlessness, headaches, dizzy spells, heart palpitations, profuse sweating and blurred vision. I also had this horrible, homesick, sinking feeling in my gut, reminiscent of the days when I was away at school camp without my mommy and my teddy.

I stood outside my mom’s house for several minutes, torn between sleep and my miracle drug. I couldn’t believe I was turning into one of those disgustingly needy mothers. I was hoping Tru would kick up a big fuss so I’d have an excuse to bring him home, but he seemed perfectly happy to spend the night at Grandma’s.

Well, it was way too embarrassing to turn back so all I could do was suck it up, wipe the snot from my nose and stop being a wuss. But I have to admit, I was bawling all the way back home.

Laugh all you want, but there’s no way I’m going for a holiday without the kids.