Rustin has been working a lot lately, which I'm not complaining about because at least he still has a job. This has left me to choose between taking the kids to do fun things by myself, or staying home. My first desire is always to go do something fun, but quickly the hesitation begins and I have to talk myself into going it alone. Besides the fact that I just love to have Rustin around, taking 4 kids on outings is not always easy, but the more I do it, the easier it gets. So, here are some of the things we have done without Rustin lately.
Spent an afternoon at the climbing gym after lunch at the park. I found that it's not entirely impossible to spot 3 monkey kids at once, while listening for a fourth to cry. I can honestly say I had fun, even though I didn't get to climb and I felt like a bit of a spectacle among the regular grunge crowd at the gym.
Took the kids for breakfast, boating, and lunch at Deer Creek with my parents. Of course I had mom and dad's help for this one, but I had to get us organized and in the car by myself (which is often half the battle). I got to ski, the kids did the tube (couldn't convince Logan to try to ski), Logan fished his heart out with no luck, I did a fair amount of relaxing in a chair in the sun thanks to Evan needing to nurse. I didn't stress out!! Amelia gave me flashbacks of my childhood as she danced and danced in the wind that blew quite hard in the afternoon. She was in her own little world and loved it. Logan and Malan hunted and caught nearly a hundred grasshoppers. My parents both skied while Malan spotted and I watched from the beach. My dad can still carve out some nice turns at almost 70.
We went to the Clearfield pool a couple of weeks ago for my niece Maren's birthday party. We've enjoyed various park outings including one to the Liberty Park water area. For some reason the water activities make me the most nervous to do on my own with the kids, so even though I had help from Brigita for both of these mentioned here, I'm proud of myself for not just staying home thinking it would be too hard to keep track of them all.
My parents and I took my kids plus my nephew Isaac to the Manti pageant and then camping after the show. We had a great time, and I only had one moment of panic that one of the kids was lost in the sea of people.
This past weekend I took the kids on our Johnson family camp-out in Hobble Creek Canyon. Rustin came for the second night, but I just had the kids for the first night. We had help from my family of course, but ultimately I had to be responsible for the safety and happiness of my four kids. And we did it! We had a great and even relaxing time. Then it just got better when Rustin joined us.
I know for some of you it may seem like no big deal to haul your kids around the world without other adult help, but for me (a confessed coward about some things, and recently inaugurated mother of 4) it is a big deal that I am "facing my fears," as Logan and Malan like to say, and getting out to enjoy life even when the love of my life can't be with us.
3 comments:
Jana - just noticed your comment on one of my old posts. Just so you know, I think I forgot (or to be more honest I was too lazy) to add you to our blog roll. Don't worry it wasn't on there and then removed because of your lack of posting. I did, however, enjoy your recent posts and am inspired by your gumption to go it alone. That's a big problem for me and I only have two! Thanks for the reminder about the blog roll. Now I'll remember to check in once in a while :) Love, Marcy
Way to go Jana! You are such an incredible mom and I need to learn to be like you since I am now in the stage of not having a husband at home either. I felt pretty brave the other day because I took Jake to the MGM to see the lions even though I'm freaked out of the strip.:) Hope you're doing well and I miss ya already!
How fun! It was so nice to see you at Grandma's funeral. You are such a great mom! I am really amazed at all you do!
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