Children are appreciated most when they are fully returnable...

No receipt required.

I became an aunt on my side of the family on 11/11/11 to a beautiful little peanut! I spent a lovely four days in the hospital with my sister, sleep at a minimum.

For me, too.

But that's okay, because I love my niece and because I will give her back to her mother when I go home, where my children are old enough to get up on their own AND even make me breakfast!

They are well-trained, but it took a good 13 years.

I had so much fun being my sisters labor Sherpa, that I decided to go visit my best friend and her adorable children. Meanwhile, it's been almost two weeks since I have even TALKED to my own children, and they don't seem to have noticed I am gone.

So where does this leave me?

On vacation.

Even though I am no where fun, no where warm and sunny, not sleeping in and surrounded by small children...it's not upstate NY and it's not my responsibility to do anything. I simply do it because I want to, rather than because I have to. It makes a huge difference. I feel happy and relaxed.