I want to know what your first time was like.

Was it hard? Did you worry about it? What did you do?

Tell me about the first time that your baby stayed away over night without you?

I know it’s Friday and I usually Flip Off with Gigi over at Kludgy Mom but I need to ask you about this instead.  I’ll be Flipping Off again next week.

Piglet is going to stay at my parents on Sunday.  She is being picked up Sunday morning and coming back Monday lunchtime.  I am completely divided by this.  Part of me is looking forward to the chance to rest and relax.  The other part is upset at the thought of being without my baby girl.

My Mum rang at the beginning of this week to say that she and my Dad had been talking and wanted to offer to have Piglet for the night.  She said they have been worried about me recently.  Worried about the constant lack of sleep (usually 4 hours a night if I’m lucky), that I’m getting run down, taking on too much and never really had a chance to recover from Piglet’s birth (a rough time, future blog post maybe?).  Mum said that I often sound down when she speaks to me (exhaustion will do that!).

I didn’t really know what to think.  Rich and I have agreed because we know it needs to happen.  We know I need a break, that I need a chance to rest, relax and gather some energy.  We also know that we need some time to be together, just us.  It sometimes feels like we have lost sight of ‘us’.  Lost sight of our marriage through the tired haze, the constant onslaught of sleepless nights and napless days with a very energetic, active nearly 8 month old.

The thought of her being away scares me.  I’ve been in tears a few times already just thinking about it but I know it’s for the best.  I know she will be fine, will be safe and will have a great deal of fun being spoilt by Granny and Grandpa (who she has wrapped around her chubby little fingers!).  I worry.  I worry that she will hurt herself somehow, that she will be confused, that she will miss me, that she won’t miss me…Stupid huh?

So I’m trying to turn this on its head.  From Sunday morning I have 24 hours.  24 hours of peace.  24 hours to do whatever I like, with no interruptions, no leaping up to make bottles, no nappies to change.  24 hours to read, rest, have fun with Rich, take a long bath and fall asleep knowing I won’t be woken at 4am.  All the things I’ve been fantasising about for months!

So please tell me.  What was it like the first time your kids went away for the night?  Did you find it easy to relax once they had gone?  Am I just being silly or is it normal to feel like I do?