Pass

I had a really crummy day yesterday. Nothing that was really all that bad all on it's on, but rather a string of FAILS that accumulated into one big crappy FAIL day. I would elaborate, but that would take an hour of boring blog-post that I would not want to subject any of my sweet friends to that. We'll just sum it all up by saying that sometimes being a stay at home mom who AND a work at home mom is really really frustrating and stressful though, i promise, I do not take it's many advantages for granted. By yesterday afternoon, I was spent. The boss informed me that a dear old friend of ours was coming into town and wanted to see some other old friends in Rome on Friday night(tonight) and he wanted us to get a babysitter and go out with him. I couldn't have been more happy at the thought of hugging Drew's skinny neck and hanging out with him and other close friends/family. The thought of stressing over finding a babysitter last minute after a crappy day and actually going out tonight and staying out late? Mehh, not so many happy feelings about that. The boss told me all about the plans through a text message which is typically how we communicate while he is at work now since we both have "impeccable" timing in interrupting the other during a chore. I waited much longer than normal to respond. Well, the biggest reason was because I was driving and couldn't respond immediately, but I also wanted to think about it for a few minutes before committing one way or another. 

If you read my last note, you know I love lists. Since I was driving, I couldn't make a list but I did think up one:

Pro's of saying "Sure, that sounds great"

-If I couldn't find a babysitter, I could always go back and say "pass"

-If I decided at the last minute that I just didn't have the energy, I could still back out

-A break away from house and kids that isn't "work" would be nice

-I'd get to spend time away from house and kids with my husband and friends

Pro's of saying "Pass"

-No mad scramble to find a sitter

-No guilt of leaving my kids after being away from them for several hours yesterday and knowing I will be away from them most of the day tomorrow(I have a wedding to shoot tomorrow and it's going to a long work day)

-I can stay at home and catch up on picture editing

-I can go to bed early

-I can drink for cheap :-) 

-Kids will get in bed at a normal time, making them better for the boss tomorrow when he is alone with them all day.

-If the boss decides that HE needs a babysitter tomorrow, he can get one guilt free since no one is babysitting them tonight!

-I say that Drew is "our" friend, but he and The boss have been very close friends for several years and they rarely get to hang out without me and the kids around. So I thought it would benefit them to have some time away from the boss' "baggage". 

The only Con to responding with "Pass" was that if I changed my mind at the last minute, I couldn't get out of it. Once I decide not to get a sitter, I have no option of finding someone to watch 3 kids at the last minute on a Friday night. 

Stuck at a traffic light on my way home, I finally picked up my phone and responded "Pass". 

It's really hard to turn down an invitation to go do something fun with other adults. Sometimes, the break just isn't worth the stress. I know when I need a break and am not afraid or ashamed to ask for one. But tonight? I'm happy to be home with my kids enjoying a boring, quiet, Friday evening and an early bedtime. 

Have a great weekend!

(The boss, Me, and "uncle Drew" at a wedding in January 2009. Those were good times. No, I have no idea what we were doing.)

And I still got to hug his skinny neck after all :-)