What a spectacular disaster. I am up for a travel blogger award BUT am so far removed from anything vaguely resembling a travel blogger it’s a joke.
Guess what just happened. I’ve been invited to go to America on a blog trip. ALL EXPENSES PAID!!!! To a gorgeous location. Which would have been perfect because as a travel blogger, it is sort of important to be able to travel. Whilst it’s never easy to get away – as a single mother of three children it’s even harder. Even with the help of family and friends there is a lot of juggling to be done, but of course I could make it work. I HAD TO.
Then.
I looked at the dates. Heart sinking moment followed by brain persuading me it was all going to be fine. Talked to as many people as I could find who were going to agree that I should go. Then some others who thought I probably shouldn’t but I knew in my heart that I was going to have to decline the invitation. The trip is right in the middle of my daughter’s GCSE’s. I’m sure she’s going to do just as well without me….but what if something went wrong – what if she wasn’t fed and watered properly or somebody else forgot to pick her up for school or she was stressy and needed a hug/cup of tea/new mascara/reassuring words/a laugh/a chat/a clean skirt/a sharp pencil/a person to test her/…..that’s my job. I can do all those things. Not very well. But nevertheless, you can’t underestimate that sort of support when you need it.
How grown up is that?
I am having a proper grown up mother moment interspersed with angry little tantrum like sparks for the unfairness of life sometimes (picture Rumplestiltskin).
However, aside from the blog – which of course shouldn’t be dictating the entire focus of my life – my responsibilities as a mother are top of the list – anyway, essentially I’m a family blogger – “FAMILY AFFAIRS AND OTHER MATTERS” – it would be a little inappropriate to ignore the “FAMILY” element at this point.
So there we are then.
That is probably the last invitation I will ever get.
Oh well.
Such is life.
Right decision made on this occasion.
Trish - Mums Gone to
April 21, 2012As someone else in the travel category, I’m also wondering why I’m not travelling anywhere so you’re in good company. We would normally have had an Easter break and possibly a little holiday in June, but my son has his GCSEs too so I’m trying to keep things stable at home so he can revise. Though, to be honest, I’m not seeing a great deal of it at the moment: we’d have been as well going away.
You’re making the right decision for your daughter, I’m sure. (I hope she is eternally grateful for your sacrifice!)
Family Affairs
April 22, 2012Sadly there will be NO appreciation for parental sacrifice….perhaps when we’re very old….Lx
Kelloggsville
April 22, 2012I’m definitely free on those dates! Lol
Bush Mummy
April 22, 2012Oh bugger.. how annoying. I was very excited for you for a moment. However, you would probably have spent the entire trip feeling guilty and wishing you were home with her, so rest assured you have done the right thing. When she is a qualified doctor/lawyer/brain surgeon/vet/movie star/writer or whatever she chooses to be, she can take you on a free trip to America, right?
Good call..
BM x
Family Affairs
April 22, 2012YES – GOOD PLAN x
Anna
April 22, 2012I totally get why you are up for a travel blog award – when you do travel, your accounts are vivid, tongue-in-cheek playful, covering all the essential stuff that people worry about when they go away and push all the right “expectations buttons” as well. It’s must be your joie de vivre shining through! So, it doesn’t really matter whether you go on this particular trip or not – it looks like there are many more in store for the future.
Family Affairs
April 22, 2012Aaah. Thanks – how lovely of you to say that Lx
English Mum
April 23, 2012SO gutted for you and of course they’ll ask you again xx