"Not-a-mom" time

All I wanted was a chance to pretend like I was 20 again.

My husband and I are attending my 10-year college class reunion at Valparaiso University’s Homecoming next weekend in Northwest Indiana. I have been delighted to hear that many of my closest friends from college will also be attending. I could just picture it: All of us sitting around, reminiscing about old times, laughing about how naïve we were back in the day.

Long ago we booked my parents, who live in the Chicago area, to sit for Tyler. I plan on having fun during this one-day journey into my past, and chasing a very active toddler around a university campus is not my idea of fun. Plus, Tyler’s very early bedtime (6 p.m.) would mean that either my husband (also a Valpo alum) or I would miss the Young Alumni Reunion at a local bar on Saturday night. No thanks.

So I was bummed to hear that several of my college friends are, indeed, bringing their young children and babies to the reunion. So much for reliving our youth. While Mark and I will be blissfully gallivanting around town (well, if you call staying out past 6 “gallivanting”), our friends will be busy with their children.

Of course, their reasons are completely understandable. One pair of friends will be toting along a 2-month-old who, of course, is nursing constantly. Another couple will be bringing their 9-month-old twins because they, too, are still nursing. And I’m sure babysitters aren’t easy to come by for some of my other friends.

I guess it just hadn’t occurred to me that our 10-year reunion would be more of a family occasion. I have to admit that I relish opportunities to get breaks from my son. Of course, I love being around him; I just love my “not-a-mom” time, too. My husband and I are youth group leaders at our church, and the other leaders always laugh when I breathe a sigh of relief every time I’m at a function without Tyler. It’s fun being just me for a change!

That’s what I love about Mothers & More events—the “me” time. It’s so nice to sit down at a game night, sip a glass of wine and feel like an adult again. I can have discussions with adults about adult topics—not discussions with a toddler about why it’s not a good idea for him to watch Dora the Explorer all day long.

I’m especially looking forward to some meaningful adult discussion at Tuesday’s open house—“Navigating Through ‘Mommy Politics’ in a World Where Everyone Parents Differently,” from 7-9 p.m. at St. John Vianney in Brookfield. I’ll see you there!

--Beth