Spring Break has sprung a leak.

At least here in our home.

Instead of vacations to exotic locals, or trips to amusement parks–I’ve always been the one to work through school breaks…intent on cobbling together income from disparate corners of my life. Like many working moms I made these arrangements to spend as much time with my child, the plan–nurturing from infancy until the launch of elementary school education. I’d planned on returning to work full-time when my little darling was tucked safely into the arms of scholastic routine. But after more than a decade away, something’s changed.  Suddenly the career track looks more weedy-cobblestones than paved wide boulevard, more mud-pocked goat track than Avenue des Champs-Élysées…the stomach for stepping back into the swirling maelstrom of corporate indentured servitude isn’t there…so I continue on as before, resulting in another Spring Vacation spent at home.

Alone.

I’ve sent my family south on a road trip to LA where my husband is re-creating for our Freshman daughter some of the highlights of his youth. The hot dogs at Pinks were a hit (thought the much ballyhooed chili was panned) and Melrose killed (apparently we have a school shopping trip there in our future), and I’ve given them instructions to hit Santa Monica and Venice Beach at least once, since previous trips tended to linger more inland.

But as I sit here and reflect, I’m more cognizant than ever that time flows through my fingers like water and I think this is the last time I’m going to take a pass.

I wish you all peace, love, and time with those you love.

-LE