** This thread discusses the Content article: Guilty Pleasures **




It's that time of the year again where I nick off for a week's skiing, leave the kids behind, and feel vaguely guilty for doing so. It's not massive guilt, by any means. It's just the small, lurking variety.



Actually, I've had this lurking guilt ever since I became a mum over 12 years ago. And the reason for that is - I'll let you in on a little secret here - I've always enjoyed spending short periods of time away from my own children.



It's not that I don't love them - I do. There's never been any doubt about that. But I'm the type of mum who waves goodbye, grabs her handbag and skips gaily off to work, relishing the fact that I'm about to have some kid-free time.



I've always loved being able to escape from the home front and go to work. At work, you don't get interrupted every two seconds, and you don't have to sing Wiggles songs. At work, no-one smears your face with peanut butter or vomits on you. At work, no-one wets their pants or throws red-faced screaming tantrums. Well... not often, anyway.




I'm lucky that when the kids were small and Steven and I were still together, we both worked part-time and shared the child-raising duties, from the time the babies were about six months old. Steven was just as capable as me of looking after them, so I never had any concerns about the standard of care they were getting.



Much as I loved my days at home with the kids, I always looked forward to my couple of days a week in the world of grown-ups. To be honest, I think I would have gone totally bonkers if I hadn't had that escape. Being at work is so much easier than childrearing! I confess I'm quite happy to shirk the hard work of parenting sometimes and head off for easier pursuits. Like this ski holiday, for instance.



I go on this annual trip with a long-time best friend. We met many years ago when we were both mad young things who'd turned up at a ski resort hoping to find work. Fast forward 25 years and we still keep in touch, escaping once a year for our girls' ski week.



Our week on the mountain is something we both crave. It sustains us for the year ahead. We ski hard every day until our legs feel like shredded string. We ride the chairlift and applaud the antics of the skiers and snowboarders below. We warm our hands on hot chocolates and turn our faces to the sun. We walk through crisp night air to the pub, watched by stars, our boots squeaking through dry snow. We miss our kids - we do, honest! - But we love having this break as well.



Perhaps I'm justifying myself, but I do believe that having some 'time-out' from parenting is a healthy thing to do, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I reckon my kids have learnt to respect the fact that I'm an independent person in my own right, and I'm not here on this earth solely to look after them. While I do a lot for my kids, I make sure I look after my own needs too.



Secondly, I think that having time-out makes me a better mum. After having a break from the domestic routine I'm glad to get back to it. Well... almost glad. I'll certainly be glad to get back to my gorgeous kids. On my last day on the mountain, I always buy some little presents to take home for them. When I'm browsing for trinkets and gadgets they might like I always stop to consider how truly blessed I am to have Max and Lauren to go home to.



So I guess the question is not 'Should I go on holidays without the kids?' so much as 'Should I enjoy myself quite so much?' Ah well, there's no time to consider that now. I've got to get ready to do some serious skiing and relaxing.



See you in a week!



Do you take 'time-out' from parenting?