Mom and dad are in town visiting from the cold cold midwest, so adventures, here we come!
“Let’s go to Ojai,” I said. “It’ll be fun and relaxing,” I said. Nope. No way. No how. I’m really not sure at what moment in this entire plan I forgot that we have a 16 month old that gets stronger willed by the moment.
We stayed at the gorgeous Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. It was stunning! Even in the damp misting rain, which we had for the majority of the stay, you could not beat the views. And when the sun peaked out behind the clouds it was as if we were on heaven on earth.
So THANK YOU Odin, for keeping us all firmly planted on the ground. We were 0-3 in doing any dining experience. Valentine’s dinner? I don’t remember one. They tell me I was there, they say I even ate, but I have no recollection of the disaster it was.
Breakfast the next morning resulted in me spilling my dad’s coffee everywhere, grabbing my screaming child who was throwing potatoes all over the place, and dashing outside so the other guests could have somewhat of a wonderful dining experience that continually eluded us.
Same again for lunch that day. So crazy that even the waitresses had to give me the “we’re moms too and know this hell” pat on the shoulder. What do you do when it won’t stop raining and your kid is being extra crazy? Wine! So off to the winery we ventured. After about our third delicious taste of wine and Odin chowing down on their oyster crackers, the sun came out…literally and figuratively. He found an 18 month old kiddo to go pal around in the puddles with outside while we sipped and laughed at their silly exploring.
Learning our lesson, it was an order in evening. We sat in our fluffy robes eating pizza, sipping wine, and watching Ratatouille while Odin entertained us with his never ending string of silly babble. It. Was. Bliss.
Dad, Jordan, and Odin got all packed up the next morning while mom and I checked out. As we wait for our turn, there’s a mom with two sitting by the fireplace. Kiddo #1 is tugging and pulling, Kiddo #2 is screaming in the stroller, and I swear I saw my own reflection when I looked at that mom’s face. My mom leans over to me and says, “See, we all go through it. But isn’t it wonderful?”
Yes, yes it is. Sometimes it’s easy to forget when you’re in the trenches, or wanting some of that “normal” you had prior to kids, but always always always infinitely more wonderful.
Caitlin — Mom of Odin
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