"When are we leaving?"

"We aren't going anywhere today. We spent the day at the pool and now I have dinner to make." I explained to my daughter.

"Nooooooo. When are we leaving to drive YOU to YOUR mommy vacation?"

"Tomorrow. Tomorrow I leave." I explained.

My children have never been away from me, for longer then a couple of hours.

So when Lola asked me today if it was time for me to leave, I was a little shocked. I was expecting DRAMA and TEARS and HUGS and TANTRUMS as I walked through the security gate at the airport. This is what I envisioned our good-byes to be.

"When is it tomorrow? How many MINUTES? I want my toys!!!"

"I want MY TOYS too, sweet Mama." Jay chimed in. "When are you leaving?"

Over the weekend, when I explained to them I was leaving, I took them to Target and promised to buy them each a "medium expensive" toy. My children never get toys outside of their birthdays and Christmas. Sometimes they earn money for their own Legos, that happens once every full moon. But very rarely if never, do I just buy them a toy. Heck, the last time Fifi got a toy was on trash day in our neighborhood. I don't want them to be consumed by material items.

I won't allow the kiddos to open their toys until I leave.

I figured that they would be excited with a new toy and not focus so much on my departure.

I figured right.

See how easy it is to replace a loving mother?