The Joy of Weekend Getaway

[disclaim]Untuk versi Bahasa Indonesia baca di sini ya.[/disclaim]

It’s been ages since the last time I went on a vacation alone with my boy. The last time we travel together was back in 2009 when we traveled back to visit his grandparents in Florida before we flew to Guangzhou, China to be with his father. A was only 2 years old back then. The majority of the time, since his very first flight at 8 months old up we travel together just us to except for some family trips here and there.

That’s why when I got the opportunity to take him for a weekend getaway with him I took it.

That’s what we did last weekend. Flew to Bali and stayed at Novotel Benoa hotel (review post coming soon). Weeks before we left A has been so excited that he started counting the days. It was his first time ever to Bali.

The whole way from the airport my boy has been super excited that he couldn’t stop smiling. Part of me wished I could bottle his excitement up and showed him when he’s all grown up.

While we waited for our flight, I noticed how tall my boy has gotten. Then it hits me…he is growing up right before my very eyes. Since when those legs got that long?! There’s hardly any traces left of his babyhood.

As a single parent who works full time and lately I’ve been working late nearly every day – sometimes I didn’t even get to see him at all – moments like those to be alone with my son feels extra specials. It is so precious because I can fully be present with him. Listening to him talking about minecraft without worrying about work. It is really in the little things.

Although it was his first time in Bali and there are so many things to do there, I deliberately chose to pretty much stay in the hotel the whole time. I feel like it is important to make him happy this time around and his happiness is fairly simple. The chance of having a mother – son weekend getaway may not come very often so I wanted to make the most out of it. The whole time all we did was eating – swimming – eating – swimming and sleep. As simple as that!

Happiness really is simple for children.

“This is the best day of my life!” he repeatedly said that while we were in Bali and my heart was full of love. All we did was swimming and playing by the beach. He spent so much time in the pool that he got so tanned – which I love by the way – while me? I just got dark!

Ever since he was a baby, he loves flying. Maybe because his father works with airplane plus his mother love to travel, he inherited that love of flying. While other kids cried in the plane from boredom or cabin pressure, not mine! When he was little he used to cry when we landed. Why? He just love flying. He was pouting so hard when we landed in Jakarta that I nearly giggle seeing him like that. Instead, I hugged him and I assured him we will have another trip as soon as we can. I thanked him for being well behaved too.

Although during our weekend getaway just about everyone asked us way too personal things about how I obviously have a mixed race child (this can actually make for a whole new blog post) and made me uncomfortable, we ended up having a blast in our weekend getaway.

Have you ever have a vacation or getaway alone with your child? Do share your story.