Summer: A different kind...Empty nest for 6 weeks

The kids are in India for summer this year. They have done this before, and its always different!

My husband went to drop the 3.5 and the 8.5 year old to spend time with the grandparents, cousins and just 'relax' over summer.

Day 1: That's what they are doing, relaxing. They have played cricket with cousins, eaten more ice creams then they could count, chatted with daadi and are over all, done nothing but still accomplished everything: Peace of mind and giggles. Lots of them.

This experience will be fun for them. It really is and I am hoping the next 6 weeks is filled with more 'nothingness'. I can call it 'cultural immersion' it's honestly not. It is just kids being kids!

As a parent, I get selfish, i miss them. The house seems like a ghost town. There is no 'Finish your oatmeal' battles, no 'snuggling on couch to read' no 'bed time struggles' Nothing, there is this silence. And it's weird.

I am super thankful for both sets of grandparents to making the girls trip as memorable. Putting their own lives on hold just to spend time with them. My family flying into India from across the world just to be with the girls. To spend time with them, to teach them, to learn from them and above all to give them a summer of a lifetime.

Of course after they flew, I was miserable. I just wanted to be left alone. But I have good friends. They checked in on me, planned dinners, planned events, grabbed me out and ensure I was not sulking at home, messaged me every few hours to just check in, called me with crying kids in background reminding me I should cherish the peace.

And I will.

The 6 weeks will be very long and yet very short. I am goingto keep ourselves busy and really enjoy the little things. I told the girls when they were at airport: Just has fun.

And that's what I am going to do in addition to missing them terribly- Have Fun.

These 6 weeks will be different. Very different.

Look Ma: No Training Wheels

My Chatterbox, the 8 year old is off-training wheels on the bike. It took 3 days, one dedicated child and a lovely morning with the slope to get her started and zoom she goes...

Honestly, I was mesmerized by her. One, she kept at it until she got it, she fell down once and went back up again and above all, she was going fast and I had to 'Be Okay' with not seeing here every minute.

That was the hardest part for me..... Seeing her go fast and be on the corner of the parks and my eyes fixated on her and straining to find her. Luckily I was with friends who kept me happy and distracted else I would for sure have been a bucket of tears... one for being proud for her and the other for .....She is become so big!

No training wheels...wow!

I vividly remember learning the bike with no training wheels, it was in my maternal grand mother's courtyard. There is a small elevation and my cousins saying they are 'holding' on to me but letting me go and ride. I think I remember the cheers and then me plummeting into the wall and laughing my head off.

It was a big step for me.. and now letting go of Miss V with no training wheels for her.

In three social settings recently we told friends, oh V is off training wheels and they were like: Isn't 8 too late. I think now I have the answer practiced: 'I was ready now to let her go without the training wheels' 

Miss V, go, go on the hills, on the slopes, by the lake, enjoy the bike! I will watch you from afar but my eyes will be fixated on you. Always.

Inspired by her, I went biking this weekend with dear friends after 14 long years and what they say about biking is true: Once you know it, you can forget!