chalk it up to love...

Today my mom, who's been staying with us for 2 weeks, went home.

Sigh.

Tap tap tap.

Sigh.

I can't express how different things are when Nana's here. It isn't just the lack of privacy, champagne stoppers in the wrong drawer, good knives in the dishwasher, early morning babysitting, quiet evenings or the seemingly unending maid service either...

Things are just different. Good different, different different and after a few weeks PLEASE GO HOME different. Sadly it takes a minimum of 3 weeks for us to want to push her out the door and she was only here for 2.

The biggest problem of today was that I hate seeing the tears in K's eyes when we leave Nana at the airport. When K was a baby it was always so hard to see her face as Nana (sometimes with Papa and sometimes without) headed through security on her way to the plane that would take her far far away. We told ourselves in time it would get easier to watch her go, to watch K watch her go but in 5 years it hasn't, it's gotten harder.

K was so brave and so strong as we made a day of Nana leaving. In the morning we had the quickest breakfast possible and then it was out to finish off our beautiful sidewalk art



See that smile? Can't fake it, that is the happy smile. It is the -I'm humoring mama while she snaps the 200th picture of the day but look at all this art, the beautiful sky and my Nana, I'm so happy- smile. Because while I tortured her forcing her to look up at me and the glaring sun Nana was right by her side admiring the sidewalk, the birds in the sky and K's patience with me.

Then we loaded up the car, climbed inside and took our mopey drive to the airport. There was parking, unloading, walking, revolving doors (always a big hit) and the sad lunch that seemsed to stretch on far too long as we prepared for the inevitable so long, farewell.

Sigh.

K didn't cry until Nana was out of sight. She didn't start the real waterworks until we were halfway to the car. I held her tight to me, her head resting on my shoulder as she gently sobbed. She didn't need to tell us, but she did.

It sucks when Nana goes home

Yes K, it does...