Party Like It’s 1999
Jun 13th, 2008 by Kate Olson
Ok, I’m trying to stop laughing so I can write this, but looking at this picture is just sending me into fits of giggles…….ok, I’m composed now. Let’s set the scene: in 1999 I was graduating high school, turning 19, and entering my freshman year of college. I was too cool for school and had the most amazing optimism and confidence in my future.
What? You thought I was a streetwalker? In a car lot?
No, no. That was just me posing my senior year of high school with the hot car I was riding on for the homecoming parade. Yup, me. In a homecoming parade. In a dress that barely covered my behind. The oh-so-sage-mother in me now is appalled that my OWN mother let me go out in public like that! Seriously. Anyway, I was at that point in my life that the future just stretched out in front of me and I had fun, fun, fun at every possible moment. Every weekend was an adventure.
I’m thinking of this now as I prepare to go on my first vacation with my husband since our honeymoon in 2005. Even that wasn’t a REAL vacation as I was actually pregnant (yup, on our honeymoon), feeling yucky and unable to enjoy my favorite vacation drink ever - pina coladas. So, our last REAL vacation was back in 2004 when we went to New Orleans to visit a friend - that was a long time ago!
We’re actually heading back to New Orleans next week (my husband is in a friend’s wedding) and we’re going sans children, have a room at a hotel in the most exciting part of the city and most importantly, don’t have to drive ANYWHERE the entire time we’re down there. Know what that means? I get to be that 1999 girl again - footloose and carefree! No kids to wake up to, no babysitter to drive home. Just 4 fun-filled days and 3 wonderful nights with my husband - I’m SO looking forward to this!
Unlike the 1999 Kate, though, I’m now a mother and I’m filled with the requisite consuming sense of doom that is caused by leaving my kids home for the first time EVER. We have never left our kids overnight except for the night I was giving birth to my son when we left Maggie at a friend’s house for only 12 hours. This is huge for me!
I don’t think it’s possible, once you become a parent, to every TRULY let go again. When people talk about parenthood changing you, I always just thought of the practical aspects but it’s really the mental and philosophical shift that has changed me the most. I’m SO excited about this trip (which we’ve been planning for over a year!), but my main focus and agony the entire time has been trying to find someone to watch our kids……….in OUR house. My aunt has VERY generously stepped up and is driving from across the state to our house for 4.5 days - I’m forever indebted to her for this! I know the kids will be fine in the long run………they will, won’t they? I have exactly one week to overcome manage this anxiety about all of the horrible stuff that could happen while we’re gone - and that same amount of time to get our will written so we have someone officially assigned to take our kids if anything terrible would happen to my husband and I on our trip.
See, that’s another thing I didn’t think about before having fun back in ‘99 - never crossed my mind to write a will before heading out at night………..
So, while we’re trying to get back the carefree attitude of the good ol’ days, our thoughts will surely veer toward our reality - our family. On that note, no matter WHAT, I’m just dreaming of this: 3 mornings of waking up and dealing with ME first. 12 meals of only cutting my food and not having to clean it off the floor or the dog or the walls! We can stay out ALL. NIGHT. LONG. past 10:00 if we want to!
One more week, and then it’s Hello, New Orleans! Hello yummy drinks!
Just have to get that will written, medical authorization notes for the kids, a detailed map of our house for the aunt, directions to all kid-friendly spots in the area, food for everyone while we’re gone…………
And NO, I will NOT be wearing that dress on our trip! I have some very sensible mommy bermuda shorts to wear, thankyouverymuch.
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Have a GREAT TRIP! And you really should wear that dress one night.
Hmmm…. wish I could even remember that far back. My children have all left home now - two boys in London, my daughter lives nearby with a little son of her own and our youngest is at university, although technically still lives at home. Enjoy your family while they are with you as all too soon, they leave and you wish them back again. Enjoy your holiday. Times with your husband are precious as well. We are going to London to see our boys next week and I am really looking forward to that…..well……once I finish my reports.
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Love that you and your husband are finally getting a vacation alone together! Hope it’s everything you want it to be!
Like you, we don’t leave our kids with anyone overnight, and rarely had them at someone else’s house when they needed to be watched during the day. Part of this was just who we are as parents, but most of it was that our boys are/were creatures of habit.
Anyway, good for you for getting the will and medical authorization notes taken care of. This really will help you be able to relax… and be almost as carefree as the girl in the picture!
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Kate - honestly, the kids will have a blast and once you’re back, it will be like you’ve never been gone (sorry, its true). My kids now equate me leaving with getting toys from airport gift shops and they are all good with that - they are starting to encourage me to leave in order to get the next city’s snow globe or light up key chain. Relax, have fun, and if you need an executor for the will, I am glad to help out!
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Hi Kate - I know exactly how you feel, re leaving your children (esp if this is the first time). Hubby & I have done a number of 1-2 night stays away over the years - and like you - I daydream about being ‘kids-free’ and not having to be a ‘parent’ for 24-48 hours leading up to the time, and we always have a great time - but after only a few hours into the experience I start to wonder how they are? I know they are always safe and happy - and usually being spoilt - but something within makes me miss them. However, we’ve never let this stop us having fun or plan the next time we can have some ‘adult’ time together. It’s healthy for you and for them - Enjoy!
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LOL. I am so literally laughing right now. Understand, though, that I am not laughing at you - I really am laughing with you. I agree - it is hard to truly let go once you become a parent. There is just no way to let that go, because you now have added a ton of responsibility into your life!
Let us know how you do on your trip. For your sake (and for the rest of the class of 1999 - of which, I was a part also), I hope you can let go and be ‘19′ again!
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Kate, have a great time. And I love the reference to the 12 meals without having to clean up anything from the floor/walls, priceless. Enjoy!
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