You know those awesome vacations you go on with the love of your life when your child is safe with the grandparents all weekend? No? That's okay. Most parents probably have trouble remembering the last time they got to do that. If I couldn't remember it, there might be cause for concern, considering we took a trip like this just last weekend. My husband and I got to get away to Chattanooga and celebrate our anniversary. Since our daughter stayed with grandparents both nights, the only responsibility we had was representing Middle Tennessee (I should really look into becoming an ambassador) and refraining from jaywalking. That kept us in check, alright.
We had an interesting concept for our anniversary trip: we would camp out the first night, go hiking, explore the area, and generally enjoy nature. This is something we loved to do before having a baby and we don't get to do it enough these days. The second night, we made reservations for a highly-rated inn on Lookout Mountain, the Sky Harbor Bavarian Inn. We made sure to book the suite that came complete with champagne and a Jacuzzi. After a night of sleeping on the ground and shivering nonstop, we got to sleep on the mountain in a big, comfy bed, soak in the Jacuzzi, and enjoy our balcony's panoramic view of the river and city. While I enjoy mud under my fingernails as much as the next guy, I think it's pretty clear which night we enjoyed more. Sorry, nature.
The campground we stayed in turned out to be extremely family-friendly. We saw tons of kids walking around and playing. At that point, I felt like we should have brought our daughter along. But does anyone bring their children on anniversary trips? Plus, it's hard to get any good hiking in when you're traveling at a two-year-old's pace. You know what I mean. You're walking, and you finally make it three feet without interruption or slowing down. Then-“Mama! Look! Grass!” You acknowledge that there is, in fact, grass there. As you continue walking-“Oh! Look! Tree!” …“Another tree!” And before you know it, it's getting dark, and you're still only 20 feet from the trailhead. Grocery shopping with toddlers is similar.
Since Chattanooga is where we spent our honeymoon, it was the perfect destination for our third anniversary trip. We spent a little time downtown, a little time on the mountain, and a lot of time together. See, I firmly believe that parents just operate better when they've had a wee little break from the wee little ones. They need that special one-on-one time to reconnect and remember why they decided to create children in the first place. Maybe a little time to drink champagne in a Jacuzzi while they gaze out at the view of the city and a nearby mental hospital. I'm just saying.
The highlights of our trip: visiting Craven's House on Lookout Mountain, Raccoon Mountain TVA Pumped Storage Visitor Center (seriously, though!), our Jacuzzi at Sky Harbor, and the time we got to spend together. The worst parts of the trip: Hearing my daughter say she did not miss me yet and wasn't ready to come home (two hours before we came home), the rain on the last day of the trip, and the lack of sleep during our first night's stay.
You can check out some photos from the trip on my website.
We had a fabulous time, and I guess my little girl was just bluffing when she said she didn't miss me. I got a great big hug and tons of kisses when she saw me. Later, as we were snuggled up on the couch, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, she leaned over and whispered, “I missed you, Mama. So much.” And after dabbing my eyes a little, I vowed that I would never leave her side again. Okay, maybe if there's a Jacuzzi involved.
Love, Mom
Debra (Fulcher) Carpenter writes when she isn't studying,  or when she's procrastinating. Mostly when she's procrastinating.
She is a young housewife, student, and mom. Email her at interruptedmom@gmail.com  or visit the website at www.motherinterrupted.com