astra_nomer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
astra_nomer) wrote2010-11-22 03:25 pm
astra_nomer) wrote2010-11-22 03:25 pm
Traveling sucks
Last night, I was putting Son the Younger to bed, and I leaned him to give him a kiss. Usually, he ducks and hides under the covers when I do so. This time, he grabbed me around the neck and hugged me tightly to him, and wouldn't let go for a long time, and just kept saying "I love you, mommy" over and over again. It nearly brought me to tears.
I have been traveling way too much lately. I just got back from one trip on Friday, and will be heading out on another trip the Monday after Thanksgiving. At least for Thanksgiving we'll be traveling as a family. I'm exhausted and crabby and keep yelling at everyone. I just need to keep telling myself that all this travel will be good for my career in the long run, even though it really sucks right now.
I want to delegate to someone else the task of telling my mom that this Christmas, I'm not going any trips, guilt trips included. That I'm just going to stay home and sleep and spend time with my husband and kids and try to recover some sanity. Somehow, I don't see that happening, though.
I have been traveling way too much lately. I just got back from one trip on Friday, and will be heading out on another trip the Monday after Thanksgiving. At least for Thanksgiving we'll be traveling as a family. I'm exhausted and crabby and keep yelling at everyone. I just need to keep telling myself that all this travel will be good for my career in the long run, even though it really sucks right now.
I want to delegate to someone else the task of telling my mom that this Christmas, I'm not going any trips, guilt trips included. That I'm just going to stay home and sleep and spend time with my husband and kids and try to recover some sanity. Somehow, I don't see that happening, though.
no subject
Not the greatest example for your kids but they have to learn to lie to their mother sooner or later.
no subject
I agree w/ arcanology - if you can't come up with a true airtight excuse, better to make something up. Better to maintain sanity than to wait until you've gone over the edge.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Driving 8 hours to cold and unpleasant PA every Thanksgiving for your entire childhood to visit your relatives with no kids you get along with (which, to be fair, is pretty much all kids when you're a young nerd) is really excellent conditioning for not being interested in family events.
Maybe you could say that unclenomer laid down the law and wants you for him and the boys over the holidays. Then he can claim the same about you when necessary. ;)
no subject
Well, okay, it can be a little cold (but snow is better than almost-cold-enough gloom), and I drive 10 hours, which probably puts me in a more pleasant part.
no subject
Astra has an extreme case of over-travel-itis. This is a very dangerous diagnosis and must be treated before she falls over and dies or hurts someone else. The only known cure is an extended period of no travel, including a moratorium on all holiday travel. Therefore, christmas in canceled. Further, any stress inducing phone conversations or emails will be terminated if Astra's stress levels reach above mild levels during that period.
Sincerely,
Dr Grinch
no subject
I'm with you on the 'travelling is exhausting' thing. People who say things like "I really want to travel to lots of other countries!" completely perplex me. :)
You are extremely within your rights to spend your Christmas with your own family. Your mom is a grown lady. If she can't handle not having you around for a Christmas or two, well... that's a problem you can't solve. That's a problem for a counselor, or for whatever other sympathetic ears she has at her disposal. She certainly can't kill you over the phone. It may seem like she can, but really? You've got two young kids. You've got a busy life, a career that involves an extraordinary amount of effort, hard math, disappointment and long-range travelling, and anyone who'd hold a low-key Christmas at home with your kids and your husband against you is being so unreasonable that I don't even have words for it. You need chill time to function as a mother, a scientist, and-- yes-- even as a good daughter. Don't let her bully you into anything. She's had 30-odd years to prove that trekking many hours to hang out with her at a stressful time of year is a beneficial thing for you, and-- well, you are a smart and sensitive person, and if you feel like it's not worth it this year, odds are extremely weighed towards the fact that you're right.
Also! Are you planning on attending the AAS in Seattle in January? I'm going, so if you're there we should go grab dinner/coffee/tea/pandas/snowflakes.
Meeting up in Seattle
I'm here in Seattle, and would love to get a meal or coffee or pandas with you. Got my fill of snowflakes this morning already.
See you around!