I’ve loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the litterboxes, and packed my suitcase.  Now all that’s left to do is shower and wait a couple of hours, then I’ll be winging my way to Stockholm.  My little baby is lying on the couch behind me, fast asleep and unsuspecting.  This will be the first time I’ve left her overnight, and I’m feeling anxious.  Probably it will be harder on me than on her, but I still can’t help feeling guilty that she’ll think I’ve abandoned her.  The older kids understand that I’ll be back on Monday, and while they’re not happy to be left behind, they have experience with me going out of town on short trips, and they know it’s not really so bad.  Up until now, Petra has always come along with me.  I’ll hardly know what to do with myself, I think, on my own for two whole days, with no-one’s food to cut but my own, and no tiny warm body snuggled up to me in bed.  On the other hand, I’ll be able to sleep uninterrupted and to fully enjoy the company of my friends without always keeping one ear out for the kids.  I plan to make the most of that.

*child-free