After returning from a wonderful long weekend getaway to San Diego with my daughter, my friend, and her daughters, I reflected on the short three days we had together - the giggles, the new experiences, the priceless moments we shared. There’s no argument that saying “yes” to an extended weekend of wine tasting and beach walking in beautiful San Diego is pretty easy, but I am also aware of how difficult it was for my daughter to say goodbye to her baby and husband, and to block out all of the work that would be waiting for her when she returned. She’s a full time teacher, part-time grad school student and new mom. But she’s also her mother’s daughter - she took advantage of a 4 hour flight and did school work. I so remember those days as a working Super Mom. My schedule was so tight that if anyone even hinted at going away for the weekend, my first reaction was PANIC. But I made the effort, juggled duties, and made sure that I reserved at least one weekend a month to spend with my parents who lived several hours away. Either we would go there or they would come here. We had a nice comfortable van. When the kids were old enough, the three of us would be busy grading papers while my husband drove. I taught them at an early age the value of multi-tasking. I don’t regret it for a second. Not only was I able to spend time with my parents, but my kids were also able to build beautiful relationships with both sets of their grandparents. 
One thing my mother always said to me when I started having children was, “the housework can wait, duties will always be there, people won’t”. She was right. Sometimes if we wait to take vacations, grab weekend getaways with our loved ones, or check anything off our bucket list - if we wait until the time is “perfect”, the perfect time may never come. Before you know it, we aren’t physically able to get around any more and we may have lost our window. I definitely don’t want to have regrets of things I always wanted to do and am no longer able to.
My bucket list is important to me. Spending time with our children, their spouses, the grandkids - priceless. Those of us who are retired and are still physically able to travel are truly blessed. My daughter and her family don’t live far, and I have made a personal goal to try and see my son and his family, who live out of state, monthly. So far, since grandson Carson was born in February, I have only missed two months - not bad. Of course, my bucket list actually hangs on my wall (a great hand-made gift from my daughter-in-law). I’m a list person - gotta write things down.
So far, the bucket list has a ways to go, but I'm working on it and it's always changing. It’s a work in progress. How’s yours look?
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