Holiday Travails!

Time was when we actually waited for those cherished holidays - Eid, Diwali, Christmas, New Year, birthdays and anniversaries - with pleasurable anticipation - time out, time spent with family, quality time, we gave it different epithets - these days really gave one a chance to catch up with oneself, and in a manner of speaking rediscover one's favourite pursuits....becoming a parent, or rather being a parent to today's kids puts a whole new spin on things - a 360 degree spin, in fact! Not only are holidays now spent with itineraries built around children's schedules, indeed they are the ones that form those itinerariees these days.....close your eyes for two minutes longer when you wake up in the morning, and you are invariably forced to jump up and attend to some thing that apparently urgently demands your attention - the older one has thrashed the younger one in the bathroom for making bubbles in the wash basin, or the youngster - more precocious of the two perhaps, has taken the older one's "life purpose" and most precious possession - the PSP and smashed it - you swallow, remind yourself about the importance of staying calm and meditating, and then promptly go and get smack, bang in the middle of a raging dispute! Which mark you is a lose-lose situation - if you take one side against the other, you are accused of favouritism, if you ground them both, you are such an indefatigable monster! Taking them through their studies, sorting out playtimes, fixing meals, resolving arguments and keeping them from the brink of disaster wherever they may turn....is it any wonder that you return from long breaks at home, with a big smile on your face, greeting colleagues at work with really happy expressions, causing them to grumble - wonder what she looks so happy about??! They have no idea, do they?! Take a holiday? No thanks, I'd rather go to work - or war! Am I the only one that feels this way?!!