R-E-S-P-I-T-E...find out what it means to me

Respite is what many special needs parents call a break. There are different ways that a parent can receive respite care for their child. Many churches hold respite nights once a month. Some parents have sitters or family members that watch their kids. And then there are parents like me who do not utilize any respite care.

There are many reasons I don't get breaks very often. First it is expensive if you have to pay someone to keep 3 kids. I'm tight with a dollar and have a hard time justifying a few hours of me time for that amount of money. Second
it takes a special person to watch a child with special needs. It has to be someone that not only you trust but someone your child trusts. Third it is often not worth the break to return to a
child who is thrown off of their routine because you needed a few hours to yourself. Those are my reasons for not taking breaks.

Today however I was fortunate enough to have my parents keep all three kids while I take a much needed break. The first thing I thought of was getting a hotel room with a cheap bottle of wine, a pack of cigarettes and a book. I don't smoke but the idea sounded cool. Emily had tons of questions about where she was going. Why I wasn't going with her and what I was going to do without her. I told her I was paying bills and doing work.
She bought it and here I sit relaxing and drinking wine. No cigarettes. Enjoying a much needed break.