Because no one can give a guilt trip like a mom.

Yesterday I was on the phone with my mom, and the topic turned to the grandchildren she rarely sees. Maybe she was venting and not just laying on the guilt, but I am guilty of not getting there as often as she (or I) would like.

Big Brother hasn’t seen my parents since Easter. I brought the other kids up to see them sometime in June. And we probably won’t be getting together before school starts again. Big Brother returns to campus Sunday night, so he definitely won’t be traveling the 100 miles (each way) to see Nannie and Grandpa.

My mom has been understanding and supportive about the reasons we’re not getting there. She knows what weekend traffic on the NJ Turnpike is like. She knows that TheDad has been beyond swamped at work. And she knows that we rarely get a weekend “off” from taking care of my mother-in-law. (Since Easter, we’ve had 2 free weekends. Yes, I’m counting. Mea culpa…)

There are a lot of things I wish I could do differently. Seeing my family more is definitely one of them. Time and distance and circumstance make it difficult–but I have to find a way to do this better.

I want to be able to enjoy my parents while they are still enjoying their good health.

But right now, I just don’t know how I can fix this.