Cortisol care

I find few regular days in life more stressful than the 24 hours before leaving for a trip. The day of hosting a party at our home used to come close, but at this point, if I am inviting you to a party at my house then you know we are a come-as-you-are family. Meaning you will come, and we will be as we are… but with more food and better drinks.

Post-Adelaide, it takes a lot to elevate my cortisol levels. I just can’t imagine anything ever being as stressful as her care. Especially preparing to take her on a trip.

First, I would research the location of the closest hospital and then the location of the closest hospital that could actually handle her care. Then there was packing her food, medicine and equipment. You know, all the things that you can’t just pick up at a neighborhood grocery or drug store.

Of course, that didn’t stop me from forgetting her medicine bag at home once and Miguel having to rush home to get it when we were already at the airport. Thankfully, Miguel has the best travel luck and somehow made it home and back to the airport just before the plane door closed.

Unfortunately, this high-stakes travel anxiety still lives in my body even without Adelaide to worry about. The rest of my family? Not so much. As you might have gathered, the Cervantes family is about to head out on vacation and everyone in the family is taking it as an opportunity to show their truest colors.

As if he walked out of a meme, Miguel spent two days this week golfing and has packed nothing. Jackson has done everything I have asked of him, however, when I looked through what he packed there was only one pair of swim trunks… for a beach vacation. When asked why, he said it was because he couldn’t find any other trunks. As if by miracle, not five minutes later, two other pairs had been found and packed.

And then there is Anessa who is doing her part to undo everything I’ve spent the week preparing. Like choosing outfits to wear that had already been washed, folded, and packed. Building Barbie swim parties in the middle of kitchen table where I am packing car snacks. And – this was a new one – washing her slime and dripping it all over the floor I had just cleaned. When it comes to why Anessa does things, I don’t ask questions. I’m just grateful to have by and large avoided the emergency department with her.

Meanwhile, my lists have lists, the piles are piling, and I continue to furiously clean over and around Anessa’s various projects, because there are few things I hate more than coming home from vacation to a messy house. Which is basically our house every day. Though if I ask my children to clean one more space or do one more chore, they might mutiny.

So, in summary – I’m overprepared, the kids are annoyed, and the night before we leave Miguel will throw a bunch of clothes haphazardly in a suitcase and be shocked when he realizes he forgot to pack underwear. It will take a solid hour on the road before anyone wants to speak to each other – except for Anessa who will be talking in a funny voice, meowing, and/or copying everything Jackson does until he punches her. I love vacation.

Except that I really do. As much as preparing and getting there is a pain, being away from home with all its pressure to be productive is a gift. Also, the kids are old enough now that they don’t always need us… outside of basic supervision, of course, so that I’m not speeding to that closest hospital I still researched out of habit.

I try my hardest not to spend a ton of money on stuff, but vacations are another story. That is where the most pictures are taken and memories are made and there is nothing I value more. Even amidst the bickering and annoyances, vacation is when we slow down, breathe a little deeper, and (hopefully) enjoy each other a little more.

Vacations are also when I feel the closest to Adelaide. As if our family is finally whole and together. Which is probably a sign that we should slow down and breathe deeper more often. But that’s a lesson for another day. Right now, I just can’t wait to get a little closer to all my kiddos again.

ID: Kelly, Miguel, Jackson, and Anessa smiling and standing on a beach with a wave breaking behind them.