"A Rotner Holiday"

Years ago I was introduced to the grand idea of a "Rotner Holiday."
My in-laws had flown back to the Midwest to care for their niece and nephews while their parents traveled. They were under my in-laws care for a few days. Days of normal childcare that included feeding, bathing, helping with homework and taking them to/from school. Having four children of their own, it was a familiar routine.

While there, they changed some rules-which, according to my children, is NOT uncommon practice.
NOT that they report back to me or anything. Wink, wink.
My in-laws were not yet grandparents but must have been practicing. And boy, did they score big points with their niece and nephews. Not only did they score points, they scored the credits to a tradition known as "The Rotner Holiday."

You see, those lucky kiddos were the first to experience a day that my own husband and his siblings missed out on. A day when the Rotner family trumps the school system. A day known to others as playing hooky. A day that those kiddos never forgot.

Last week our kiddos experienced their first Rotner Holiday, a surprise overnight trip up North.
J was working up North for the week-in between driving home for baseball games.
It's a really loooooooong week when J is gone. My kids miss him terribly which leaves me with grumpy, sad kiddos. And let's face it, I'm just not as fun as dad. And I'm probably extra grumpy when he's gone, too. It's a problem. And like I tell my kiddos all the time, "Solve your problem."

My solution: A Rotner Holiday.

We spent the night at a friends place, overlooking tall, lush green trees. Their home is settled on a mountain that is often visited by wildlife right up to their front door. We enjoyed breakfast on the wrap around patio surrounded by amazing flowers and plants that can flourish due to cooler temperatures.

It was a very lazy day. A perfect day in my kiddos eyes-I didn't nag them, they did what they wanted and they didn't get dressed or brush teeth until afternoon (if at all.) We girls took a trip into town to visit some antique shops while the boys hit the towns biggest hot spot...Wal-Mart.

We ended the day with a delicious dinner and the children needing showers before heading home.
After "bathing" in the jacuzzi, PJ's were put on and each of the kiddos was tucked in the car.
Within 15 minutes all three were asleep.

I'd say our first "Rotner Holiday" was a success.