I ask this to myself a million times a month(especially on Mondays and Tuesdays when my muscles scream and protest in pain with every step I take). I am asked this question atleast once in a couple of weeks by random people. But today the realization dawned me and unlike usual Sundays where I pre-schedule posts for the week – I will post this immediately.

I had a tough week and a tougher weekend. Work was crazy, kuttyma was sick and she just kept getting worse. I had to cancel all plans I had for the weekend (oh well it was nothing great – a playdate, a trip to the grocery store, some laundry and time permitting some craft work). R had to do the same and he had bigger plans than mine. But yes as parents we drop everything else when our daughter demands it. I was literally going crazy. I thought screams and tantrums late at night were a thing of the past. But I realized that a toddler screams louder and does not mind jumping/attempting to jump from everywhere.

Sunday kuttyma woke up feeling better but still acting cranky. She actually spent some time away from me so I was able to do my usual weekend cooking prep work and plan for the week. Midday rolled in and she slept and I actually went to my dance class. I made it in time (a rarity post parenthood) and I spent the next 1 hour dancing. That 1 hour, I forgot the world I come from. I forgot I had a sick toddler who refuses to remove her jacket sleeping at home. I forgot I had S-I-X loads of laundry to iron. I forgot I need to drive 40 mts to get to work tomorrow. I forgot I need to prepare for a meeting at work. I forgot I need to take time off from work to take kuttyma to the doctor. I forgot the world. I was just a dancer. Between talks of misra chapu and kanda jatis I did my thillanas and kauthuvams.

Soaking in sweat as I wrapped up my class I started answering questions about the baby. With those questions, I stepped back into the real world which I successfully had put out for an hour. Tired, exhausted I stepped out of my studio and on the drive home, I planned dinner and mentally reviewed the must-do list. I was back in form and in the real world – a mother, a wife, a daughter/in-law, a granddaughter, a sister/in-law, an employee, a friend, a colleague and others.

I treasure those trips I take away from real life. I have not found a replacement for them. Dance alone has the power to do it. Do you take trips away from real life or am I the only strange one? How do you take your trips? What does it for you? I really want to know what you think of. Lurkers – yes I know 90% of my blog readers are lurkers, please de-lurk and tell me I am not the crazy one wanting to escape real life regularly.