Arti, we're 30mins from Liverpool Street Station, although that's not as good as Waterloo, I suspect.
I think you need to have a long chat with DH about it, as it sounds like you've been thinking about it for a while. I agree with what Vag says, and for me, being at home for the girls is a no brainer, although we are lucky that it is an option we have. BUT there are times when I feel like I am going to go insane and would like to resign. I can safely say, though, I have never once wished that I was at work instead. That said, I was a PA, not a career woman, so I didn't pour myself into my work, it was a job, rather than a lifestyle, if you know what I mean. If I'm honest, I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be doing this, which is my dream job. But then, I have friends with children who cannot understand why on earth I would choose such a thankless task, and while they adore their children, they feel like better mothers for the time at work they have away from them, to give them less time, but more quality time with their kids. I do feel some days that all I've done is shriek like a fishwife! But this morning, we all had terrible giggles in the car together, which makes is worthwhile. There is no easy answer, I guess. AAAAGH! Hard!
And so, to the sprinkling. Hmm. I'm not sure where to start. On the positive sides, we had glorious sunshine and it was lovely to spend the time with my Mum and sister(s). We had a fantastic sail out to the bay that Dad loved the best, with high winds and beautiful sunshine and we even spotted some porpoises and seals, which was heavenly. So I am concentrating on that side of things.
Please feel free to ignore this post, as I suspect it might be quite long and boring! Sorry.
I arrived on Sunday evening and my eldest sister (ES) was there already having wanted a bit of "alone time" before we got there. She arrived on Saturday evening. She then proceeded to tell me in depth about her marriage, as always, and said that it was very hard to talk about with family. She didn't even register that I said it hadn't stopped her from trying!!! Then for another 45 mins she told me about her health. And I'm sorry, but the menopause is something we will all go through. I think she thinks she's the only person. She is clearly deeply unhappy and using her health as something else to think about, but I do NOT want to hear about it in depth. I know I should be more sympathetic, but this has been going on for YEARS. I went to great lengths, too, to tell her that this occasion was to say goodbye to Dad, yes, but to remember that although we miss him terribly, the person it is undoubtedly hardest on, is Mum. So we must be mindful of her feelings as she has lost her husband and her whole life has changed dramatically. I wasn't sure if she had listened and, as it turns out, she hadn't.
A bit of back history... Mum has recently told us that she and ES were there when Dad died, and ES sat between Dad and Mum as he died and threw herself onto him when he died, sobbing hysterically and uncontrollably. Mum is very self contained and isn't a big one for histrionics, so was mortified by this and found it really unpalatable. I know each to their own, but it was really selfish with Mum there, who was losing her husband. I miss Dad terribly, but I know how much harder it is for Mum.
Anyway, on the boat, ES spent the first hour on the phone to her DH about their DS who was whining about a tummy ache and refusing to go to school. I some ways it was a mercy as she has no off switch between her brain and her mouth and actually hadn't shut up once for the whole time we'd been there! Then, when I brough the urn up for Mum to scatter Dad off the back of the boat, ES started this extraordinary hysterical wailing. It was horrific and I was absolutely disgusted, I'm afraid to say. Genuinely shocked. Mum was furious and told ES to "Shut up! You are a grown woman, what are you doing??", and ES said "Let me cry!" in this pathetic, histrionic way. Mum told her she didn't mind her crying, but that the ridiculous hysterics had to stop. My middle sister was horrified too and I suspect her facial expression and mine was probably similar. It felt like I'd been slapped in the face by the inappropriateness of her behaviour. It was about Mum, not her, and I thought it was like she was reacting the way she'd seen people do it in films. I was so very shocked by it and I have to say, it totally ruined what could have been a really lovely goodbye to Dad. And I don't think I can forgive her for it. It ruined it for Mum, my other sister and me completely and I'm actually gutted. I can't think about it too much or I fear I may phone her and give her what for. She did apologise, but I'm afraid it's too late. I hope she is absolutely ashamed of herself. I really don't feel like speaking to her again at the moment. I hope it will come back, but I can't see it for now.
And just to end on a lighter note, when I got home, I gave DD2 her birthday present from ES and it was a bag of pasta. Seriously. Admittedly, it was heartshaped, but why would you give a bag of pasta to anyone, let alone a 4 year old! I think she may have lost it!
Anyway, it was a shame and I'm sad to say, it would have been so much better if she hadn't been there. I'm probably a total witch, but I feel so angry and sad and I don't want to see her for some time.