“Tomorrow, we go to pick up Mama and E from the airport,” the Girl virtually squealed last night as she got ready for bed. It was one of a long line of such excited proclamations: as we made breakfast; before lunch; when we finished watching a movie together; before brushing teeth; while brushing teeth; after brushing teeth. It was, in short, L’s mantra.

Of course that meant a day of waiting. A day of “How long” questions. How long until we leave? How long until we get there? How long until Mama’s plane lands? How long until Mama comes? How long until we get home?

How long until you realize that how long doesn’t help things go any faster?

The last time K returned from Poland, by the time we walked back upstairs at the airport to double check the arrival time at the Lufthansa desk and made our way back to the international arrival hall, K was standing, waiting. Today, we arrived when the plan was scheduled to land only to discover it was to land now a half an hour later. Add to it that K’s baggage was the last to make a circuit around the luggage carousel and that customs picked her for a “open your baggage and take everything out” inspection (I guess travelling with an exhausted toddler is a fairly common scheme among international smugglers), and it was past five, almost two hours after our arrival, when K and the Boy appeared at the far end of the arrival hall. Disregarding all “No Entry!” signs, L and I virtually sprinted to her. Hugs. Tears. An emotional return to the States after an emotional time in Poland.

On arriving, K disappeared and we soon heard the sound of water running. She came out of the bathroom with wet hair and in pajamas, smiling at me exhaustedly and explaining sweetly that the children were all my responsibility.

A quick bath, a quick bit of fruit and cereal for the Boy, and before we know it, everyone is asleep.

If only.

The Boy, not used to falling asleep with me, was soon fussing, then crying, then outright panicking. It was not the right shoulder, not the right voice, not the right pulse, not the right surroundings. It will take some time for us all to get back to the right everything.