I just returned from a blissful, long weekend in beautiful Miami with my two best girlfriends, Giannina and Clarissa (aka Sassy).
Giannina lives in Miami and attends medical school at the University of Miami (how anyone can learn and study in Miami is beyond me) and Sassy lives in Boston where she is wrapping up her PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)…I know, I have smart friends. Anyway, we all met before our high school years and post graduation, we’ve done our best to regularly reunite either during the holidays or other occasions we can conjure up. This weekend, we were celebrating Giannina’s birthday.
Of our trio, I am the only one with a kiddo. Sassy is recently married and Giannina is married to medical school, so me getting away is a slightly bigger deal–especially when I was traveling non-stop, but that’s over now.
While we were at dinner one evening, I had the following exchange with one of Giannina’s friends.
Friend X: Do you all ever go to Boston?
Me: Yea, we went to Boston a few years ago, but I was pregnant then and didn’t really get to go out.
Friend X: WHAT? You were pregnant? And then what happened????
Me: …I had a baby and now I’m a mom…. (slightly confused)
Friend X: Wait? You’re a mom and you’re here?
Me: Yes. I need a little getaway every now and then, too you know…
And that made me think…is that selfish that I wanted a girls trip? I can’t help that my two best friends in the entire universe live hundreds of miles away. If they lived in Austin or San Antonio, I wouldn’t have needed a whole weekend, but they do, and I did.
I fail to understand why some believe that once one becomes a mom, they are then a prisoner to their new family status. Just like husbands and wives should go on date nights to refresh their connection, men and women (independently) need their time to refresh their sanity and stay connected to their likeminded friends or maybe non-likeminded.
This weekend was so refreshing; for the first time, in a long time, my dinner conversations did not bring up potty training, car seat brands, issues with a tot running into our beds or if/when another kiddo may come into the mix. We talked about girly things; purse brands, favorite music, Grey’s Anatomy and what combination of tanning lotion and sunblock will create the best Miami tan. It was great and I don’t feel badly about that. Friend X on the other hand was quite the judger.
What do you think? Is the occasional girls roundup selfish or oh-so-necessary?
AND just for fun, here are some of our pictures over the years. I love how I’m always in the same spot.
L: 2004-Germany. That was the day we landed in Germany for a three-week graduation gift to ourselves. SO FUN!
M: 2010-Boston. That was our last “fling before the baby.” It was so cold, but we still had a blast.
R: 2013-Miami. That’s the trip I’m returning from. My head has a weird sunburn/tan. It’s unfortunate.
I’m not a mom, but I believe you HAVE TO keep doing this! I have gone on trips with my 2 best girlfriends the past 2 years and we plan to keep up the tradition this year with New Orleans! I’m glad you have Matt to keep up with Caroline while you do something that I think is VERY important!