As moms we have many jobs…mom, chef, seamstress, chauffeur, event-planner, nurse, prison warden, etc. If we’re working moms, we’re all of those plus designers/publicists/engineers/doctors…it’s enough to make someone exhausted just reading about it! A mom’s day is generally occupied from the moment she wakes up to the screams soothing sounds of her child yelling, “MOMMY!!!” until the the moment her head hits the pillow of her couch bed each night. It’s hard to carve out a moment of peace for herself. What’s a mom to do?
Yes, I love my daughter. I love my husband. I love my jobs – all three of them. But after going non-stop for several months on-end, I needed a break. A real break.
One of my best friends was having her baby shower in June. She happens to live in San Diego, one of my favorite cities. I booked my trip for five days. FIVE DAYS! That’s five days of eating when I want, sleeping in, getting some pampering at a spa, going to the beach, and spending quality time with one of my dearest friends as she prepares for motherhood.
I had an amazing mom-vacation. I rested a ton. Naps were a necessity every day. The shower was on a beautiful day. The temperature wasn’t in the triple digits like here in Austin. I missed Lucy and Todd like crazy but I got some much-needed R&R.
Moms, you need some you-time. And you shouldn’t feel guilty about it! Here’s why:
- Your children and husband will not burn the house down while you’re gone. They may eat pizza every night, but that’s OK.
- The expression Absence makes the heart go fonder exists for a reason. Leaving your family for a few days will make seeing them again so much sweeter.
- You can buy them presents. You’ll enjoy shopping without the kids whining and your husband asking, “Are you done yet?” in the dressing room and they get to reap the benefits of your solo trip.
- While you’re sleeping until 10 every day, you will feel amazing. Remember that feeling for when you’re awakened at 5:30 am by the sounds of, “Mommy, I have to poop!”
- You’ll enjoy a meal that will stay hot because you don’t have to cut another person’s meal for them. Also, that meal you enjoy will not be at 5 pm.
- You deserve the real feeling of accomplishment that comes along with finishing a real book in less than four months.
- The reality of knowing your vacation will end will offset the guilt you feel for being away from your family. You’ll be back home in no time.
- That laundry you left on top of the washer will still be there when you get home. So have another glass of wine while you can.
- Tell your husband he can plan a guys-only weekend trip of his own. You’ll feel better about having fun without him if you know he’ll be doing the same soon enough.
- If you can’t remember the last time you did something completely for yourself, then it’s obvious you do so much for your family and you’ve let yourself slide off your own priority list. A few days just for you is all you need, then you’ll go right back to taking care of everybody else. But it will be a little different because you’ll have a clearer head and fuller heart. You can’t lose!
{So maybe I watched too much Friday Night Lights while on my mom-vacation…}
