The Good Effects of Short Vacations Go a Long Way

Do you ever pamper yourself or treat yourself to a mini vacation?  I mean just YOU.  No kids, no spouse.  Doesn’t it sound selfish?  Well it’s not.

Why is it that when you make sacrifices for the good of your family it is considered noble.  But it is frowned upon if you do something you thoroughly enjoy—even if it benefits your family?  Who is doing the lobbying for the “Moms aren’t allowed any fun” campaign?

Truthfully, I don’t know who is more to blame, though: that certain part of society that says if you’re not suffering you must not be a good mom, or something inside ourselves. I have it, too.  But I have realized it is not legitimate and have started taking annual weekend getaways with my girl friends.

The first mini vacation I took was a few years ago with two of my friends.  It was a little stressful because it was my first time leaving my newly adopted children home with Dad.  I missed them terribly.  Two years ago the group got a little bigger, and the weekend getaway was perfected.

8 girls, myself included, flew to Scottsdale, Arizona.  We had fabulous accommodations and had spent a year saving up for spa treatments.  PLURAL.    We had massages, shopped, and sunbathed during the day.  Complete relaxation.  Except for the giggling spells.  We went out to dinner and to a casino one evening, but my favorite night time activity was sipping our drinks outside on the cozy couches around the fireplace and talking.  Not really about our careers or our kids, but just good old fashioned girl talk.  I forgot how much I liked it.

It is easy to get overwhelmed and behind.  And if you’re not overwhelmed and behind then you must REALLY be working too hard because there is just too much to do.  We rarely take time to smell the roses on a daily basis.  I know I don’t.  But after that long weekend getaway of spa treatments and girl talk i felt born again.

The tension was gone from my back and shoulders.  My smile felt light and easy.  But it wasn’t just because of the massages.  It was listening to 7 other women, from different places living different lives, all experiencing the same things.  Where one woman feels like she’s failing, another woman had shared her tips.  Everyone seemed to take away some lesson or reassurance that sent them home a little stronger and mightier than when she left.

A lot of times moms are left feeling unappreciated and under valued, dreading much of the tedium of their day to day.  But after a weekend getaway with the girls, you will be excited again and armed with new tricks to make life even sweeter for your loved ones at home.

The most important thing to remember about annual getaways with the girls is… as soon as you get home, make your plans and start saving for NEXT YEAR’S trip!