As a mom, I know how much every mom loves spending time with her family. After all, there are hugs, kisses, snuggle time, family meals, adventures, and so much more.
However, there are also fighting siblings, bored children who want to be entertained constantly, meals to prepare, chores to do, and the million other little things that make all us moms completely exhausted every single day!
Now, I want to ask you a question…
How would you feel if you managed to sneak away from home for at least a couple of nights in a row?
Do you think that you would return more rested and ready to tackle everything that your family throws your way? Do you think that those snuggle sessions with your children will be much more appreciated, instead of feeling obligatory?
Okay, so that was more than one question, but do you see where I am going with all this??
Here are 5 reasons why moms should take a solo trip at least once a year:
1. You Deserve It
So, maybe this isn’t one of the reasons that instantly came to your mind when you were thinking ahead of the reasons before starting to read number one. However, no one deserves time away from home more than a mom! Well, dads probably deserve them just as much too, but we will save that for another post.
Anyway, us moms get so full of guilt and worry all the time, so much so, that most of the time our brains never shut down. That means that our bodies are in constant motion, even when we are trying to sleep at night. A little time away will allow you to relax and enjoy yourself in the moment. It may take you a couple trips to get used to this feeling, but trust me, you will get there if you take the time to travel by yourself.
2. Your Health and Focus
As a mom, you probably do not spend one second alone during your day. If you have younger children, they will be with you as you prepare meals, clean up the living room, and even when you are in the bathroom. It’s just a fact of life. And if you think that you will finally get that breathing room when your children are older, forget it! It is at that time that you will receive numerous text messages a day from them. They will have forgotten their lunch, forgot to tell you that they have practice after school and will need a snack, or they forgot to tell you that they need a ride home along with all their friends after one of the after-school events. This list can go on and on, but I am sure you get where I am going.
When you travel by yourself, you can focus solely on yourself. You can eat slowly, while choosing healthier foods, and even concentrate on one thing for more than a second at a time. This is the perfect time for you to set a few goals for yourself, whether they are short term or long term, and even work on that long-forgotten project that you started pre-children.
3. Your Family Will Learn to Thrive Without You
When you are around twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, it is so easy for you to tackle all the tasks that need to be done. While your family can do some of the work, it is usually easier for you to do it on your own, because it gets done correctly and it is usually finished much faster too.
However, and you probably already know this, your family is quite capable of doing those same chores! Your husband may not be the best chef, but he can probably boil water for pasta or throw a few burgers or a steak on the grill. Add a fresh loaf of bread or baked potatoes and some raw veggies and your family will live until you return. Your house might not be spotless when you get home, but I am fairly certain that the dirty dishes will make it to the dishwasher and the dirty laundry will get down to the laundry room. I’m not sure that the dishwasher will be run, or the laundry will be done, but they will be close!
4. A Chance to Miss Everyone
As I mentioned above, I know you love your family. But how much to do you think that you will love them once you return from a solo trip? I can guarantee that your love will grow in leaps and bounds during the time that you are away and that you will be more than ready to spend hours with them when you return. The best news is that they will all miss you as well, so if you have those surly teenagers, you may even have a shot of getting them to hang out with you too!
5. You Will Learn a Ton
Even though you are not traveling with the rest of your family, you can still venture out to see the sights wherever you are. Plus, since you are not trying to keep everyone happy, you can choose the attractions and activities that appeal to you the most. Love history? Find a museum or two! Love musicals? Find a local theater! Want to lay in the sand and people watch all day long? Go for it!
No matter what you decide to do, you will learn so much while you are away from home. You may learn about your destination or you may just learn a few new things about yourself. After all, we think that we know who we are, but as we get older, we change a little. We might get a little more daring and choose to try new things or we may choose to tone down our lives a little and become a little more laidback. It all depends and the only person who can tell you who you are, and make these discoveries, is you! And while you are on this path of discovery, remember to explore new places and conquer new boundaries!
While these are five of the reasons to take a solo trip, there are many others that you could consider when you are trying to convince yourself. My advice to you though is to just do it! Book a night or two away from home at first and see how wonderful you feel when you return home. I am sure that you will start to do it a little more often in the future!
