Well, awhile back I asked who you are. I was suprised to find that 60% of you are family! Apparently I only have 2 current friends, 1 high school friend and no college friends. One of you are my best friend's mom, but I already knew there was only one of you! One of my kid's god parent's, if I had to guess. . . my daughter's god father. And finally as we all know, there is only one of me.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Why Mommies Need a Timeout
This is my second column for the local paper. The photo was taken before the cave tour, they are my friends, and god mothers of my children, Mel & Becca. Enjoy!
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Recently, I was able to go on a girls only weekend with two of my good friends. Let me tell you this is exactly what a mommy needs.
Everyone knows you need a vacation. There is nothing that would ever replace family vacations, but they are not very relaxing. There is still fighting between siblings, diaper changes, bath times, bedtime struggles, when does the R&R come into play? Family vacations are all the work of home, without the routine or comfort of home. Even so we are still taking our kids to Wisconsin for a wedding and Arches National Park on vacation this summer, but I don't expect to relax much on these trips.
The solution? The way I see it you have two options. Escape on a romantic getaway with the help of grandparents or a girls weekend with the help of an amazing daddy. I am lucky enough to have both helpful grandparents and an amazing daddy. This weekend was daddy's turn.
Neither of the friends I went with have children, but they both knew how hard it was for me to leave them. Truth be told, it wasn't that hard. We didn't go far, just to Glenwood Springs, but it was far enough to get away from it all. We had a great time, shopping, going on a tour of the Fairy Caves, getting herbal wraps at a cute local spa, having delicious meals at local restaurants, and of course going to the hot springs. Everything we did was fun, but best of all we didn't HAVE to do anything. No one was depending on us for anything for a whole 48 hours. We did things you just cannot do with small children. We went swimming without holding a little bobbing head above the water. We spent a couple hours at Splendor Mountian Day Spa, the best money I spent on the whole trip, but I couldn't have done it with the kids there. Just getting to eat out. With my son in the throwing-food phase, we are only welcome at McDonald's. Just being able to walk around town without a stroller, sure I didn't burn as many calories that way, but I was on vacation.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Recently, I was able to go on a girls only weekend with two of my good friends. Let me tell you this is exactly what a mommy needs.Everyone knows you need a vacation. There is nothing that would ever replace family vacations, but they are not very relaxing. There is still fighting between siblings, diaper changes, bath times, bedtime struggles, when does the R&R come into play? Family vacations are all the work of home, without the routine or comfort of home. Even so we are still taking our kids to Wisconsin for a wedding and Arches National Park on vacation this summer, but I don't expect to relax much on these trips.
The solution? The way I see it you have two options. Escape on a romantic getaway with the help of grandparents or a girls weekend with the help of an amazing daddy. I am lucky enough to have both helpful grandparents and an amazing daddy. This weekend was daddy's turn.
Neither of the friends I went with have children, but they both knew how hard it was for me to leave them. Truth be told, it wasn't that hard. We didn't go far, just to Glenwood Springs, but it was far enough to get away from it all. We had a great time, shopping, going on a tour of the Fairy Caves, getting herbal wraps at a cute local spa, having delicious meals at local restaurants, and of course going to the hot springs. Everything we did was fun, but best of all we didn't HAVE to do anything. No one was depending on us for anything for a whole 48 hours. We did things you just cannot do with small children. We went swimming without holding a little bobbing head above the water. We spent a couple hours at Splendor Mountian Day Spa, the best money I spent on the whole trip, but I couldn't have done it with the kids there. Just getting to eat out. With my son in the throwing-food phase, we are only welcome at McDonald's. Just being able to walk around town without a stroller, sure I didn't burn as many calories that way, but I was on vacation.
When I returned home Sunday I felt reenergized. I even had the house to myself when I got there, because my husband took the kids to a birthday party. This part may be hard to believe, but the house was spotless, cleaner than I had left it. The laundry was almost all done, the kitchen didn't look like it had ever been used, and I didn't trip on a single toy walking through the house. Of course, nothing is perfect, my poor bird had no food or water. My guess is he talked back to my husband and my husband muttered something about stupid bird and drumsticks.
Coming home, I realized a break was exactly what I needed. I could tolerate the whinning and crying without breaking into tears myself. I even started sleeping better, and my daughter's potty training has improved. After going on this weekend away, I am sure I will be doing it again. I don't know why I waited three years to take my first one. It will not be another three years before my next one.
Coming home, I realized a break was exactly what I needed. I could tolerate the whinning and crying without breaking into tears myself. I even started sleeping better, and my daughter's potty training has improved. After going on this weekend away, I am sure I will be doing it again. I don't know why I waited three years to take my first one. It will not be another three years before my next one.
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