Mommy Time Off – Why You Need It

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My annual girls' getaway weekend with one of my best mommy friends

Love this blog post from my very good friend Jeanne about the importance of girls’ weekends for moms. We’ve been friends for years – through work, weddings, big moves, and babies.

I started having my babies first and went through all the typical mom mistakes. I played the martyr and refused to take time for myself – and begrudged my husband for taking time away from our son to go surfing. I thought I had to spend every waking moment with my son. And as a working mom, I had the added working mom guilt factor and thought if I wasn’t working I should be with my son at all times.

Luckily, the one thing I did right was initiate date nights with my husband since my son was 3 months old. I had seen too often that my friends and family never spent time with their spouses and seen the divide in the relationship. So we started with an 2 hours away from our son for a date night. We did it about every 2 months, and eventually worked up to monthly and 3 hours at a time.

When my son was about 18 months old, my mother in law offered to watch my son overnight so my husband and I could have an overnight trip. I desperately wanted it but agonized about being away from my son. She offered 2 nights and we only took one – but it was step in the right direction.

By the time my son was 2 and a half years old, we worked up to 2 nights away – but only for very special occasions like our anniversary. Then, my second son was born and the weekend getaways were put on hold for while.

Then, when my second son was about 2 years old, I visited my friend Jeanne (who had her first son). I encouraged her to take time off for a girls getaway weekend, and it was fabulous. I know she had a hard time leaving her son – just as I did when my first son was a toddler, but I kept encouraging her and we went to Sonoma for 2 days. Not a long time but it was glorious. We hung out a spa all day, got spa treatments, ate fantastic wine country food, and just enjoyed the time off.

Now it’s a tradition for us to go every year (so long as we’re not birthing babies or breastfeeding). When we return we feel energized and ready to be better mothers. I’ve since initiated an annual mother’s day getaway with another friend for some additional R&R.

I’ve even encouraged my husband to do the same so he can feel refreshed as a dad and enjoy his time with his friends. He stores up his days off for longer surfing trips. I tend to take weekend trips 2-3 times a year.

Do you take time off for a weekend with friends? Tell me about it.