Vacation Without Kids: Pack Your Bag and Leave Behind the Mom Guilt

Motherhood. I have always craved it. Dreamt of it. Longed for it. Unplanned, I have made a full-time career of motherhood. From the moment that I wake, from the time I lay my head down each night…every single moment is spent focused on my squad. I plan out where we go, what we eat, who is going to wear what.

Motherhood is fulfilling, and yet absolutely exhausting.

I remember the days and nights that I prayed for a family full of the laughter of children. I dreamed of theses little people filling my days and nights with purpose. But when did the purpose become everything? I look at my life and very quickly I see that my children have taken over.

When did motherhood take over my very existence?

Then, like a little ray of sunshine, the idea of an adult only vacay pops into my head. I picture a dream world where I would I could eat a meal when it was served instead of after I’ve managed 4 plates loaded with the same mac & cheese I see day in and day out. A place where I could wake to my own internal alarm clock instead of the 6 a.m. shenanigans that usually wake me. And dare I say it, a place where our participants need to be 21+ to join in?!?!

So why do I feel so guilty about having fun with out my littles? Even though I have spend over a decade focused on my children, everything in life shouldn’t revolve around them right?

Every healthy person needs rest and relaxation. Time away to breathe for a moment, to come back focused on the task ahead with joy and purpose. So why does it feel like such a betrayal to my littles when I enjoy time away from them? Why does it feel so wrong to be so happy to leave my littles behind for a day or two?

Mom guilt…the mother of all things that holds us moms back. It it is the beast lurking in very dark corner, behind every turn. It lives in our minds and hearts telling us that we should be doing more, better, always. This guilt tells us that we are not doing everything perfect for our crew at all times, that we have some how failed them.

Don’t let the guilt of motherhood take away the joy of personal time.

Dare I suggest that time away from our kiddos helps us to be a better mothers? These trips don’t have to be extravagant week long cruises to the Bahamas. Just a few hours at the movies or a quiet cup of coffee at our favorite brew house can feel like vacation most weeks.

Alright, mothers. It is time to pack your bags, your handbags. Dig out that dress you’ve been dying to wear and never have the right reason to pull it out. Load up your mini van. Book your flight or plan your day trip. Go hang with your girls, snuggle up with your beloved, or soak in every alone minute you can carve out in your own home. Wave good bye to mom guilt and hello to rest and relaxation.

Just get out there and do it!