As regular readers will know, I have my hands full with four school-age children, including my special angel Ellie. Taking vacations is always a challenge, and the idea of leaving my kids so my husband Brad and I can escape is not something I think of often. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not that I don’t want to. I love my kids, but I know a break from them and my crazy lifestyle is necessary and always awesome! My reluctance is really just about my Ellie, and how much work it is to leave her behind in others’ care. The other kids are all reasonably independent, and with them I don’t feel bad asking for those kinds of favors. With Ellie, on the other hand, I do. Every few years, though, my “village” (as I like to call them) steps up to the plate and makes it happen, and by that I mean they actually force us to get away for a few nights by ourselves. It’s always good for the soul too.
Last week, Brad and I went away to Mexico for five (yes FIVE) glorious and fabulous nights. And I took joy in rediscovering that there is nothing better than having only myself to get ready, nobody else to feed but myself, nobody else to dress but myself, no diapers to change, no bedtime stories or prayers, no tubs to give, no lunches to pack, no morning rush, no homework, no nagging, no taxiing the kids all over the county to sports and activities. Nada. Just me.
So this was a vacation, not a trip (which it is what it is when the kids come along). There is a clear distinction, at least in my book. We ate, we drank, we laughed. We read, we soaked up the sun and we slept. We rose for sunrises, we drank coffee in peace, and we did absolutely nothing. Friends were sending me messages that we should go here and there and do all sorts of excursions, but all I wanted to do was sit and soak up the sun. It was pretty amazing.
But now we’re back to reality and all the chaos, highs and lows, and craziness that life brings. Since I know that it is a luxury to get away without kids and doesn’t happen very often, I’ll get back to my practice of taking “mini-vacations” all the time. I’m always up for them. “Mini-vacations” can be: a girls weekend, a nights out with friends or family, date nights with my husband, dinners out, happy hours, coffee with friends, a glass of wine on the patio all by myself, daily mediations and prayer, and sometimes just hiding in the bathroom for 10 minutes (sad but true—I learned it from my mom). One of my big favorites is when my husband takes the kids away for the weekend or even just a night and I am in my house… all…by…myself! Now that’s a vacation. I blogged about it here.
We are all busy people who tend to be over-scheduled, over-whelmed and stressed out, which is exactly why we need to relax and recharge however we can. It’s important to get time away from “the grind” of everyday life, whether it’s a heavenly getaway or “mini-vacations” to buy sanity until the big one comes around (oh, and laughter helps too). What works for you? What are some of your favorite vacations or, as I like to call them, “mini-vacations”? Do you have any quick sanity-restoring tricks you can share?
