As I shared here last week, this trip to Vermont was my first solo road trip with both of our children. (Our friends’ nine-year-old daughter also joined us.)
The plan was for Papa to enjoy some much deserved down time, visit with friends, sleep in as late as he wanted to, and just relax alone at home, while the rest of us visited with my aunt and uncle in Vermont.
As we were gearing up for the trip I felt excited, confident, and really open to letting the five-day trip unfold as it was meant to.
And then about three days before our trip, I started sliding into my old pattern of pre-vacation stress. The energy started moving really fast as I was trying to finish up a few work projects before we left, while doing laundry and trying to get us packed.
I started to resent my beloved and the time he was going to get alone while I was doing solo-kid-duty. I started to think about past road trips and the frustration I’ve felt since becoming a mom, walking past antique stores, yarn shops, bead shops, book stores and cozy little cafés so we can take yet another trip to the library and the playground.
And then I decided to do something totally different.
I stopped doing laundry and worrying about what we would wear. (Two outfits each, which could be alternated and washed when needed, worked just fine. ;-) I took advantage of some babysitting time to get my work done and then I took a day – a whole day – to relax and play.
While the kids had some special Papa time, I played tourist 20 minutes from our house. I dined when and where I wanted to. I treated myself to a new pair of sneakers. I had a reflexology session. I got completely lost in a (new-to-me) antique store and bought myself three vintage aprons. Just because.
And then I went to my monthly mother’s sharing circle and was absolutely transported by the magic of relaxing and breathing and sharing with the wonderful women who attended the circle.
And what a difference it made.
There were still a few store windows in Montpelier that I looked into longingly while we made our way from the playground to the toy store, and of course there were moments of frustration during the inevitable tantrums and sibling arguments that occurred, but overall I was a much more relaxed, calm, happy mama thanks to my pre-vacation fun day (and my new sneakers that make me smile every time I look at them ;-).
It’s taken me five years and a lot of frustration and tears to get here, but oh is it wonderful to finally be in this place of not just saying the words but fully living and understanding just how important it is to honor my needs and take care of myself.
So wonderful.




















































