I worked at a huge high school my first year of teaching. I had 150 students in a make-shift science classroom far from all the other science teachers because they had run out of lab classrooms. I didn't really have a clue what I was doing, and I worked so hard that I came home almost every day the first few months and took a 2 or 3 hour nap before resuming grading and/or planning. All day long squirly little freshmen were calling my name, coming to me about grades, coming for help, crying to me to return their cell phones or asking advice. I loved every second of it, but by the end of every week I really needed a few stress-free moments.
That was when I discovered how much I really liked to just hang out by myself every once and a while. Oftentimes I would head to my favorite crowded sushi restaurant and sit at the bar in the middle of the Friday happy hour chaos. I would order a drink and some happy hour sushi and just sit there, nearly invisible to the entire bar except for the fact that I was taking up a seat. And I LOVED every second of it. No one was calling my name. No one needed me. No one was mad at me for confiscating their lifeline to the world. And for an hour or so I enjoyed that I could sit in the chaos and no one would really pay me any attention. It replenished me and strangely enough calmed me from a crazy week. I would usually meet up with my husband and friends later, but I relished my 60 minutes of solitude.
As a Mom, I definitely feel similarly. Someone always needs me. Two of them are always fighting. Dishes need to be done. Dinner needs to be made. Laundry needs to be done. Etc., etc., etc. I love it all (well, not the laundry party), but every now and then I need a break. So, I'm enjoying my first solo Mom-cation. It is coinciding with a friend's going away party, but for one night I get to be alone, in my hotel, with no one needing anything from me. I can do whatever I want without consulting with anyone, and I can sleep all night long without anyone waking me up for anything. I brought a book to read, some notebooks to write in and my computer. I may do some sight seeing or I may not emerge from my room until I have to meet up with my friends, but it doesn't matter because it's just me. All me. For 48 whole hours (except for the party, but that will be really fun!).
My husband is so awesome for encouraging me to do this, and I hope I can do this at least once a year to recharge my batteries. I took a girl trip once, when my middle daughter was about 6 months old, and I've been wanting to have another little weekend getaway ever since. This time it's solo, but maybe next time I'll take my sister-in-law with me or one of my friends. Either way, it's refreshing, and I encourage other Moms to do the same if they can!!
That was when I discovered how much I really liked to just hang out by myself every once and a while. Oftentimes I would head to my favorite crowded sushi restaurant and sit at the bar in the middle of the Friday happy hour chaos. I would order a drink and some happy hour sushi and just sit there, nearly invisible to the entire bar except for the fact that I was taking up a seat. And I LOVED every second of it. No one was calling my name. No one needed me. No one was mad at me for confiscating their lifeline to the world. And for an hour or so I enjoyed that I could sit in the chaos and no one would really pay me any attention. It replenished me and strangely enough calmed me from a crazy week. I would usually meet up with my husband and friends later, but I relished my 60 minutes of solitude.
As a Mom, I definitely feel similarly. Someone always needs me. Two of them are always fighting. Dishes need to be done. Dinner needs to be made. Laundry needs to be done. Etc., etc., etc. I love it all (well, not the laundry party), but every now and then I need a break. So, I'm enjoying my first solo Mom-cation. It is coinciding with a friend's going away party, but for one night I get to be alone, in my hotel, with no one needing anything from me. I can do whatever I want without consulting with anyone, and I can sleep all night long without anyone waking me up for anything. I brought a book to read, some notebooks to write in and my computer. I may do some sight seeing or I may not emerge from my room until I have to meet up with my friends, but it doesn't matter because it's just me. All me. For 48 whole hours (except for the party, but that will be really fun!).
My husband is so awesome for encouraging me to do this, and I hope I can do this at least once a year to recharge my batteries. I took a girl trip once, when my middle daughter was about 6 months old, and I've been wanting to have another little weekend getaway ever since. This time it's solo, but maybe next time I'll take my sister-in-law with me or one of my friends. Either way, it's refreshing, and I encourage other Moms to do the same if they can!!
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