Mother’s Day Done Right!

Being a mother is the most wonderful, exhausting, underappreciated job. You are chef, maid, and doctor all rolled into one. Mom’s are expected to be healer of all things and knower of all things and yet, children hardly ever say thank you. Especially young children.

About six years ago my wonderful husband started the most amazing Mother’s Day tradition. I don’t think he even knew what he was doing or how much it was going to mean to me but it has truly saved my sanity, perspective and attitude.

At the end of a long Friday as I got into the car I discovered flowers, an overnight bag and a note that said, “Please type this address into the GPS. Have so much fun and call us when you arrive!” The directions led to a hotel where, to my surprise, I would be a guest for the entire weekend! He had packed all of my favorite things and even included notes from the kids!

My first thought was panic. There was so much to do, how could I possibly be gone for an entire weekend?  I hadn’t even made a list of things to pack! The first few hours were a little hard, I’d never been away from my house and family ALONE. It was hard to mentally turn off. I didn’t quite know how to function without my precious lists! Slowly my mind began to chill and the glorious realization hit me…I wasn’t in charge of anything! No one needed me! There was no plan, no organization, nowhere to be. It was the most mentally freeing moment in my life! There was no other option for me except to sit, read trashy magazines and keep up with the Kardashians! I got to stay up late without the repercussions of tiny people waking me up early! The next day I leisurely ate breakfast and read an actual book! Later on in the evening there was a knock at the door. To my excitement, it was two of my best mommy friends fully loaded with their overnight bags! We were able to laugh and enjoy each other’s company without our daily lives interrupting us!

Each year the tradition lives on.  My kids are older and much more appreciative, but the mental break from responsibility is such a life saver. It saves me from myself. It’s 48 hours of not following a rigid schedule. It allows me to stop and actually smell the roses. To realize that I’m OK company. I’m still a girl who has an identity outside of diapers, baseball games and playdates. It teaches me how to be with myself and my thoughts… to decompress and breathe.

So start planning this for Mother’s Day next month… or any day! Spend time with yourself!