When I was pregnant I entered into a momtract with my husband. Now, there was no document signed nor a binding handshake, but trust me when I say that we both know my annual momcation was a non-negotiable.
2010 AVP Tournament - Virginia Beach
So what is this curious momcation you ask? It is, as I have described to inquiring minds over the years, a vacation for where I leave my husband and son at home and my only responsibility is to myself. In short, it is the essential timeout. Now some may think - "how could you leave your child" or "you're being so selfish". Well, actually it is the best thing I can do for my family. My momcations gives me something to look forward to and allows me to recharge. There are always times in the year when things start building up and I'm a little more cranky and a little patient (we've all been there). That is what the Momcation combats and it gives me something to look forward to which in itself helps. My son was born in 2009 and I went on my first momcation the following year. Full disclosure, my first momcation couldn't have come at a better time. I was working full-time with a 15 month-old child who just starting sleeping through the night and I had just started my Masters program on top of it all. So, I would say a solo vacation was definitely necessary.
Montreal w/ longtime friend, Sarah in 2011
When considering where I will go for my momcation I consider places I've never been to or experiences on my bucket list. If I can combine it with seeing a good friend then that's an awesome bonus and keeping it budget-friendly is key. So where have my travels taken me...
2010 AVP Beach Volleyball Tournament in Virginia Beach
2011 Montreal, QC
2012 no-cation :(
2013 The Spa at Norwich Inn
2014 Narragansett, RI
2015 Washington DC for my 20th High School Reunion
2016 Hong Kong
2017 Dominican Republic/Brother's Wedding
And because I know you are wondering what happens when I don't go on a momcation. Well, that year I had to suspend the momcation due to us moving from Virginia to Connecticut and changing jobs, I got pneumonia which was just a not-so-friendly reminder of how important my momcation and self-care is to my health. At the heart of the momcation, is taking time for me to regroup, relax, and rejuvenate. If you want to call it a selfish act, you can, but it is also a selfless act. We all need to be a little selfish from time to time. We give so much of ourselves, our time, and more to others in our lives and do not always make ourselves a priority. My momcations are about making me a priority. So how can a momcation be both selfish and selfish? Well, like I said before when I come back from my vacation I am just plain better for not only myself, but also for my family, my friends, and my students.
Hong Kong w/ longtime friend Erika in 2016
So what do I have planned for Momcation 2018 in the year following me hitting the big 4-0? Well, that's yet to be determined. Perhaps a cooking vacation, a writing retreat, the Food and Wine Festival in Vegas, or.....you'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, I recommend you start planning your own momcation. Trust me, your health (and your family) will thank you.
Relaxin' in Punta Cana, DR in 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment