Last month, I got to live a real life mom fantasy. My husband took my 18-month-old to visit his family on the east coast for TEN DAYS. He left on Father’s Day, so he spent a day that is supposed to be dedicated to him, flying on an enclosed human tube, alone with a toddler, 30K feet above any possible escape. After I left the airport that day, I cried. Just a little… And then, just like that, it’s like all the stress and anxiety left my body. OMG, what was I going to do for ten days?! Live a mom fantasy, of course…
A Brag-Worthy Husband – I have to start here. I didn’t have to ask my husband to take my child on a 10-day trip alone. He offered… all on his own. I realize this will never EVER happen again, and I am incredibly lucky to have had this opportunity.
Stay Up Late – I got to stay up late and not worry about how I would regret it at 6am the next morning when my son was hollering for me. But what did I do while staying up so late you ask? Nothing. I scrolled social media and caught up on bad TV. I ate ice cream.
Sleep In – I’ll stop there. No need to make you jealous.
Work Out – I’ll admit, I dislike working out most of the time but do it because that’s what I’m supposed to do, right? Most mornings, I would wake up (on my own) around 7am, go for a run and still have time to eat breakfast and make it to work by 9am. Oh, and take a shower.
Enjoy Date Nights with Friends – I caught up with friends I don’t see that often. I had neighbors over in the evenings, just to hang out. And one night, I sat around a bonfire with some friends for 8 hours with freshly squeezed watermelon margaritas and lots of queso. Then went to bed WAY too late. But it’s fine, because I got to sleep until 9am.
Go to an Impromptu Dinner – My dad called me at 4:30pm on a Thursday and asked if I wanted to meet he and my mom for dinner at 5:30. I just went. I JUST WENT. And the dinner was fun, and long, and I drank. And promptly went to bed the second I got home. Likely due to that 3rd glass of wine.
Treat. My. Self. – One morning, I got a massage. And then, that same day, I got a mani-pedi, in one visit. It wasn’t broken up in two appointments due to lack of time. I sat down in that chair and didn’t move for two hours. Beautiful day.
SHOP – I got to aimlessly wander the mall. No time crunch, no toddler chasing. And I got to sit alone in the food court and enjoy my too-much-butter hot pretzel with cheese.
Feel No Mom-Guilt – I did not feel guilty about sending my boys away. My little man is crazy about his dad and he was loved on by family the entire time he was away. It was good for them… bonding time…
(Fast Forward 10 Days) – And just like that, my staycation was over. My son was a terror on the plane ride home, so my first glimpse of my sweet boy was him being a trainwreck. And then they lost my husband’s luggage, and then we sat on I-70 for 1.5 hours trying to get home. But my boys were back, and my home was complete again.
