My husband and I make a conscious effort to go on vacation without our kids from time to time. This may sound mean. This may sound cold. And honestly, some parents {especially new moms} might not be ready for it. I know there are times I wasn’t ready to leave my babies. But when you are ready… try leaving the kids behind once in a while.
Now, I would never go to say… Disney World without kids. But we just took a much-needed trip to Hawaii. We did things there we just couldn’t have done with a toddler and a baby in tow. For example, snorkeling around a volcanic crater and several long {someone difficult} hikes along cliffs overlooking the ocean.
We needed this time to see each other and to be ourselves. Being a mom is a fun and rewarding journey. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But being a parent is a JOB, it requires a lot of hard work. We can end up putting aside what makes us happy {as we should} in order to make our kids happy. But we still need to take care of ourselves. My husband and I love exploring new places. Just because we are parents now doesn’t mean we should have to give that up.
Don’t worry, we still take our kids on vacation. We aren’t afraid to fly with them. We take them on long car rides so we can enjoy a weekend at Michigan’s beautiful lakes. We love our kids, but in order to be the best versions of ourselves, we have learned that it’s okay to do what makes us happy every once in a while. That could be a week at a resort in the Caribbean, a camping trip in Northern Michigan or a weekend in Chicago. Whatever it is, it has to be what makes you and your spouse feel happy and complete.
My husband and I came back from this latest trip feeling happy, rested and relaxed. When we are home we work opposite shifts and we don’t talk much {unless it’s about the kids} so we knew we needed this time for us.
