By Laura Parvey-Connors
Downtime. It’s what I have wanted. It’s what I have dreamed about for two years. A mommy vacation — no responsibilities, no obligations, no dirty diapers. Time to reconnect with me. To sleep in. To sit by the pool. To decompress.
Last Friday, I boarded a plane to Vegas for a girls getaway. A party to celebrate some 30th birthdays. Three nights with no husband, dog, or child. Seven women in a city that never sleeps. The irony. I couldn’t sleep.
I wanted to sleep. I wanted to sleep in until 10:00 am and take cat naps on by the pool. But, my mind and body wouldn’t do it. I’d lay there and will myself to relax. I would tell myself to stay in bed until at least 8:00. But, my internal clock wouldn’t let me. As soon as the alarm clock clicked to 6:30, I was wide awake.
My hotel mates for the weekend — both single women with no children — didn’t have any issues with sleeping. I’d quietly get ready for the day and try to entertain myself outside of our hotel room for a few hours so they could get rest. The pool didn’t open until 9:00 and I don’t really gamble so I would just walk aimlessly with jumbled emotions.
I was excited to be away and glad that I was taking a mommy-vacation. But, I had distinct moments of anxiety and guilt. I only had myself to take care of and it was a bit … terrifying.
I tried to acknowledge these moments. Allow myself to feel. Breathe in and release. I granted myself permission to let these emotions go. I gave myself permission to reconnect with me.
As soon as the other ladies started waking and there was more structure in our day, the anxiety would subside. The weather was a gorgeous 90 degrees and we treated ourselves to good food, dancing, shows, and shopping. I am exhausted, but I am refreshed.
Mommy, wife and work obligations are beckoning me from the comfort of my own bed this morning. Its exactly 6:30 am and I welcome them with a cup of strong coffee and open arms.
Laura Parvey-Connors manages the details of www.mamalode.com as the official mamalode webgeek. She works full-time in marketing and runs her own graphic design and marketing consulting business on the side. She is the proud mommy of two energetic kiddos — Onyx, a 4-year-old black lab and 22-month-old little boy named Everson.
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Ha–I can SO relate to this! When I went away last weekend I was wide awake at 7am and could not fall back asleep. I finally had to read, then get up. Totally ridiculous.
i love this. and you. welcome home.
I would be right there with you. It’s just because we are doers, not waiters…at least that’s what I’d be telling myself at 6:30 am.
Say it ain’t so! I have my first family-free weekend planned this Friday and I was banking on sleeping in and cat-naps by the pool. Fortunately I have some good books packed just in case.
Laura this is great. I however can not relate. I can always sleep even when I have two little ones coming into our bed at 6:30 in the morning wanting to watch cartoons.