Being a mom isn’t easy. I would say it is the hardest job in the world. You feel as though you have to do everything for everyone all the time. So when it comes to taking time for yourself… it can be challenging. Not necessarily physically or financially, but emotionally.
One day I decided I wanted to go on vacation… alone. My husband didn’t have any time off, so he couldn’t come (although he would have). But going alone, away from my baby for two weeks, sounded crazy to most people. “Aren’t you going to miss him?” People would ask.
At first I was so anxious, the Mom Guilt of leaving my baby and husband to fend for themselves was overwhelming. It wasn’t because I didn’t think my husband could take care of our son Maverick–he can. He’s more capable than I am.
Iit was the fact that I was not participating. We do things as equally as we can together, which makes raising a child much easier for me. And now, I was leaving them both to go and just travel around Central America. Was I crazy?
As the trip approached, my anxiety grew. How could I think to leave them? This isn’t fair, this isn’t right. I’m supposed to be at home and do all the things I always do. Clean the house, wash the clothes, feed the baby, clean the baby, walk the dogs and so on.
Then the day arrived that I was leaving. Maverick is only 18 months, so he was unaware of what was actually going on. But I was off on my trip. The minute I got on the plane, I realized there was nothing more I could do and so I stopped feeling guilty. Instead I realized how lucky I was to have a husband who doesn’t mind taking care of our son solo for two weeks.
I realized that taking time for myself, as a mom, is OK. It’s OK to step away from life for a time and realize how incredibly lucky anyone is to be a mom and to have a family.
I still had every person ask how I was doing during my trip–whether I missed them. I’m not sure if people thought I wouldn’t be able to cope. Perhaps there is something wrong with me for not missing them to the point of wanting to come home. But I didn’t.
Does that make me a bad mom for having fun and travelling the world? Maybe. Do I care? Not really. I’m allowed to be me, not just a mom.Mom Guilt is toxic and every mom deserves a break. Take that trip. Take that evening. Take that minute. You deserve it.
