Let’s Talk About: A Mother’s Day Momcation on Local TV

Moms are wired to be selfless. We spend every waking hour sacrificing and putting everyone else before us. We don’t work 9-5 shifts, but 24/7 shifts. Even Mother’s Day can be spent packing diaper bags, disciplining children, and fulfilling other motherly obligations. A mom-cation is one of the best Mother’s Day gifts you can give yourself or ask to be given to you. The gift of time is rare in this world but is worth every second!

My advice is to take a MOM-CATION! This type of vacation is solo – just mom time for you.  Look at it like a wellness goal to reset, recharge, and reactivate. This type of self care is a commitment not only for our own wellbeing, but also to be a good role model for our children in hopes to live a longer, healthier, and happier life for them.

It’s important for moms to take time for herself for several reasons. If mom isn’t emotionally, mentally, nutritionally, and physically healthy, than there is a trickle down affect and effective parenting, the workplace, the household, and other relationships suffer. I am a better mom when I take care of myself. When moms don’t take time to self care, eat, or sleep properly, they are more prone to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, chronic stress, high blood pressure, heart disease, and mood fluctuations due to anger, resentment, and exhaustion.

Then there is MOM GUILT. Mom guilt eats us up alive. When we feel we aren’t giving 100% to our children and families at any given moment, we are bad mothers. But that is just not true. We have to let the guilt go. We have to be intentional to take time for ourselves. Self-care won’t come to us, we have to seek it out for ourselves. There will never be a perfect time or a perfect opportunity – so we just have to rip the band-aid off and do it.

Realistically, taking time away can be difficult – especially if you are limited in time, childcare options, or a budget.

If time or childcare is an issue, wake up 30 minutes before your children and spend time alone writing in a gratitude journal, meditating, taking a walk, stretching, etc. Start your day renewing your mind, body, and soul.

When you are on a budget: drive or walk to your nearest park, beach, library, coffee shop or bookstore and just sit and enjoy doing nothing. Read a book, people watch, take a nap, grab a coffee, but the main objective is to relax alone. No phone. No errands. No work.

If budget and time allows, get a pedicure, get a massage, or go to the movies! Ideally, you could have a half day or even a full “work” day enjoying your mom-cation. Spend the day wine tasting in Temecula with your friends, hit up a local resort and purchase a day pass and spend the day poolside, or drive up to Glen Ivy and give yourself a spa day!

Think about what you used to love to do before you had children. Maybe it was spending the day at the mall or maybe it was sleeping in, going to yoga, and then grabbing lunch with a friend. Whatever it was, remember it, channel it, own it, and do it!