It's My Turn to Take a Selfish

Why do all Moms deserve a girls’ trip? Whether it’s for 24 hours or 7 days, all Moms are entitled to time away from her family with her girlfriends.

best friends women sitting in ghostly live oak tree Fort Fisher

Why do all Moms deserve a girls’ trip?

Moms deserve a girls’ trip for countless reasons. First, at some point in motherhood, the Mom title can consume your original identity. Uninterrupted time away from being a Mom gives you a chance to reconnect with (or find) your inner self. Second, when you’re focused on being MOM 24/7 it’s easy to forget the things you personally enjoy. What better time is there to do what you love than with a girlfriend? Third, we need real life connections to relieve stress and improve our mental health. Did you know oxytocin is released during positive social bonding experiences?

Planning a girls’ trip is too much work.

My husband went away on his first boys’ trip after becoming a Dad before our daughter turned one. I remember thinking, “I can’t believe he isn’t stressed!” as he went off on his adventure. Over the last ten years I have envied his ability to pack up and go. Bonus: he always comes home energized and refreshed! One may ask – why have you never went on a girl’s trip? It’s not because I was not allowed to go, but because planning a girls’ trip is too much work.

It requires a lot of moving parts to plan a trip away from your family when you’re the primary caregiver for children. As a self-employed/stay-at-home Mom, there have always been breastfeeding, school, dance classes, and other commitments to consider. My husband usually needs a helping hand if I am not here to watch the toddler or drive the older sisters around too. The thought preparing my family to be without me has always seemed impossibly exhausting – UNTIL NOW.

best friends holding hands and walking on the beach

Girlfriend Getaways are a MUST Do

My best friend from high school lives in North Carolina and we only see each other when she visits home. It’s always nice to squeeze one another, but with husbands and children in tow it’s difficult to really catch up. A few months ago she proposed a fabulous idea: what if we go away on a girls’ trip?

For the last year I have talked to my therapist about the importance of doing things for myself. A girls’ trip is always on my happiness wish list, but as previously stated – it seems like too much work to execute. So when my best friend suggested a weekend away, one that she would plan if I just show up, I had no excuse than to immediately book a plane ticket.

Our 48 hour trip to Carolina Beach and Cary, North Carolina was both incredibly relaxing and wonderful. Neither of us like big commitments to activities, so we had a loose itinerary with one thing in mind: enjoy each other’s company. There was no pressure to do everything my best friend researched we could do. We laughed, we explored, we ate good food and we vented about life – all without an audience. My heart felt so full of love, joy, and fulfillment.

It’s My Turn to Take a Selfish

The great and wonderful David Rose said something all Moms should repeat at least once a year: “It’s my turn to take a selfish” (Schitt’s Creek). Ironically, it’s not selfish to prioritize yourself. When you spend so much time taking care of others, it’s easy to forget to do things only for you. Self-care isn’t just a manicure or a shopping trip, it is actively doing things good for your mental and physical health. So plan the girls’ trip – and go live your life to the fullest.