As I posted recently, Eric and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. For the first time, we decided to take a trip without the kids and truly rejuvenate ourselves from the busy tasks of the world and focus on us. I will go into where we went, what we did and my favorite moments; but first I want to share what I learned from this experience and the reasons why I’ll do it again.
1. I never truly realized how important it is to have lengthy one on one time with your spouse. Eric and I aren’t ones to go on dates often or get away because sitters are expensive. Life is so busy (kids, work, school, errands, shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, you name it all while having fun (like kissing)) that the undivided time for our marriage is squished between the end of the day when the kids are in bed and sleep. Eric and I make sure we have time to talk, hold hands, leave notes, do something to bring a smile (like kiss), cuddle, definitely kiss and take a moment here and there to grab the mail together throughout the day, but it’s very different when this time is undivided.
2.Wanting to go on a vacation without my babies, and enjoying the vacation without my babies does NOT make me a bad mom. It doesn’t make that aspect of my life less important. I still love and care for them just the same if not more! PS I missed them like crazy!
3. The guilt I felt for leaving them was driven by anxiety. Anxiety that was present because I didn’t feel worthy to take this break, to spend needed time with my husband, to be awayf from my children and other responsibilities.
There are 5.5 (yes, five and a half) specific reasons as to why we will do this again:
Reason #1, priorities. We all have priorities and obviously the most important make it to the top of the list. My marriage is my top priority. A marriage vacation gave us time, set aside time, dedicated to us. Him. Me. Together. It allows an opportunity to re-prioritize in our relationship (like kissing).
Reason #2, teaches. We always strive to teach and show our kids the importance of our marriage and what a marriage means. This trip (and future ones) is just the icing on the cake. It shows them the important message that our marriage matters, that our marriage is a priority, that Mom and Dad love each other (and kiss), that our marriage has significance and is treated with importance and respect in terms of time, commitment and focus.
Reason #2.5, develop. It provides my child to develop their own confidence being away from parents, to be independent and their own person. That their parents don’t define them.
Reason #3, re-energizes. A get-away re-energizes our friendship, our connection and our intimacy. It increases the adventure, the fun, the flirty and even the silliness. To take this time and truly enjoy the company of the man of my dreams. It’s a reminder to interact more deeply than the superficial monotony that we get caught up in every day. I felt special to have his undivided attention day in and day out (and to be kissed, a lot)!
Reason #4, more. I am more. Eric is more. It reminds the both of us, together and individually, that we are more than the tasks at hand. I am a person, an individual, a human being who is blessed to be a wife, blessed to be a mom, blessed to be employed (I could argue that one ;)), I am a child of God, I have goals and dreams.
Reason #5, cloud 9. Who doesn’t want to be on cloud 9 with their spouse? Each of us have been on cloud 9 at some point. While up there and looking at life don't you feel confident? Capable? Strong? Brave? Worthy? You're ready to come back and tackle things, ready to take life by the horns-so to speak, ready to live and love.
We are all in life doing our best and to be our best we have to take care of ourselves. What better way than to do something revitalizing with the person you cherish the most.
Aw you are so great! I love this :)
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