Something magical happened to me the other day. I was transported to a high class spa and treated like a queen! I soaked in a tub with the most soothing of oils and aromas. My skin was reverse aging in those warm waters becoming baby soft. The rough callouses of motherhood seemed to be easily washed away revealing a younger, more energetic version of myself. All the while, I sipped on a marvelous glass of red wine and listened to words of encouragement that my soul desperately gobbled up. My soul was pampered with deep truths I had long forgotten in the chaos of motherhood. I left the spa feeling refreshed, re-energized, renewed both body and soul. I had spent the most glorious day at the spa in only 30 minutes!
After a hard day, my husband always suggests I take a bath to relax. Ah yes, a bath! Those things I used to take before kids! I had forgotten there was an alternative to the “mom shower” which could be an Olympic event. How fast can you get in and out of the shower in order to prevent a disaster or before you have to rip kids off each other? Gosh, the last time I took a bath I think I was eight months pregnant with our first and it was 2am, and I believe I was sobbing uncontrollably from not being able to sleep from horrid back pain. Yeah, not so glorious…
But my husband keeps recommending them, and I keep making excuses. “I don’t have the time! I’m too tired! There’s a show on! It sounds like too much work!” But a couple weeks ago he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He said he would take the kids down to the basement and play with them, and I was to go upstairs and use the bath bomb I had been given from someone at MOPS. Yeah, okay, I guess.
And it was glorious!
So glorious in fact, I’ve taken several more and I’ve made it a goal to take one bath a week. Because I need it. Not because I’m horribly stinky (least that I notice…), but because my SOUL needs it. I need to feel like my cup has been refilled. I need to have a thought to myself. I need to just not be needed for 30 minutes. I think a lot of moms are in the same boat…and y’all need to get in the bath! So here are my tips to make that soak cleanse both body and soul:
- Lock the door. Both my kids have tried to break in before. Lock. It. Up. Then ignore them. Ignore the entire world outside your bathroom door! It’s only 30 minutes so don’t feel guilty. They will survive without you. If you’re worried about the rare chance you slip and fall and need rescuing, have your spouse have a paper clip handy so they can unlock it.
- Set a timer. This is not for when you need to get out, but to keep you in! I give myself 30 minutes–5 to prep, 20 to soak, 5 to dry off and get re-dressed. Twenty minutes doesn’t seem like much, but when was the last time you did NOTHING for 20 minutes? No planning or prepping or multi-tasking. Sitting still was hard, but stilling my mom-brain, which we all know runs at about 100 mph, is no easy task! Which brings me to the next point…
- Play an audiobook or music. I have not mastered turning off my mom-brain, but I can refocus it! I love audiobooks for my kids, but I love them for me too. I check them out through an app called hoopla through our library. I’ve enjoyed Wild and Free by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan and am now listening to Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist and it’s amazing! Their words pour into my soul, and I leave the tub feeling so much better!
- Use a space heater. Not in the tub! Put it on the counter away from the tub, but use it to heat the bathroom, otherwise you’ll probably get too cold in the water.
- Use a bath bomb. Every bath bomb I’ve used I’ve been gifted, but I hear they’re easy to make. I’m going to attempt to make some myself because I want baths to be a regular part of my life, but also to give away to other moms I know. I’m sure with some poking around Facebook you could find a local friend who makes and sells them.
- Wine me. I tend to go for a Cabernet Sauvignon, but a chilled Pinot Grigio would be nice too. Or a decaf coffee or sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice. Whatever you drink, you absolutely MUST put it in a fancy glass. Just trust me on that one.
So there you have it–the secrets to a day at the spa in just 30 minutes! Try it out and let me know how it goes!
