5 Reasons You Need a {Kid-Free} Weekend with Your BFF

Last weekend, I went on my first vacation ALONE since….um, forever. It was definitely the first time I’ve flown alone since becoming a mom that didn’t involve anything work related and I hadn’t even realized how much I needed to get away.

Growing up, we didn’t do big vacations. We drove all over the place to visit family for reunions and such, but didn’t do the yearly fly-somewhere-as-a-family type of vacations. So, when I got married, I didn’t expect that. The handful of vacations we took before kids were fantastic and felt like a special treat, but taking those out of the equation once babies entered our lives wasn’t hard for me.

I’ve seen friends fly off on yearly adventures, smart enough to head for warm weather locations in the middle of winter, and while it looked enticing, I didn’t think I needed to get away by myself.

And then, last weekend. {Insert deep, contented sigh}

For Christmas, my husband gifted me a weekend visit to see one of my best friends, who moved to Phoenix just under five years ago. With both of us having limited budgets for extras, we typically only see each other once a year when they are back in the area visiting family. So when I visited her this time, we spent the entire weekend shopping, relaxing, eating and talking and talking…and talking. It was more refreshing than I ever could have imagined and not just because I had a constant stream of Starbucks Ice Tea Lemonade in my hand.

So, whether you get away to a hotel ten minutes from your house or you hop on a plane to go visit a friend far away, here are five reasons you should spend a {kid-free} weekend with a good friend:

1. You Need Authentic Friendship. Friendship is more than important. You needed your friends before you became a mom, and I truly think you need them now more than ever. Hold tight to those authentic friendships – the ones where you can really be yourself, without fear of judgment. Those women are worth their weight in gold and spending a weekend talking, reconnecting and learning from each other is priceless.
2. You Need Moments of Zero Responsibility. I think you’re well aware, but being a mom is a lot of work. Even if you’re in a place where you don’t feel stressed, you are constantly being asked to do things for others. A few days without having to care for your family is a treat for your soul and will make you a better mom in the long-run.
3. You Need to Rediscover Yourself. A friend recently told me that you are a combination of the five people you spend the most time with. Spend some time with a dear friend…if that’s true of you, it’s true of your friends too, and you just might rediscover a bit of yourself while you’re with her.
4. You Need Some Freedom. It’s okay to admit that sometimes you miss the freedom and flexibility your life held before having kids. It doesn’t mean you love them less, it’s just that you are in a different place in life right now. We did whatever we wanted for two full days. It was amazing. I sat outside with iced tea and relaxed without the guilt of feeling I should rush back. That’s the difference between taking a whole weekend for yourself instead of just a couple hours. You get the time to be a bit lazy, wander and recharge. Every mom needs that once in a while.
5. You Need to Have Fun! Remember planning fun outings that had nothing to do with keeping your kiddos entertained? Do you remember BEING fun? I’m not sure about you, but I don’t often feel like the fun parent, and I think it’s hard to be that fun parent with your kids when you aren’t taking time to have fun on your own. Call a friend and go do something fun!

Again, you don’t need to fly across the country to get a girls’ weekend away. You can just as easily do a staycation downtown, by the Mall of America, or rent a local cabin and hide out for a few days. Wherever you go, take a friend or two with you – you will not regret it!