Taking a Momcation

Mothers of Teens Deserve an Occasional Restful Weekend

Aug 27, 2008 Mary McCarthy

If you are a mother of a teen or teens, perhaps you'd enjoy a little restful getaway. You deserve it!

You have been a mom for going on two decades now. Have you had a break from the soccer practices, school conferences and teenage sleepover parties that have defined the recent years of your life?

What is a Momcation?

Someone thankfully coined the term "momcation" to describe the often covert, unfortunately brief weekend getaway of one or more moms from their one or more children. Your experience with vacations as a mom of a teen is probably more likely to involve beach house rentals and tons of laundry when you get home. But this time, it’s your turn. The only question now…

Where to Go on a Momcation?

Your choice in momcation destination is going to depend on your personality. If you are adventurous, you might like to go on a hiking weekend or take ski lessons. If your idea of a momcation involves some magazines, a good book, and a bottle of wine, then you simply have to choose a quiet bed and breakfast or off-season cabin rental. There are tons of travel websites eager to give you many ideas on where to go. Try someplace new!

Other Getaway Factors

You’ll also want to decide whether to travel alone or with a friend or two. Girls weekends can be fun, too -- it depends if you just want a change of scene or were looking for some chatter-free alone time. It’s all about you (for a change), so make sure you are setting yourself up for a relaxing weekend to charge your batteries for a long time to come (who knows when you’ll get away again?). Also, you will need to be guilt-free on your momcation, so make sure you have notified all pertinent family members, extra-curricular or athletic leaders, and neighbor sthat you will be away for a much-needed, well-deserved break.

Momcation Tips

Whatever you do on your momcation, DON’T bring a laptop or cellphone! Leave an emergency number of where you’ll be staying -- but text messages from a teen with an alleged "crisis" will defeat the trip’s purpose. Unplugging will undoubtedly be the best part of your trip. Bring a journal to take notes of amazing ideas that come to you when your mind is actually clear for the first time in who knows how long.

Leave the guilt at home. Sign up for all your favorite spa services or buy a ticket to the Broadway play you’ve been wanting to see. Your momcation is limited only by your imagination. Enjoy!!

The copyright of the article Taking a Momcation in Parenting Teens is owned by Mary McCarthy. Permission to republish Taking a Momcation in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.