For the first time in possibly ever (with the exception of the 5 days I took out of the country, I took an entire week and a half off from my job and my adulting responsibilities (insert shock and *gasp*).  I didn’t have any life-threatening reason why I did it (unless you count my slowly deteriorating sanity), but I felt like it was critical and needed at the time.

Life has been a little bit of a roller coaster for me lately.  Personally and professionally I was being pulled in several different directions; not really sure what was right and what was wrong.  I didn’t talk much about it, in an attempt to maintain a positive external demeanor; however, internally, I was going through some things that I didn’t really know how to communicate.  Some of those things that were going on took an severe emotional toll on me, mainly effecting my health and my well-being.  Because of that, I decided that enough was enough, and I needed a break.

I took some time off and visited my best friend.  I didn’t need or want to do much, just a little time to be able to do absolutely nothing, and have a little fun for once.  It is very rare that I get the time and opportunity to sit around in my pajamas until 12 o’clock in the afternoon, so I took it.  I got the opportunity to get lost in a  book, instead of stealing a couple chapters when my daughter is in the bathtub.  I ate whatever and whenever I wanted.  I got to finish one of my projects, and I am now preparing to publish (uber excited about that!).  I got to do things that I truly love doing, sitting around, letting my hair look a mess, living off cereal, books, a notebook and rough drafts.  It was a magical experience.

I wanted to write about it, because I learned a lesson in all this.  I felt guilty about being selfish in my time away from m y husband and daughter, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt like maybe we needed to get a break from each other.  My time away also gave my daughter the opportunity to go stay with my father for a week.  She got to visit her grandparents, I got to visit my best friend and get in some much needed time on my writing, my  husband got to get a little “daddy/husband” break of his own, and even hang out with some friends over the weekends.  In my opinion, I feel like everyone got a win and a needed restart and recharge.

Sometimes, as adults, wives, husbands, parents; you get stuck in routine.  You go to work to pay the bills, come home, be present for your family, go to bed around 11 and wake up at 5-6 am to start all over.  I’ll admit, I love every minute of being a wife and mother, but even the sanest of humans go a little stir crazy; which is why you have to have a healthy balance of alone time.  Most days when everyone is home, there is some point in the day where everyone has their own little “me time” activity.  My daughter has her time when she can play, watch TV, read; whatever she wants to do in her room.  Sometimes, my husband gets to go fishing, play his video games, go to the gym, watch sports; and I get to read, write, go to the gym, walk aimlessly in the bookstore on a Saturday, etc (lol).

Some  people probably think I’m crazy to even consider having my own personal time, thinking “then why have children?  Why get married?”  It’s not that I don’t ever want to be around my family, it’s a way for everyone to still keep a piece of themselves and not get lost in everyone else that they care for.  It’s not a crime, it’s a way to maintain our sanity and make sure we are our best selves for each other.  If you asked me if I would do it again, I would say definitely, because we all need to reset ourselves after we’ve been running the same way for months.