Parenting Timeout: The Parenting Pause That Refreshes

I just got back from a girlfriend getaway weekend with a friend I’ve known since junior high. The agenda for the weekend was simple: to catch up on one another’s lives and to take a temporary time out from the day-to-day worries and responsibilities of motherhood. (She has two teenagers; I have four kids, ages 11 to 21. We've got a lot on our minds.)

We packed the gear we knew we’d need: books, notebooks, cameras, and art supplies (she’s an artist; I’m a writer; and we both share a love of photography); movies about women’s lives (Nine Lives, Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her); all kinds of healthy food; and a couple of bottles of wine.

Mother Nature was definitely on our side. The mosquitoes that had been intolerable all season must have planned a retreat of their own. And the weather was travel-brochure perfect.

The number one item on our itinerary was conversation. We talked while we were making meals, reading on the dock, swimming out to the floating dock, eating dinner on the deck under the trees, and watching movies. We never ran out of things to talk about. How could we? There was so much to talk about. Husbands. Kids. Parents. Siblings. Grandparents. Cousins. Friends. Co-workers. Parenting. Love. Passion. Marriage. Creativity. Politics. Philosophy. Sports. The Environment. Art. Writing. Books. Movies. Travel. Health. Hopes. Dreams. Disappointments. Fears. Roadblocks. Life. Death. Grief. Survival. Renewal. Growth. Celebrations....

We talked about it all.

***

As our weekend wrapped up, we both felt refreshed and renewed. We’d also gained new insights into our lives, past, present, and future: the paths that had led us to where we were, and the paths we intended to follow during the weeks and months ahead. We vowed to make our getaway an annual event -- a once-a-year investment in our friendship and ourselves.

* * *

Do you occasionally take breaks from parenthood? If so, what types of breaks do you take? How often do you take them? How old was your child (children) when you started taking a parenting timeout? What advice would you offer to other parents about taking breaks from parenting?

Photo Credit: Ann Douglas, 2009.

Comments

[Donna Papacosta]

Sounds blissful, Ann. For the past five years or so, I've enjoyed a weekend like this with a group of seven women I've known since high school (two since grade school, actually). I am SO looking forward to our getaway later this summer -- a weekend of reminiscence, female wisdom and much laughter.

[Annie @ PhD in Parenting]

I'm glad you had such a wonderful weekend Ann! I'm planning to go to BlogHer in Chicago next month and look forward to spending time with the wonderful women that I have only met online so far. I'm not sure it will be relaxing (lots of parties, lots of conference sessions), but I think it will be refreshing and rejuvenating.

[Ann Douglas]

Thanks for your comments, Donna and Annie. These getaways with girlfriends are so amazing, aren't they?

My sisters and I have this long-established tradition called SisterFest, where we go away together for a weekend each year. One of our sisters is moving to the US this year. We'll have to make sure that our tradition considers regardless.

[Patrice]

It's good to know that you have a wonderful weekend together with your friend during junior high. I sometimes travel to have a break from parenthood.

[Ann Douglas]

Thanks, Patrice. It was great.

This weekend, I have two other friends up at the cottage with their two kids. We're having a great time. I'm up late in my room, trying to get today's blog post up. I was having such a good time, I forgot to write and post today's tip. (Oops.)