Finally, A Vacation Without My Kids

For the first time in 15 years, I went on vacation in September after school has started and without kids. I can’t believe that time has passed so fast. It seems like it was just a few days ago when they were starting school. Since they began school, each year has been divided up by time in school and time out of school. Now, with my daughter in college and my son at boarding school, so much has changed in my life. One of those things is that I can now take a vacation during the school year without taking the kids out of school.

I feel free again! No longer constrained by the schedules of my children. I can schedule my business around my own desires and not my kids. It’s a great feeling.

Don’t get me wrong, I do miss my children and I’m happy when they come home for a visit, but taking a vacation without them in September is a rare treat for me.

I’ve spent the last few days at the beach visiting with my parents and hanging out at the pool or the ocean. I explored Savannah with my mom and rode bikes with my dad. I admired beautiful scenery and slept late. All without having to keep up with my kid’s whereabouts and activities.

When you take away a layer of things that you have to pay attention to, then it frees up your mind to think about other things.

This chance to take a vacation without my kids has given me a ‘little time’ for looking inwards as well. I say a ‘little time’ because when one goes on vacation with my dad you can be busy from the time you get up until the time you go to bed. So, in the small amounts of me time that I had, I used it to think about my life and self reflect.

Before my vacation, I had noticed that I was tired both physically and mentally. I was definitely in need of a break from my normal routine. My break was short, only 6 days long, but it was so necessary to my well being.

Self reflection, brought me to the need to listen to my body. I go back to this over and over in my life.  This is one important thing that I’ve learned over my many years of studying yoga.

During the vacation, I noticed when I really wanted a hot bath to recover from driving and the stress that leads up to a vacation. I noticed when I was wiped out from a day on my feet, my legs went into a chair while I laid on the floor. I was practicing awareness when my body said it wasn’t quite ready to get up in the morning and I enjoyed the luxury of sleeping just a bit longer.

Basically I went with my own rhythms for 6 days instead of the rhythms of my schedule. When I get the chance to live in harmony with my body rather than fighting it, life is so much smoother and I’m happier.  That’s how it was on this vacation.  Yes, my dad’s desire to stay busy meant I had lots to do, but when I wanted a break to put my legs in a chair I took it.

I guess the same can be said for vacationing without my kids. I had the chance to pay more attention to me and to live in harmony with my rhythms instead of my kids’ rhythms.

I’m enjoying this new found freedom that I have at least until my son comes home for the weekend.  When that happens I’ll revert back to ‘parent’.  In the meantime, I get to be just me for a bit longer.

While I would love to stay on vacation for a lot longer, I can’t.  However, I now feel refreshed. I can re-enter my routine and hopefully function better than I did before my vacation. I’m a firm believer that everyone needs a break every now and then.  That’s what I got and I’m so happy that I took this time away!

Have you taken a break recently?

Have you noticed what your body is telling you lately?

If you need help listening to the cues that your body is sending to you, schedule a session today.