During my visit home, I was able to spend quality “girls’ time” with my closest friends. It was not all of the crew, because it wasn’t planned. As usual, we laughed and giggled enough to fill in for the others! Every year, it is our intent to get together and take a “girls trip”. As of late, it has only been couple of us (or no trip at all) due to “bad timing”, finances, birth of children, life changes, etc. We feel as though these trips are necessary so that we can have that girlfriend bonding time and let our hair down – literally.
When I talk about these trips to some people I get, “But you’re married.” Or, “How does your husband feel about these [girls’] trips?” I even had one older gentlemen tell me that taking such trips was not in line with what a married woman should be doing. Of course, I shrug all of those comments off and proceed to book my flights and reserve the next excursion. Grant it, I didn’t grow up hearing about or seeing married women in my life partake in these events, but that was a different time. Nowadays, its extremely common for your “circle” of girlfriends to live all over the U.S., making it impossible to get together often without major planning and coordination.
In the true spirit of friendship, these little break aways can be quite a blessing! Especially when you’re with other married/virtuous women. I personally find it very therapeutic to off-load to trusted friends. Having high expectations for yourself to be a good wife and mother can sometimes be exhausting, yet rewarding. So, surrounding yourself with women who encourage, embrace and emulate being a good spouse is who you want to have in your circle. If not, you run the risk of focusing on all the negative things about your marriage/your spouse and going back home with an attitude! (Let’s not…)
In our home, I’m not the only one anticipating an annual voyage sans the family. My husband also looks forward to his annual “guys’ trip”. Which, now that I think about it, hardly ever gets cancelled, postponed or re-scheduled.(Go figure!) Year after year, the same group of married men get together, tailgate an NFL game and party hard all weekend long. Believe it or not, I encourage this. I look at it as a way for my husband to “decompress”, relax with his buddies and just unwind. I also see it as opportunity for him to listen to all the other marital problems. So whatever I do, just won’t seem so bad! (I kid!)
Do I believe in quality time and romantic getaways with your significant other? Of course I do! Do I also believe in getting the girls together to luxuriate in the kid-free/husband-free zone with non-stop laughs, hugs and celebration of each other? Yes, I do! You should encourage your spouse to take time away from the throes of everyday life. Send your mate off with his fraternity brothers or childhood friends to re-fuel and come back relaxed and renewed. While this is isn’t for everyone, it works for us!
BMWK, what are your thoughts? Do you take a guys’/girls’ trip? Do you see a problem with this?