On Mother’s Day, I Just Want To Be Alone

For Mother’s Day, I want to remember how it feels to be selfish. It’s difficult to admit I often put my needs last on the priority list ever since I became a mom. 16 months ago, I was numero uno. I spent my evenings discovering new yoga classes and the latest foodie dives; I had epic dinner dates with girlfriends; I traveled to places like Bali and Peru. Lately, my norm includes kid-friendly menus, long text strings with other moms, and road trips to Houston to visit grandparents. I focus on my daughter, my husband, and my career. I take care of me when there’s time.

And I love my life, I truly do. My daughter’s smile instantly brings me to the present; being a mom has helped me understand my life’s purpose; my marriage is the strongest it’s ever been. But I recently went away on my first trip, and it felt amazing to be completely free for those few days. Something inside me cracked open a bit. It felt like the old me had gone into hiding for awhile and recently decided to come out and play.

For Mother’s Day, I want to pay homage to my former self for just a bit to honor where I’ve been and who I have become. Motherhood is an incredible calling, but it doesn’t completely define me. There was me before I became a mom. That version of me had 32 years to figure out life, while the current version of me is still being introduced to this brand new chapter. So for Mother’s Day, I want to re-awaken all aspects of me. I want to take a cold dip at Barton Springs pool, savor a hot meal at a nice restaurant, and enjoy a yoga class.

Then I want to run home to my sweet girl and husband and dive back into the crazy mess that is my amazing life. And I want to remember that taking some “Me” days to reawaken my spirit is the best thing I can do for myself and my family. In the end, there’s nothing selfish about that. On Mother’s Day, I just want to be alone.

How do you recharge? I hope you find ways to reawaken your spirit, mama. You (and your family) deserve it!