Girls Trip. Baby included
In case you’ve ever wondered how a 6-hour road trip with a one year old would play out, I am here to tell you, it has its highs and its lows. The highs being when she’s asleep…hah. And the lows being the screeching cries and inability to take her out of her car seat (obviously).
Last week I wrote about desperately needing a “momming” break. My friends and I have had this girl’s trip to the small lake town, Twain Harte planned for some time but I was hoping to leave Maya home with my husband so I could really indulge. Unfortunately, his work schedule didn’t permit that, so Maya tagged along!
Cue my anxiety.
By now, you know anxiety is something I know quite well.
There were a few times I contemplated canceling my trip because I was so nervous about how she would do on the drive and worried that having a baby with us might make it less enjoyable for others. I was unsure how our daytime plans would affect her sleep schedule; how being out of her element would affect her bottle weaning (I am happy to say she is 100% weaned) and just how I would balance everything overall while still enjoying myself.
My gut told me that if I cancel my trip out of fear of the unknown, I would stay in that mentality and hinder myself from enjoying life. I can only imagine how relaxing a baby-less vacation is, but truth be told, that likely won’t happen anytime soon. And that’s okay. Part of being a mother is learning to adapt to having a little one on your hip through many different phases of life. I psyched myself into each phase of the trip, repeating the mantra “I can do anything” in my mind, because I know that I can. From going to the beach to hopping around town wine tasting (shout of to the Ergo Baby carrier), it can be done.
As you know, I spend a lot of time by myself with my daughter. And while I have a big family and friends nearby, lives and schedules limit my face to face time with loved ones. So, when we’re reunited, I struggle with accepting help; constantly apologizing and avoiding asking for favors at all costs, knowing that if it were reversed, I would happily do whatever a friend needed. I am forever on the journey of getting out of my own way.
Ironically, Maya took longer naps during this trip, didn’t make a peep during our late-night drunken escapades and took a nice nap in the carrier during our afternoon wine tasting. I am forever grateful to my friends for being patient, helpful and incredibly reassuring. If I don’t take leaps like these and step outside of my comfort zone, I will be stagnant; stuck in a rut.
There is no growth when I remain in my bubble. Now that I am back home, I don’t feel as rested as I would have liked, but I feel inspired and stronger willed than I was before. Life of a Mama.