Take a Girls’ Trip

My college friends and I recently went on a weekend trip to Galveston, Texas. For three years, we have made it a priority to get away together.Our kids are to a manageable age, our bodies are pretty rested from the newborn/toddler years, and we are in the right place to reconnect. There is something about escaping with friends that feels indulgent, especially since we are so used to giving so much of ourselves to our families. Even though the organization of travel and clearing the calendar can be hard, girls’ weekends are just what the doctor ordered.

The Importance of Friendship

My girlfriends are important extensions of my family. Maintaining friendships after high school and college is very hard, and even making and keeping new friends can be challenging with a busy family life. Friendships that stand the test of time are rare, but if they exist, they are the best kind. No one understands us like our closest acquaintances who were present for the silly moments of childhood, the carefree existence of our twenties, or the responsibility free college years.  By getting away for a little bit to remember these parts of ourselves, we keep connections strong, and attain a sort of relaxation that is usually out of reach during the daily household chaos. And I love seeing the strong, incredible women my friends have become.

Make New Memories

My friends and I enjoy talking about the old times. We discuss how much we have grown, how we all met, what happened in the past to make us who we are now, and how unbelievable it is that we made it out of our teens and twenties. We get away to celebrate our youth, but to also make new memories together. As we mature, my friends and I still have the connections that kept us close through marriages, births, pets, and moving, but now we have three years worth of annual trips to celebrate, with more on the horizon. There is something liberating about experiencing new places with some of the people that know me the best.

Miss the Kids

I miss my kids fiercely when I’m gone. Although I love reconnecting, my heart is still at home with my babies. When girls trips occur, our kids are a major topic of conversation. And how could they not be? The 361 other days of the year when we are not vacationing, we are completely invested in every aspect of their lives. We are proud of our kids, our husbands, the lives we have built. By taking a break from the grind for a minute, we are allowed a moment to sit back and reflect on just how much we love our families.

Home Sweet Home

Even though vacation is wonderful, there is really nothing like coming home to my babies, my husband, my dogs, and my bed. Time away allows me to forget about the chores that weren’t done, the house projects still needing attention, and the mess a busy family can leave. Instead, the homecoming is one of hugs, smiles, and family time.

So, friends. I give you permission to take that road trip, day trip, pedicure trip with your ladies. Go out to dinner, see the city, and remember how much fun your girlfriends are. After all, they are the extension of your home. The football practices, music lessons, and homework will be there when you get back.

Tessa
Tessa A. Adams is a graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Masters in reading. She is a language arts and creative writing teacher and is the co-author of the blog www.familyfootnote.com. She has three children and when she is not mothering or teaching, she is writing. Her work can be found in Fine Lines Literary Journal, Huff Post Parents, Empty Sink Publishing, Route 7 Review, Sammiches and Psychmeds, THAT Literary Review, The Sunlight Press, xoJane, and Parent.co.