I am addicted to the Cinnamon Vanilla Decadence Decaf with skim at the local Coffee Shop; I love the way that my drycleaners can get my clothes pressed and turned around in a day and Rago Brother's in town does the meanest shoe repair and leather cleaning that I've ever known (I even got my prized Burberry pumps back in as-new condition the other day. That saved me mucho bucks!). I know where to go in town for the best sushi, the cheapest diapers and the biggest selection of gluten free food.
I'd say that my "local knowledge" spans from about an hour and a half south of my house to a half an hour north. That's a pretty large area. However, I had never really thought about "going away" within that radius. Until this past weekend.
As a working mother with a young child, a husband and a house, our free time is short, our funds limited. However, our need for a night to just relax and reconnect as a couple was great. It's been a hectic fall - soon to be a crazy busy winter; and we needed some time to recoup and perhaps even (gasp!) sleep in.
In came my Fairy-Godmother (better known as "Mom"). Each year my Mother and her wonderful husband give DH and me a trip away for a weekend. Since I had the wee one, last year's gift was an overnight at a local hotel and dinner reservations at a top notch restaurant. She knew that with the baby, I would not want to go far, but would need a break. We took that break this weekend (yes, I know that it's almost Christmas time again but like I said -- we're busy people!).
It was the first time that my son stayed overnight with Gramma -- and that we were apart from him (meaning both of us at the same time). Of course, I missed him terribly but we needed that time alone.
We traveled less than an hour from home and poked around the town, finding stores that we never knew existed. We sat and had a drink in a beautifully decorated tavern. We spent time in a used bookstore, reading inscriptions to people long gone in the covers of books that we never heard of. We held hands as we walked down the quaint streets, checking out storefronts and people watching. I even had time to start a new book while my husband watched football before getting ready for dinner.
After a very romantic dinner in a grown-up restaurant, we went back to the hotel and got a good night's sleep -- I even got to sleep in until 9:30! I can't tell you the last time that I got to do that! After a quick breakfast, we headed home. We just couldn't wait any longer to see the babe.
Taking a night for ourselves allowed my husband and I to get the rest that we needed. To reconnect with each other and to get back to the routine of everyday life with clear heads and rejuvenated spirits. Everyone needs a break now and then. You don't have to go far to get it -- sometimes even a night away can bring you back to your life with a new outlook and new energy.
I think that next time we do an overnight, we'll bring the babe. We can play in the pool, poke around the local toy stores and go for ice cream. I know that he will look at an overnight in a hotel as a great adventure with new experiences at every turn. We can all use a break every now and then!
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