Business and pleasure do mix.
Just ask a mom of three who doesn't get a whole lot of time to herself. That would be me. I just spent a week in Los Angeles, half for business and half for fun. I was invited to a 3-day event to build a playground with a fantastic group of mom bloggers. We moved mulch, painted benches, assembled swing sets and tweeted it all. I also spent two days working on some cooking videos with TravelingMom food contributor, David Latt. It was a perfect opportunity for me to stay a few extra days to hang out with friends, ride a bike and enjoy my schedule, unencumbered.
Six years ago, I learned to surf with my girlfriends in Costa Rica. I vowed then to do a trip with girlfriends every 2 years. It was the perfect resolution to a then-unnamed identity crisis. I had 3 kids under 5 years old and was so busy breastfeeding, slinging diapers and working part time, that I was starting to forget how to have fun. Face it, women go through several identity changes in life. When you get married, you are now a Wife, when you have a child, you are now a Mother, when you have more kids you are a Mother to More. And as your kids age, your identity shifts to Mother of Teens, etc.. But what is there to remind you that you are Fun, a Good Friend, Silly, Adventurous, Interesting?
Girlfriend Getaways, that's what. A night out is not enough - it's only a tease. Spending a long weekend or week without family is good for the soul and the young, fun, silly adventurous girl inside. Give yourself permission to tack on a couple of days to that business trip or take those days anyway and have some fun with friends. You eat right and exercise because it's good for you. Add travel to your life prescription. It's good for you.
