A Mom-Sabbatical

Since becoming a mom have you ever travelled alone? I don’t mean to the grocery store or to your sister’s house, but rather an adventure to fill your cup and give you some time away from your regular responsibilities and routines. A couple of years ago, I gave it a try for the first time. I had a short but very sweet mom-sabbatical 🙂

I didn’t really set out to make this a ‘thing’. I was at a retreat for my church and struggling with feeling overburdened and over-run. The intention of the weekend was to evaluate God’s purpose for our lives in three specific areas and I had such a sense that I needed REST. I felt bone-weary and disheartened. A friend at the retreat shared some encouragement during a teary conversation that struck me. She told me that she schedules time every year in her family’s calendar so she can go away and be refreshed. I felt there was so much wisdom in that and it gave me eyes to view things a little differently.

Subsequently, I had a discussion with my hubby around the concept of rest. I told him about my friend’s strategy, and he thought that was a great idea. “Why don’t you just go?” he urged. “Like now you mean?” I responded incredulously. “Yeah, like soon. We can look at the calendar and see what works”. In fact, there was a gap in the schedule that meant I could be gone, and so it was a done deal.

I evaluated what I needed. For me, it wasn’t a girl’s weekend or pampering at the spa. I needed the things that would stoke MY fire. I needed a break from people and the simplicity of my own schedule. Going alone seemed kind of scary though! I had travelled alone for short periods of time as a single woman but I felt out of practice and rusty to just manage my own self. I always adventured & travelled with my hubby, kids or other people and I had to remind myself of the virtues of bravery and courage. I could do this. It would be good for me as well as the rest of my family.

I decided on a 6-day camping trip to Banff. I wanted a mix of exploring and chilling out, and I needed to be able to rest my ever-revolving brain. I am a thinker and a processor and being away from home helps me turn off, and therefore means I sleep much better. I took a hammock and books. My journal and my bible. I took all my cold weather clothes and my running shoes. I took my camp-cooking equipment and my hubby made me the best bed in the back of the car. The early winter weather; the dusting of snow on the ground and temperatures below zero didn’t deter me. The mostly empty Tunnel Mountain Campground is open year-round and was my home for three nights. Lake Louise campground was home for the other 2 nights, and both gave me a chance to visit some of the iconic Banff sights but without the crowds. I went to sleep early and drove out early in the morning before light to witness some of the most spectacular sunrises I have ever seen. I ran every day on a different trail and encountered very few people which was perfect for me.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted or needed alone time simply because I had never had it before. It seemed a little bizarre and anti-social to me that I would want to be solo. It turns out it was perfect for me. I found myself wishing the days would go really slow so I could eek out as much value as possible. All too soon the hectic life of the 5-kid mom would flow again and I didn’t want to wish it all away by missing them. I wanted to be present in the moments and be completely satisfied with the blessing of having a mini-break. I lapped up the quiet and the beautiful locations. It wasn’t a fix-all, because life always continues to be full but it filled my soul in unexpected ways and gave me the little reset that I needed.

Lots of people commented to me that they could never go alone. Is it because it’s a foreign concept, uncharted territory? Or is it fear-based? Fear entangles our lives in so many little insidious ways and we fight to keep things comfortable and known. Sometimes we don’t even know the reason. And though there are many different ways to be refreshed, a little solo mom-sabbatical has been so amazing for me. If you haven’t tried it yet, why don’t you?!! It might be amazing for you too 🙂