golden hand: Why Every Girl NEEDS a Weekend Away With Her Girls

Ladies, how many of you find yourself longing for the days when you could just drop everything and go out for a girls' night? Ok, now how many of you immediately felt completely guilty for even thinking that?? I'm fairly certain that mommy guilt plagues most, if not all of us. At this stage in our lives, we exist for everyone around us. And, we're perfectly content with that, but perhaps we shouldn't always be.

Maybe sometimes, we get too wrapped up in who has what practice after school, what time, what we're cooking for dinner, who has had their bath, which teeth haven't been brushed, etc... Of course, these things are necessary to maintain a functional daily life in most households. But, are we forgetting one person in the household entirely? While we focus all of our efforts on keeping everything running smoothly, are we neglecting the one person that we alone are responsible for? I know I am. When I became a mommy, it was the best thing that happened to me, hands down. I live for my son and spend every extra moment I have doting on him and playing with him. Now, one could argue that that is not really an issue, but one other person would very loudly disagree, my husband.

The other evening, we were spending our typical Friday with pizza and couch snuggling, but I was in a funk. One that I'm afraid I've settled into all too comfortably lately. Know how I know? Because Jordan asked me "where is the Katy that I married?" In his defense, he wasn't being malicious (as I immediately assumed), nor was he whining, merely stating fact. I'm not that Katy. Haven't been for some time. I get grumpy easily, lose patience even faster and my house is definitely suffering as well. That conversation was a huge eye-opener. I have gotten so wrapped up in being "Mama" that I have completely let go of Katy. And, as awful as it may feel to admit it, we need to hold on to who we are/were before baby and let ourselves be that person too! You may feel like you're being a good mommy, but you're not being a very good YOU.

That, ladies, is where the idea for a girls' weekend bloomed in my head. Not that it's a unique idea, but the last time I had one was well before I ever got pregnant and hasn't entered since. The more I thought about it, the more intensely I knew that I had to make this happen. What better way to recapture who I was pre-mommy days, than to spend it with the girls that filled them??

As I sat down to make a list of the ladies that I knew I'd love to spend this time with, I also wanted to take time to reflect on the reasons it was acceptable to suppress my mommy guilt for needing it. The kicker is that no one else can do that for you. It has to come from within, so I encourage you, dig deep and pay attention to the following:

This is key for away time. You need to give yourself "me" time to remember who you are outside of the amazing family you are growing. We tend to put ourselves last and thrive on doing for everyone around us. It can be exhausting and we need to force ourselves to kick back, wear no make-up, pull on those yoga pants and enjoy some personal pampering. Let yourself de-stress a bit so you can remember the unfrazzled version of you that your family loves (and misses).

Now is the time to start unwinding in familiar company. Stock your cupboards this trip with comfort foods, tasty beverages and spa supplies! We have let ourselves get too comfortable in our daily lives and need to re-set our minds and add back what we all need to be us. Take time giving yourself a long-overdue pedicure, sip your gin & tonic and watch those sappy romantic comedies.

The final key to making the most of your girls' weekend is reconnecting. Enjoy your time with your best girls! They are scientifically proven to help cure what ails you. In my case, the grump funk! Be free to gossip, whine, and giggle until your heart's content. As women, we think similarly, we empathize and can be fully honest with each other. And, while that sounds like a scary combination, it ends up giving you your best cheerleaders with the greatest compliments, and who doesn't need that?! A Huffington Post article I read recently said that women talk three times more than men in a day. That's a lot of reconnecting! So get in there, open up, seek advice, and for the love of everything holy, LAUGH! There is nothing better and no one you'll laugh harder with than your best girlfriends.

Ladies, if you're still feeling a bit guilty, I get it. This is a huge undertaking for mommies. But keep in mind, our husbands and/or caregivers are perfectly capable of caring for our children and will gain confidence if they do a weekend on their own. Even our kids sometimes need a break from Mom (and vice versa) to break up the everyday. They will appreciate you that much more when you come home! And, if money is a concern, keep it simple...and cheap! Don't go over the top. You and your girls will have fun no matter where you are and you will all return with refreshed attitudes, minds and souls. But the key will be that you will have YOU back and be able to share that with the ones you love most!