Firstly my lovely readers I need to apologize for being rather missing in action last week, but I was on a mummy holiday. I went away to Mykonos and Paros for 5 days for my sister’s birthday – without the kids!! Leaving them was a super big deal for me and I wasn’t sure that I could do it, but it was a big birthday and I couldn’t miss it nor could I miss out on the idea of 5 days of just being me.
For ages I wasn’t sure that I could go. Excuses not to go were flying out of my mouth left, right and centre.  This is what happens when I am anxious; my brain creates reasons that my fears are justified so I don’t have to admit that I am just scared.  I knew I wanted to go, but I was frightened; frightened of flying, frightened of leaving the kids and frightened to be doing something just for me. I never used to be like this; I have always been anxious, but I didn’t let it stop me. Since having my children and specifically since having the twins it has been out of control. I am afraid of everything and anything; even going on the tube which I used to do on a daily basis.  Once I accepted that I was just afraid and my excuses were just nonsense it was like something clicked and I realised this just has to stop. I can’t keep missing out on things because I am frightened and so I decided to go and I am beyond glad that I did. I can’t tell you how much better I feel having taken that leap.
Honestly since deciding to go something has lifted from me. I don’t why, but the shackles that I felt were holding me down have released. I have no longer felt held down and caged by my fear and have started to believe that I can do things even if they are outside my comfort zone. I feel like me again; the girl who is scared, but does it anyway.
The thing about health, mental or otherwise, is that you never know when you will feel better or indeed when illness might strike. So we all really need to live for now. I have not been doing that as I have been too busy worrying about what might happen. I think the trauma of having a baby in the NICU and PICU was affecting me everyday.  I have seen that stuff can go wrong and this created a permanent justification for my fears. That is frankly bloody exhausting. Today I feel like I am back to my normal self and I am ready to throughly embrace the reprieve from the overanxious me. Hopefully she won’t be back any time soon!  As not feeling anxious has opened up my world.  It has enabled me to have this mummy holiday which I so needed. I have been reminded of who I am without the children and have a much better idea of how to merge those two identities together so that I don’t put so much pressure on myself. I am not perfect and I cannot protect everyone from everything constantly. I have accepted that I need to let go (well a bit!!)
I feel so lucky that my parents and husband filled the gap so that I could go and spend 5 days with  my sister, my brother in law and her friends. I had the best time. Leaving the kids was so hard and I cried all the way down the road when I left. I did miss them loads and was a bit emotional one afternoon, but it was worth it. Having 5 days where I could do what I wanted when I wanted was a luxury and I felt so relaxed. I even stayed out till 4am dancing which I haven’t done for I don’t know how long. Trust me I paid for that the next day, but I had a great night dancing to euro pop. I laughed so much everyday and just felt entirely rejuvenated by the experience.
It sounds so stupid to say, but I feel really proud of myself that I did this on my own. I not only flew alone, but also took a ferry from one Greek island to another and spent 24 hrs alone in a hotel. Now this was no hardship; it was a fabulous hotel where I lay by a pool drinking champagne and espresso martinis (which by the way are the work of the gods) and just read my book. I am fairly sure that sounds awesome to many parents.
It was bliss! Â Since a few months ago getting on the tube was a huge deal for me doing all of that by myself and not feeling like a total basket case of nerves felt brilliant.
In case you were wondering Mykonos and Paros are stunning; amazing food, great drinks, beautiful settings and certainly, in my case, a great group of people – what more could you ask for? I will write about the lovely places we stayed as the owners definitely deserve a mention and the islands themselves, but for now I will just say that, if you can, I really recommend taking a mummy (or a daddy) holiday. When I came home the first thing I said to my husband was that he needed to arrange a trip of his own. It is lovely for us to get to go away together, but that isn’t always possible and after my experience of leaving the kids for 5 days I think it is a great thing to do for any parent. The fact that the other parent is still at home makes it so much easier to go. I mean what is there to worry about if their father or mother is taking care of them? It certainly made it easier for me to relax and just enjoy myself. If you do decide to do a trip leaving the kids you will undoubtedly miss them, but the battery recharge that it gives you makes it all worth it. I genuinely feel like I can be a better mummy to them now. I took a step back and everyone survived… The world did not stop turning when I was me and not just mummy. For me it has been an important lesson and one that I very much enjoyed learning under that Greek sunshine.
If you are going on a mummy holiday you might also like this post about packing as a mummy.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I’m happy for you. giving yourself permission to give in and just do it is always the hardest the first time…. it gets easier! Live life to the fullest.
Thanks Christina
Mummy holidays are so important to mental health. I’m glad you had a wonderful getaway!
I am definitely a convert. It was awesome. Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam
what a wonderful opportunity, so pleased you could take it up. I would too given half a chance. #DreamTeam
I do feel very lucky. It was great. Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam
Moms need some time out. Good for you for taking it. Looks like you had a blast!!! #dreamteam
I really did have a fab time. Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam
You should be proud! Well done. Its a huge step to leave your children but you did it! I bet you feel refreshed. Sounds like you had an amzing time. #dreamteam
Awh! Thanks Sophie and thanks for being part of the #DreamTeam
It must have been bliss and everyone deserveS a break now and then! My mummy went away for a weeKend break and it really lifted her spirits too x #DReamTeam x
It really was. Thanks for being with us on the #DreamTeam
It sounds like you had an amazing time. Well done for doing this – it’s good to have some you time occasionally.
I really did. #DreamTeam
It is good that you had such a lovely time. Sometimes you Just need Some time away to recharge and it sounds like this was exactly what you got. Thank you for sharing
It was a total recharge. Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam this week
It does not sound stupid to be proud. You should be. We all should be way more than we are. Parenting even straightforwardly is challenging and you have had big challenges thrown your way. So pleased you felt the fear and did it anyway #DreamTeam
Me too! I am going to try to do it more often. Thanks for being part of the #DreamTeam
Oh this is exactly what I need. Looks like you had so much fun #dreamteam
I totally recommend it! Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam
I think times like this are important. Its so easy to get so caught up in being a parent that we can forget that we are actually real people as well. Good for you #dreamteam
Love that. I do forget I am a real person thanks for being on the #DreamTeam
well done you!i HOPE IT HAS PAVED THE WAT=Y FOR MORE ADVENTURES. btw ITS VERY NORMAL to become fearful after having kids its to do with the responsibility and how there would cope without you. sorry about the capitals – my keyboard is stuck with them on, i’m not shouting, honest #dreamteam
Thanks for the comment and for being with us on the #DreamTeam
You need to look after yoirself. Delighted fir you that you managed to get iut if yiur comfort zone. Also, good call on the eSspreso martinis
They are literally the best thing ever!! Thanks for joining the #DreamTeam this week
Wow, I’d love to have a mummy holiday #dreamteam
I did feel very lucky to be able to do it #DreamTeam
Glad you had a good tiMe and managed to get away – it’s so easy to forget you need to look after yourself as well as the kids! #dreamteam
It was fab! Thanks for being part of the #DreamTeam
Congratulations on being able to ‘let go’ – it’s tough at first, but when you realise that everything will actually be OK – AND – you get to recharge a little, it paves the way for more frequent “me time” that we all need.
Absolutely now I just have the convince the husband he needs to do it too
all i can think about is ’24 hours alone in a hotel’. That alone sounds amazing! sounds like you had a great time and I can see how a break like that would be so REJUVENATING. #dreamteam
I know!!! That was just bliss
What a lovely place to spend a well derserved autumn break and so me time #dreamtime
It was just gorgeous. Thanks for joining the #DremTeam
I went away to Manchester for a blogging conference 2 weeks ago and had a night away from home: I hated being so far away from my family! #dreamteam
It is difficult to be away from them, but the cocktails helped to ease it!! Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam
I am so glad you were able to put your fear away and enjoy the birthday holiday! And now I need to go see HUbster about allowing me a trip to celebrate next year. #DreamTeam
Totally get convincing him. #DreamTeam
Awww yay! Well done you. Of course its going to be hard being apart from the kids, but you did it 🙂 And on your own. It’s a big deal getting out there by yourself, being on your own in the hotel for a full day and island hopping too. Not everyone would have the guts to do it, no matter how blissful it sounded. So you absolutely deserve all the mummy high fives. So glad you had a brilliant time. Thanks for being a superstar, dancing till 4am in the morning #dreamteam host xx