mommymoon [mom-mee-moon]
–noun: 1. A vacation taken by a mother expecting her second or any subsequent child. 2. A brief period characterized by uninterrupted tranquility, bliss, and/or pampering. 3. A much-needed and well-deserved escape from the chaos and responsibilities of home for a pregnant woman who is already caring for one or more kids.
While “babymoons” are better known as pleasant escapes for couples expecting their first child, “mommymoons” may be more practical for those of us already caring for kids. Since a trip to the world class Miraval Spa and Resort may be out of reach for many a mommy (but by all means go if you can!), following are some tips for creating your own meaningful mommymoon before baby makes four—or five, or more!
Whether you can escape for an entire weekend by yourself or just a well-crafted afternoon, chances are you will be a better person—and mommy—for having taken this time for yourself.
Tips for creating an excellent mommymoon:
1. Include at least one quiet meal out, and alone.
Eat at your own pre-motherhood pace—it may take a few bites to remember how. Bring a magazine or good book to enjoy as you savor every bite and sip, and never once stop to cut up someone else’s food or run with them to the potty. And by all means, order dessert! You won’t even have to share.
2. Get thee to a salon, spa, or day spa.
Get pampered with a pedicure, pre-natal massage, facial, or salt scrub. It gets harder and harder to touch up those toes! And with maternity massage pads on the table (ask to be sure these are available), it can feel like a treat just to be able to comfortably lie on your front side again, let alone to do so while having a massage or salt scrub.
3. Get a haircut or trim.
Not only does it feel like more pampering, but you probably already know how difficult it can be to get away for a fresh cut after a baby comes—and soon you’ll be juggling at least one other child in addition to a new infant.
4. Take a bubble bath.
If you get to stay away overnight, or just at home while your partner takes the kids on an adventure (of agreed-upon duration), treat yourself to an uninterrupted bath. As you probably know already, it may be a few years before you can really enjoy a bath uninterrupted by infants and toddlers and unencumbered by floating toys.
5. Sleep.
Believe me, I know the temptation to “get something done” with any of the time you’ve got left before the baby comes, including time you might have the rare chance to take a nap or call it a night early—even if you’re away from your family. However, your pregnant body will thank you for any extra sleep you can squeeze in now. You might also be surprised by the extra boost of energy and mental clarity you’ll have after catching some extra zzzzs.
6. Write a letter to your unborn child.
You may have done this for your first child, and maybe pulled it off for the second one as well (way to go!). It doesn’t get any easier to find the time or clarity to put your thoughts and wishes to paper as the due date draws near, so take this opportunity if you can to jot a note to your unborn child. Let him know what his sibling(s) are saying about his anticipated arrival, and what’s been going on at home in preparation for his birth. Tell him what’s been going on in the world around you, and what hopes you have for his future in it.
7. Write a letter to yourself.
Chances are you’ve had so much to keep track of these past few months that chronicling your experiences and expectations through this pregnancy—hopes and fears, desires and dreams—has not made it to the top of the list. Take this opportunity to check in with yourself in your own words. Address your biggest concerns, your “game plan for success” as ring leader in a household with multiple kids, and give yourself a written pat on the back for all that you’ve been doing already. Finally, give yourself those words of encouragement you most need for the months ahead.
This is your time, Mommy. Enjoy.
Related articles: How late is too late to fly during pregnancy?
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