- I have three kids, and summer can be busy. My calendar for the coming season is already booked.
- Before things get too hectic, I wanted to book a quick trip for my husband and me to reset.
- It was hard to completely unplug, but it was still just what I needed.
By the time May hit, every weekend on my calendar was already booked — and summer hadn't even started.
Somewhere between having babies and raising three teenagers, the season that's supposed to feel relaxed had become one of the most exhausting times of the year.
I knew going into a busy season with little reserve in my tank wasn't going to be good for anyone. Before I could overthink it, I booked a short getaway. I needed a few days to regroup, and I couldn't do that at home.
My husband and I took a quick, much-needed getaway
I booked a stay for my husband and me at an adults-only luxury getaway in Massachusetts. Not an action-packed vacation or a sightseeing adventure — just space to decompress. As I clicked confirm, I hoped it would help me look forward to the months ahead as much as my kids did.
The getaway started as soon as we drove out of our town.
Embracing the purpose of the getaway, my husband and I stopped at a favorite coffee shop for breakfast to launch our adventure. I ate a whole meal without anyone needing me. This was looking promising.
After a few hours in the car, we arrived. The only thing I had planned was the location and a dinner reservation at the on-site restaurant. I resisted my typical approach to family travel of planning all the details, with backup plans just in case. There was no itinerary on this trip. Just time to exist.
It felt foreign, but as soon as I entered the cabin, I exhaled, and my shoulders relaxed.
Being in a peaceful setting helped me relax
Facing a wall of windows framing the Berkshire Mountains, no one was calling, "Mom, look at this!" I could look out the windows and take in the beauty. Since we needed to stretch after the car ride, we decided to try one of the hiking trails on the property.
The first thing I noticed was how quiet it felt. There were no cars, nobody was talking, and no one needed me. I looked up at the trees, listened to the stream, and stopped to wonder at the fiddleheads growing along the path. Could I have done these things at home? Maybe. But I would have been thinking about what I needed to make for dinner and who needed a ride to practice. Here, I let myself enjoy the forest.
After returning to the cabin to get ready for dinner, we made our way to the restaurant.
When I stepped into the restaurant, I felt another exhale. Nothing felt rushed. I didn't need to hurry to choose a meal to keep the peace at the table. The staff suggested a few dishes, and for once, I didn't overthink it. I was happy to let someone else guide the way.
When the appetizers came, my husband's phone buzzed. Our son was FaceTiming him from college. As my husband stepped outside to take the call, I resisted the urge to try to fix whatever was going on. I simply enjoyed a few bites of food. I couldn't remember the last time I ate alone in a restaurant.
He returned with a funny story of providing car help to my son via FaceTime. Leaving teens (even college ones) always makes me feel like I'm on the edge of my seat, ready for anything that might pop up. I did a quick check to make sure my youngest made it to her grandparents' house before putting the phone aside.
As a parent, it's hard to completely unplug, but I still enjoyed my trip
I may have been away from home, but completely unplugging was harder than I expected. Instead of setting hard rules about phones or checking on the kids, I just let things happen naturally. Too much pressure to make this getaway perfect would ruin the point.
We enjoyed our meal, catching up on little things we miss during a busy week. We chatted about the view and shared two desserts. I found myself thinking about more trips we could take, how it felt so good to have a break, and how I needed this more than I realized.
The rest of the evening was a blank slate, and I kept it that way.
Back in the cabin, I let myself simply exist. I sat in our private hot tub on the deck, the fire pit flickering next to me as I stared at the full moon. For the first time in a long time, I didn't need to plan, figure things out, or arrange anything.
Every time I started thinking about home, the calm of the cabin pulled me back. The quiet, the view, the space to do nothing, it was filling a place in me I hadn't realized was empty.
It didn't make sense to step away right before the busiest season of the year. But that's exactly why I needed to. Taking a few days to reset didn't take away from our summer — it helped me look forward to it.
