Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Time for a mom’s-only break
“JUST give me a few seconds.” I find myself repeating this minutes after walking through the door after work. With my bag still over my shoulder, I’m trying to make it to the bedroom with my 4-year-old attached to my leg.
She refuses to let go and goes on to give me a blow-by-blow account of her day. I need a break. A few stolen moments in the bathroom don’t count.
Sometimes I daydream of sitting on a cosy couch, mug in hand, near a roaring fire or walking on a deserted beach. All around me there is silence – no one asking for toast (cut in four squares) or shouting from the toilet: “I’m finished!”
The momcation is the latest travel trend that makes it all about mommies. But as the homemakers and keepers of the castle, we may need a little convincing when it comes to
self-care.
If you need a reason to pack a bag for a few days and head out on your own, we’ll give you six. Science says you need this
A break is as good as a holiday, but for moms of small children, it’s so much more.
Research scientists at the University of Tokyo studied the role of oxytocin as it relates to peaceful associations and sociality in mammals.
They found that humans need connections outside their romantic relationships and mother-child bonds for their mental health to flourish.
A mini-break with your girlfriends could be the perfect answer to breaking the routine. Do something out of the ordinary like heading out on a road trip or booking a spa holiday. Absence makes them appreciate you
Another thing a momcation does is change the family dynamic when
you’re not around – making them more appreciative of you.
“Her spouse and children may have a better sense of how much she does and accomplishes on a daily basis,” psychologist Nava Silton said. It can strengthen your bond with your partner
A study, published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal, showed that women who took holidays at least twice a year were “less likely to become tense, depressed, or tired, and are more satisfied with their marriages”. It’s a necessity, not a luxury
Dayna M Kurtz author of Mother Matters: A Holistic Guide To Being A Happy, Healthy Mom, said: “Momcations are a necessity, not just a luxury.
“They… restore and revitalise the emotional and physical energy we need to provide healthy, loving care for our children.” All you need is two days
A mom’s job is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Taking a few days off to relax and recharge is not going to make you a bad mother. Instead, it’s time to reconnect with your identity outside motherhood. Experts say all you need is two days, before mommy guilt kicks in. Does it work? You bet
Cape Town journalist Tshego Lepule, 30, is a single mom to Tshepang, 8. She tries to get away “at least once a year.”
In 2017, she and her sister spent New Year’s Eve in Bali before flying over to Thailand for a few days.
“I miss him (Tshepang) but I need to recharge… Every mom needs to do this!”