This is a collaborative post: When the kids are away, the mums will play, pour a tall glass of wine, indulge in self-pampering, or call their gals for a fun night in the city. The possibilities are endless, for a mother’s day revolves around attending to her children’s needs and whims.
The day begins with the rush of the school bus and ends with a bedtime story and a peck on the cheek. In between, mothers have to balance their innumerable domestic chores with the stress of professional responsibilities. There’s hardly any room for self-care and indulgence until the kids go away for the weekend, leaving a massive void in their mother’s hectic schedule.
Read on to explore fun ideas to indulge in some guilty pleasures from your pre-mama days.
1. Gift yourself a Spa Day
When was the last time you delighted your aching muscles and tension-riddled back with a luxuriating hot massage? Here’s a splendid opportunity to book yourself a weekend getaway at a spa retreat. Imagine two days and two nights of utter relaxation and endless rejuvenation.
If that seems too much, consider booking a massage and scrubbing appointment at your local salon. Your body will thank you for this much-needed invigoration.
2. A Black Tie Affair
Mums hardly get any chances to strap on their stilettos and hit the city dressed to the nines. Even if such opportunities do arise, they involve sleepy infants and tantrum-throwing toddlers. When the kids are away, you can plan a glamorous black-tie affair with your partner or girlfriends and enjoy a lavish cosmopolitan experience.
Casino nights are a fabulous theme for a black-tie affair, and you can hit the city’s finest casino in your sassiest little black dress. Suppose your clique prefers the discretion of intimate, low-key affairs. In that case, consider throwing a casino-themed black-tie affair at home. Your gambling troupe can spend the night playing realistically immersive 777 slots, clinking champagne glasses, and feasting on hors d’oeuvres.
Some other elegant black-tie ideas include fine dining at Michelin-starred establishments, attending the opera, or a posh charity gala.
3. A Weekend Getaway
How long has it been since you and your partner planned a romantic getaway? Finding opportunities to spice up one’s relationship when raising kids and managing hectic professional lives is hard. But when fate gives you a chance to indulge in a mini-honeymoon, start planning an itinerary right away.
Since time is of the essence, you don’t want to head out to a destination that involves a long, exhausting drive and little or no relaxation. In contrast, choose a nearby destination, such as an idyllic inn, mountainside resort, or beachside retreat, to spend the most romantic weekend nestled in your partner’s arms.
Go on long hikes, dine on your favorite foods, connect with Mother Nature, walk into the sunsets, and reignite the flame of passion.
4. Mission: Netflix & Chill
It’s hard to catch up on your favorite crime documentaries and Netflix shows when the children are glued to Boss Baby and over a gazillion dance performances on Baby Shark. The bucket list keeps growing, and the struggle of completing an entire season gets overwhelming.
Binge-watching can become a distant memory for mamas with toddlers and pre-schoolers. But when the kids are away, it’s time to live out your pre-mama indulgences of Netflix and chill. First, you must hit the nearest supermarket and stock up on all the unhealthy snacks and beverages you cannot devour in front of your kids.
Then, order an enormous feast of burritos, nachos, and tacos, and transform your living room into a fortress of comfort. Viola! Let the Netflix marathon commence.
5. Indulge in Retail Therapy
One can hardly indulge in retail therapy while working hard to evade their toddler’s impending tantrums and embarrassing meltdowns. But if the kids are away, you can treat yourself to an indulgent and therapeutic day of good-old retail therapy.
You can hit your favorite shopping mall with your girls and check out every single boutique without worrying about feeding time or tantrums. Once you’re done shopping, treat yourself to a brunch.
Final Thoughts
The list of fun things to do when the kids are away is endless and inexhaustive. But mothers usually start missing their children within 20 minutes of seeing them off and kissing them goodbye. Nevertheless, you deserve a weekend to indulge in activities and experiences that bring you pleasure and joy. Don’t deny yourself a weekend of relaxation, self-care, and meaningless indulgence.