Girls Trip! 5 Reasons Why Moms Need Adults Only Vacations With Other Moms

I’ve only had 4 all-female vacations in my life. The first one to Las Vegas was probably the most epic! Primarily because it was the first but also because 3 out of the 4 of us were young flight attendants, enjoying our free flight benefits. We flew to Vegas on standby and all 4 of us crammed into one room at a seedy hotel for $13 a night. We truly had the best time but since then my vacation style has evolved.

For one, I no longer share a room with anyone besides my husband and son. I learned that lesson on girls trip #2 when my intoxicated friend threw up all over the bathroom on the last night of our stay and kindly went to sleep. Leaving me to use the hotel lobby restroom until we left that next morning because housekeeping was not available.

Girls trip #3 taught me that vacationing with women you don’t know can prove to be disastrous and almost was but for the fact that I chose to remain positive and enjoy exploring a new country. It was my choice to jump on an already established trip amongst a group of friends so I simply made the best of it. Not all personalities mesh well and that was the case here but I still had a decent time.

Just last week my best friend Kaja, my other good friend Crystal and I embarked on my first Mom-cation. Between the 3 of us, we have 8 children. We talked about this trip to Jamaica for weeks. All of us needed this getaway for various reasons but what I took away from this trip was that Moms need vacations with other Moms for these 5 reasons:

The Camaraderie 

The mutual trust and friendship that occurs between women don’t only happen because we have children but it solidifies it. With all of us having children within the same age ranges, we are experiencing many of the same trials and tribulations that come with raising pre-teens. We were able to debrief and share stories that were funny and relatable while also learning new things and formulating different ideas about parenthood.

The Laughter

I’m not saying moms don’t laugh or aren’t allotted the opportunity to be silly except when Mom-cationing but what I am saying is that the laughter hits different. We laughed about funny things, stupid things, and inappropriate things, all without being questioned by anyone as to what was so funny. We were able to let our hair down and be “adult silly” and it was what we all needed.

The Eyeball Relaxation

Kaja and I have taken quite a few family vacations with 4 kids in tow. I mean it’s a good time but you’re never really able to relax your eyeballs. They are constantly on the socket elliptical, darting back and forth watching four little heads in the pool and at the beach while being vigilant parents. This was the first time that we actually fell asleep and got really good naps by the pool. I remember putting my book down and boom! One hour of the greatest sleep I’ve had in a long time. I’m sure the booze facilitated it as well.

The Conversations

I have known Kaja for about 10 years and Crystal for about 8 but it was in the moments lazing around the pool or bonding over breakfast, that we really got to know each other and share tidbits that can be out of place in our group chat or too much for casual conversation. My best friend is evolving as an individual, outside of motherhood and marriage. Having just lost over 40lbs, I was able to tap into the new person she’s becoming with some great in-depth conversations that usually don’t happen in the midst of everyday life. I was happy to get to know these women on another level and appreciated the time to learn new things about them.

The Pure Joy of Mom Time

As mothers and wives, so much of our time is dedicated to the needs of others. This was a perfect opportunity to worry only about ourselves. We moved together as a unit but in the midst of that, we were also afforded “me time,” comfortable silence, and time to reflect. That’s why it’s important for me to have my own room on trips like this. It allows you to regroup and restore your personal comfort privately before reconvening to enjoy the aforementioned things. It’s a necessary evil really and gives you a much-needed individuality while still taking part in the group.

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As we move towards returning to our new old normal of wanderlust and getaways, I hope that you Mama’s will gather up your best gal pals and go! There’s nothing stopping you!