I recently took a mommymoon.

It was long overdue. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life and heading out for a luxurious spa weekend has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. In fact, I couldn’t imagine anything more relaxing than taking the time to surround myself with soothing aromas, intoxicating music, and tranquil lighting all in one place.

Having been at home for as long as I have been, I decided to forego the full spa treatment, for some practical work. Microdermabrasion was high on my list, along with a manicure and pedicure. To some this is not real spa treatment per se; but to me it was bliss.

When I became pregnant in 2008, I was sure that I would get a bit of rest. That was easier said than done.  Plagued with hydramoniosis (too much fluid in the amniotic sac), fainting spells, and migraines, I had an awful pregnancy. By the end of my pregnancy, I was just happy to have made it out it in one piece – but it was not meant to be. My infant son died 15 minutes after birth.

Eighteen months later, I became pregnant again. I planned to take a much needed break and unwind somewhere – Niagara Falls, Cuba, a nice spa resort, I wasn’t picky. Unfortunately, the host of health problems that I experienced in my previous pregnancy did not let up, and I was considered high-risk. My mommymoon was spent on best rest in the hospital. That’s as close as I got to  R&R.

The last time I was at the spa was in April 2008. It was also in Toronto, Ontario. There are myriad reasons why I just gave up on my fantasy, of taking an afternoon for myself. Since relocating to Calgary last July, the last thing on my mind was spas, salons or beauty. In fact, getting out of the house without baby in tow was just a sweet fantasy.  Sure, there are the weekly trips to the library, playgroups, the shopping centre, and some volunteering, but being a stay-at-home mom meant that I was doing just that – staying at home. In essence, my needs were placed not only on the back-burner; they magically disappeared from my grasps. Unlike when I was working ten hours a day, and keeping a busy household going, there was no way I could justify my “need” to get out of the house, and do something for myself. My husband just wouldn’t buy it.

Then a miracle happened… Estheticia Spa happened. It was on my way back from play-time at the local library that I discovered the spa was in my neighborhood. I was thrilled. Tired feet soaking in warm water, soft music whispering in my ears, a magazine in hand; I thought I was in heaven.  My manicure was amazing. For forty-five minutes, I didn’t think about dirty dishes in the sink, or yucky diaper creams and toilet bowls that needed to be scrubbed.

I used to joke that I would pay for sleep if I could, and my words almost came true. By the time I finally went in for my microdermabrasion treatment, I was so relaxed I was afraid I would fall into a deep sleep, and never wake up. It has been long since I have slept a full night’s sleep – more than three years to be exact. The Spa had every service possible, and my only distraction was thinking about what I would do the next time around. It was an afternoon of me-time. No baby crying, no kids screaming or banging things, and no, I repeat, no dirty diapers. What more could I ask for? Sure it was only 4 hours, but it was worth every penny.

Have you ever taken a mommymoon? What did you do? If you haven’t, what’s your dream mommymoon?

This is an original post to World Moms Blog by Salma of Canada.  You can find Salma blogging at The Imperfect Stepford Chronicles and Chasing My Rainbow Baby

Photo credit to Maxine Simpson. This photo has a creative commons attribution license. 

Salma (Canada)

An Imperfect Stepford Wife is what Salma describes herself as because she simply cannot get it right. She loves decorating, travelling, parenting,learning, writing, reading and cooking, She also delights in all things mischievous, simply because it drives her hubby crazy. Salma has 2 daughters and a baby boy. The death of her first son in 2009 was very difficult, however, after the birth of her Rainbow baby in 2010 (one day after her birthday) she has made a commitment to laugh more and channel the innocence of youth through her children. She has blogged about her loss, her pregnancy with Rainbow, and Islamic life. After relocating to Alberta with her husband in 2011 she has found new challenges and rewards- like buying their first house, and finding a rewarding career. Her roots are tied to Jamaica, while her hubby is from Yemen. Their routes, however, have led them to Egypt and Canada, which is most interesting because their lives are filled with cultural and language barriers. Even though she earned a degree in Criminology, Salma's true passion is Social Work. She truly appreciates the beauty of the human race. She writes critical essays on topics such as feminism and the law, cultural relativity and the role of women in Islam and "the veil". Salma works full-time, however, she believes that unless the imagination of a child is nourished, it will go to waste. She follows the philosophy of un-schooling and always finds time to teach and explore with her children. From this stance, she pushes her children to be passionate about every aspect of life, and to strive to be life-long learners and teachers. You can read about her at Chasing Rainbow.

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