CHASING TRANQUILITY AND TORNADOS: MOMCATION in TULUM, MEXICO

There is something about becoming a mom that enables you to open your heart and see through the eyes of your own inner child. Mine has admittedly been lying dormant for some time now. Moms spend every day of our lives doing things for other people - our partners, our kids. We often forget to or feel guilty about doing things for ourselves. Motherhood was never meant to be easy but this is exactly why it’s critical that we make time to prioritize ourselves.

Between the pandemic, parenting a wild toddler, and balancing multiple careers, I was in need of an escape. Not just a day sipping lemonade on the beach in Malibu or a weekend under the stars in Joshua Tree, but a vacation full of restful, restorative bliss. I was dreaming of the real deal: sand in my hair, makeup-free days, sundresses, and fishbowl cocktails for days.

Successful Manifestation

Once I released this desire to the universe, inquiring how I could achieve such an experience, the opportunity presented itself—in the form of a vacation to Tulum, partially sponsored. I invited a girlfriend along, and we jetted off like excited spring breakers.

For the sake of full transparency, I’m no stranger to travel. I’ve been to over 40 countries in my lifetime. Nowadays, pandemic permitting, I travel fairly frequently for work. That said, I don’t often feel so refreshed and delighted at the prospect of a trip. This time was different.

Rejoicing in the Small

The moment I stepped off the plane and felt the warm Tulum air on my skin, my inner child woke up like it was Christmas morning. I immediately felt the vibrant, joyful energy that is so present in Mexico, and knew that my week by the turquoise ocean would result in more than just dreamy photos. It would provide me with memories to last a lifetime.

As I explored the coastal town along the Yucatán Peninsula, I felt nothing short of joyful—not at the expansive, thrilling experiences, but rather, the small details that we all tend to miss in the daily hustle and bustle of mom life.

There was one minor exception: as I was doing a photoshoot for the ‘gram, a tornado suddenly tore through the water, no more than two kilometers from where I was posing on the rocks. Natural disasters have always been one of my phobias, so needless to say, this sudden interruption got my heart racing. (Fortunately, everyone was okay!)

Travel is one of my favorite forms of self-care, and this getaway emphasized the importance of occasionally indulging in some carefree escapism. Reality will always be waiting when you get home. The best thing you can do—to be a better mom, a better friend, a better you—is to know when you need time to recharge.