If you follow along with me on Instagram, you saw that I was in Los Angeles last weekend with my BFF, as we checked off a taping of Ellen from our bucket list. It was exhausting and hilarious and crazy all at the same time, and it really got me thinking about how little we as moms take the time to schedule fun and adventure in our days.

As a mom, there is no formal vacation policy. If you’ve somehow managed to hack that system, please let me know – I am ALL EARS. But up to this point, as far as I can tell, there is nobody out there offering me a set amount of days off that I can take, and then paying me for them on top of that. From my previous career girl days in business, I know that statistics show for employers that don’t offer a formal vacation policy, their employees actually take LESS vacation than if an employer has a set vacation policy. I think this applies to being a mom as well. Because no one has set up an infrastructure at the beginning of each year, letting you know approximately how many days you will be granted “off” for that year, we usually end up taking little to no vacation time.

*Side note: please know that I am a FULL believer that ANY sort of trip with children is NOT A VACATION. To qualify as a vacation, no minors must be in attendance.

There are so many pieces of the puzzle, and hoops to jump through, and logistics to coordinate for a mom to go on a vacation, that I think we as women just don’t prioritize it. I get it, trust me. To get away, is FREAKING HARD. And once the logistics are covered, we haven’t even factored in mom guilt.

The thing of the matter though is, that we need vacations just the same in this role and job, as anyone else does that is working their butts off! Frankly, I could make several arguments for why moms need it more, but it’s not a competition, so we’ll leave it at Moms Need a Vacation Policy (too).

What would it take for you to go on a vacation? When was the last time you took one? Just you? Just you and your partner?

I haven’t lived a ton of life, but in my 34 years thus far, one thing I know to be true is that nothing brings me joy more than going on an adventure. I can get so bogged down in the day to day of being a mom, schlepping kids here and there, stopping the WWF that is my family room situation round the clock, that I forget I’m actually living. That I’m only passing this way one time. That these kids, who currently occupy EVERY SINGLE OUNCE of my being, in 18 years (less!!) will fly the nest and actually pursue a life of their own (God-willing) OUTSIDE of our home. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend a good portion of two decades NOT resting, not playing, not taking the time to have an adventure.

We need to play ladies. We need to be reminded of the joy that we are meant to experience.

Life is not meant to be a rat race.

I believe that there is so much more in store for us. But it means that we need to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and start living. Start planning an adventure. Big or small, do something that makes you feel alive! And watch the joy come rushing over you.

FUN IS A HUGE VALUE TO LIVING A PURPOSEFUL LIFE.

If we aren’t implementing regular fun into our schedules, WITHOUT THE CHILDREN, then we aren’t doing this life thing right.

SOME ADVENTURE IDEAS, BIG AND SMALL

• Sneak into a movie with your girlfriends, after you’ve already paid for and seen one movie
• Crash a wedding that you stumble upon
• Next time you’re out with your girls, everyone take on a new identity and accent. Watch the giggles ensue
• Ding dong ditch someone on your next walk with your partner
• Do a Chinese firedrill (not PC) next date night
• Make a bucket list and start checking things off
• Dream up your ideal vacation, and start saving and planning for it.
• Throw a murder mystery party with your neighbors just because
• Get an hour long massage by yourself, just because
• Get a tattoo
• Go prank your best friend
  
  
  When is the last time that you were able to sneak away on a true vacation? What is your idea of a fun adventure, big or small, that you could implement into your mom vacation policy?

To read more about my adventures in motherhood, visit designstylepurpose.com!