I am not going to lie, I don’t have kids. So perhaps I am not the best person to be writing this article. But, I have supported many students who are parents and I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of what it means to be a parent. You know: the guilt, the stress, the joy, the busy-ness…
We get lots of parents that come to Billabong to ‘escape the children’ but for many parents holidays rarely, if ever, involve leaving the kids at home.
So here are some reasons why you should get yourself a babysitter and get to a retreat:
1) Remember who you are when you’re not ‘Mum’ or ‘Dad’
I feel like when you become a parent, you enter into this vortex for, let’s say, fifteen years (give or take…!) where these little people completely overtake your life. You are no longer ‘Sarah’ or ‘Tom’ but you are ‘Mum’ or ‘Dad’. A retreat is a great place to be you again.
2) Reconnect with each other
Being a parent doesn’t exactly scream candlelit dinners and date nights. Perhaps you squeeze one in every now and then but imagine the bliss of being together just the two of you for two whole nights (at least!).
3) Reconnect with nature
Getting into nature is a must… Perhaps you take the kids on a bushwalk every now and then but can you imagine taking a late afternoon dip in the billabong without needing to keep an eye on anyone or a bath on the balcony watching the sunrise…?
4) Show your partner that you are investing in your relationship
Relationships require work, but when you add a child or children to the mix, things get even more complicated. Agreeing to take time away from your usual commitments and social circles and investing time in your partner is a beautiful way to let them know how much you appreciate them.
5) Be a better parent by actually missing your kids!
Sure, you all love your kids dearly but I am sure that they also drive you up the wall (or to the wine bottle) every now and then. Even if you are a working parent, you probably don’t get a lot of downtime away from the children which can result in the patience wearing pretty thin. A retreat is the perfect opportunity to fill your cup, get fresh perspective and mentally reset. By the end, you will be hanging for a big snuggle with your little one.
Sound good? You can’t go past the Deluxe Cabins at Billabong. Two baths (one on the balcony and one in the bathroom) and a big bed, right in the middle of the Australian bush. I might see you there!