Finding Balance in Sedona

I used to want to describe life these days as a juggling act where I’m trying to keep a bunch of balls in the air, but the fact of the matter is that might be too simple of an analogy. It actually feels more like one of those circus acts where I’m keeping 100 plates spinning on rods. In the dark. On one leg.

Like many moms (and dads) my time is split in three major directions, and branches off from there. For income there’s my part-time job, several different freelance projects, and this here “hobby” that I hope one day will tow its own weight at the very least.

Then there’s the family share – cooking, cleaning, playing with the kids, shopping, playdates, childcare, planning activities, outings, doctor appointments, preschool, and quality time with my hubby.

Finally, when all is said and done, there’s me time – bathing, haircuts, time with friends, e-mail, surfing the net, reading, TV, staring into space as I dream of all the stuff I’d do if I had energy, and sleep. You know, uninterrupted time to do what you want to do.

Hubby and I have been very good about keeping up with work and family obligations, minus one – quality time together. Sadly, that sometimes gets sacrificed for our individual “me” time. I just can’t count the two of us sitting on the couch staring at the TV because we’re just too tired to hold a conversation as quality time together.

I come from a broken home. My parents divorced when I was 9. And the two of them together in a room is the eighth sign of the Apocalypse (unless they have a grandchild being born, then its ok.)

My Hubby’s parents divorced when he was even younger. We both know to different extents what that does to kids, and families on a whole. We want to break that cycle and we know, deep down, we have to make time for each other in order to do that.

With that, we’ve vowed to spend a weekend away together at least once a year, and it will grow to more as the kids get older and easier for the grandparents to have for extended periods in their own homes.

Tomorrow, this year’s getaway begins and I can hardly contain myself.

We’re off to Sedona, Arizona, one of my very favorite places in the whole wide world. Last Christmas my amazing VP worked out a deal with several great resorts for gift certificates, swapping our services in trade. Not knowing why, we were all told to draw a number out of a hat at our department Christmas party. We were then handed envelops with the corresponding number. My envelop contained a certificate for two nights at the Enchantment Resort, a very exclusive and ultra hoity toity resort nestled among the red rocks of Sedona.

I cried. Literally. I think my boss was very uncomfortable. I couldn’t control myself. Of all the great places they’d given to us all, that was the very best in my mind and I just cried. The resort charges more than $500 a night. I’ve never received a gift that valuable.

So early tomorrow morning, thanks to my family and nanny who will be rotating through the house doing the child and dog care relay for the weekend, we’re off to Arizona.

What will we do? I have no plans other than to just be with my wonderful husband. Maybe we’ll take a hike. Maybe we’ll sight see. I feel pretty certain we’ll lay by the pool, enjoy the afternoon thunderstorm shows and catch up on sleep. We’ll eat and talk uninterrupted. And we’ll definitely be acting like a couple of honeymooners, if you catch my drift.

And I hope the beauty, energy and time away will together bring us closer and ready to take on football season, new preschools, the holidays and the daily crazy coming with the onset of Fall.

Tagged as: Enchantment Resort, finding balance, marriage, Sedona, vacation