Solo adventures and the myth of doing it all

As a woman the societal expectation is that we do it all. Society wants us to be thin, pretty, bare beautiful and well behaved children, keep an immaculate house, have perfect hair, stay on top of the housework, maintain a pretty yard and prepare healthy and delicious dinners on a nightly basis. In reality, something always has to give. In order to have an immaculate house, maybe we deprive ourselves of sleep. Or if we are able to prepare delicious dinners on a nightly basis, maybe our laundry pile is sky high. Being a mother or a woman for that matter is a balancing act between being selfish and giving. On the days where I excel in one area, I most certainly fail in another. I have come to peace with the fact that I cannot do it all, nor will I try to pretend that I do. 

For example, the other day I saw the forecast was going to be unseasonably warm so I snuck away for a solo hike while my parents watched my son. I no doubt had more pressing matters to attend to than go on a hike, but it felt good to play hooky and slip away for a few hours from my everyday life. If there is one lesson I have learned these past six months; there will always be laundry, dusting, and work to be done, but sometimes you just have to seize the moment and go have some fun. Not a day goes by where I don't realized how fortunate I am to be surrounded by people who love my son unconditionally. I am grateful for my friend who will always watch my son at a moments notice or my other friend who comes over to my house to watch my son so I can go running. I am endlessly grateful for these women who are willing to help me in this new season of my life. Moments away give me time to recharge and allow me to be a better mother.  Don't feel bad or guilty if you are doing it all. No one is.