Sanity in 72 hours

For the past 15 years, I have been going away for a weekend with my close group of girlfriends. The goal is to relax, catch up, shop, enjoy gourmet food and champagne. It is also a chance to take time out from reality, away from the kids and away from the routine of life.

In the early days, we were escaping for completely different reason compared to the reasons of the recent years.

We are all mothers now. We all need a break. We all know for sure that when we return home on Sunday night that we are rested and have a fresh approach to the household. There is nothing more refreshing than having a break.

The husbands all seem to cope in their own way. Some of us have had to let go of the worry. They always survive and I know they actually prefer their own time with the kids, in their own way. I know my husband and kids really enjoy the bonding time. They also seem to really appreciate me even more so, when I come home. When I arrived home last night there was a gift and a note from the kids reading "To a Special Mum".

This past weekend we stayed in Kangaroo Valley which is located 2 hours from south of Sydney. We had an open fire, gorgeous cheeses, red wine and great conversation. On the Friday we shopped our way down the coast, on Saturday we spent all day on a gourmet food tour, eating our way around the Valley. Sunday was time for brunch in Berry and some more shopping!

Your weekend escape does not have to be for an entire weekend. You could start from just one night in the city. Take it from me, whether it is for 24 hours or 72 hours, the after affect of sanity will help you take on the next 6 to 12 months ahead.

There are only a few "must do" before you start searching for a great deal:

1. You must go with fabulous friends who can listen to what is happening in your life
2. You must be able to listen and ask questions/support to your girlfriends on the weekend
3. Try minimal contact with your family. They will survive.
4. Take the time on the weekend to be thankful for the time out. Its not easy to get away, but when you do, take a moment to be grateful
5. Sleep, sleep and sleep where you can and catch up. Although, a late night chat with your bestie is priceless
6. No guilt at ALL. You deserve it.

Go now and find a great group of friends and enjoy!

Who is Raquel?

Not that its all about me, but seeing as I am the creator of Miracle Beginnings/Mummas Retreat. I thought it would be an idea to share a little bit about me and the vision behind the idea of Mummas Retreat.

Nearly three years ago, I published my first book - Miracle Beginnings. The book and concept was to share my story of having two premmie babies and the miracle of having a full term baby against all odds. I shared my honesty with post natal depression and the scary world of my emotions after the trauma from the births. The book also includes beautiful stories from other prem mothers who survived against all odds. It truly is a gift to be able to share with others. Since the launch of the book, I have received many emails thanking me for writing the book. Women really felt the connection, which was why I wrote the book in the first place.

Then came along the vision to open a cottage for mothers to visit for getting themselves together after pregnancy and having a baby. We need to reconnect on so many levels and taking the first step is always a little scary, especially when you don't know where to start. The cottage is my ultimate vision - stay tuned for this to evolve in the next two years.

In the meantime, my mission is to share stories on motherhood. My own experiences and others. I work daily on being the best mum I can be to my three children, but there are days when I would prefer to pull the covers over my head and sleep an entire day!

At this point, I welcome you to my blog. Hopefully you can check in on a weekly basis with a glass of wine and read about what other mothers are going through - the good, the bad and the ugly! I look forward to meeting you along the way!

Launch of Mummas Retreat Blog

We are on a new path! For some reason, the miracle beginnings blog is not accessible for blogging. After being frustrated, swearing at the computer and going crazy, I stopped and sat still. Maybe this is a sign!

So, to keep the blogging train chugging along, we have created a new blog for our special section of Miracle Beginnings called "Mummas Retreat". I am a little bit excited about this as it opens up a brand new chapter of an evolving website to offer mother support.

Welcome to my blog - I hope you enjoy the stories along the way. It is all about connection and knowing that you are not alone in this journey of motherhood.