Shannon Philpott

A mom often spends her days tripping over action figures, soothing her infant’s emerging teeth and defusing the tantrums of a toddler. Exhaustion sets in, and, with a little luck, she may get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. to bless her tired bones.

The fast-paced life of a mother can run down even the most fit and healthy mom if she doesn’t make time for herself.

Ramani Durvasula, a Los Angeles-based family therapist and mother, notes that mothering has turned into a competitive sport in our society. The result is burnout and “suboptimal” mothering.

“Interestingly, mothers are often best at taking care of everyone but themselves,” Durvasula said. “Mothers are so accustomed to monitoring their children and families around the clock that they forget that it drains energy from them.”

A momcation is a brief break from mothering. Unlike a family vacation, which she may have to plan, this vacation is just for Mom. It may be just what she needs to refresh herself and renew her passion for parenting. Momcations offer benefits for the entire family, too.