Girls' Trip Out
by Terri Bynoe

[After you enjoy this article, you'll find a chance to win a treatment at a spa near you!]

Every year at this time, I look forward to spring break.  No, not the "girl's behaving  badly," wet T-shirt contests and oodles of beer that turns me on. It's something much more fun. It's my annual Girls' Trip Out.

Last month, several girlfriends and I enjoyed our Seventh Annual Girls' Trip Out! My annual tradition began several years go with an ending of sorts.  A dear friend was moving with her family to a new city and we were determined to retain our close friendship.  We vowed to get together annually though at the time, both of us secretly doubted we would ever meet that goal. After all, as busy wives and mothers, the thought of a scheduled girls trip involving traveling a great distance did not seem very practical.  How could we possibly get away from our responsibilities long enough to participate in an out of town visit? The whole notion seemed self indulgent. But self indulgent of not, we invited another friend, pieced together child care, left several meals in the freezer (with detailed preparation instructions), pumped breast milk and prepared to Hit The Road Jack! Off we headed to Atlanta, our central meeting place.

That first year, we arrived late on Friday evening.  We began our weekend with a whirlwind. Our time was limited but we managed to shop, dine out and even make time for a few spa treatments. No lofty pursuits were allowed! This coupled with late night conversations and what can only be described as pure silliness left us exhausted and refreshed.  On Sunday morning we had the blues at the jazz brunch that marked the conclusion to  our Girls' Trip. "Back to life, back to reality". Remember that song from the eighties? It wasn't played that day, except in my head.  Over and over again.

Over the years we have managed to negotiate quite well for ourselves by convincing our husbands and children that we need an annual Wednesday through Sunday time frame allotted for our Girls' Trip, and they have graciously obliged. We joke with them about expanding it from a weekend to a month. Well, maybe we aren't joking. But surprisingly, our families look forward to our spring break almost as much as we do.  Sure we are missed, and we know this because of the dirty clothes falling out of hampers that greet us upon our return. But as we settle back into reality, we are excited to shower our spouses and offspring with our newly re-found inner peace.  We are calmer, more patient and exhilarated. We have had our own spring cleaning and no messy old house or last minute science project will get us out of whack. For at least a week anyway.

So, after extensive research, much of which consists of 7 years of weekend wonder with my girlfriends, I have concluded that we are much better mothers if we take time for ourselves. I think this is true of fathers too, but that's an article for another month.

When we take the time to refuel ourselves with endeavors we find pleasurable, be it knitting, mountain climbing, book clubbing or a much needed manicure, we are far more effective at nurturing and replenishing others.

Motherhood is defiantly a selfless job but we are by no means expected to be martyrs.  Just as our cars do not run on empty, we should not be expected to either. It is my firm belief that in order to care for others we must first care for ourselves.  An empty cup has no juice to spare.

In life as in business, always remember to pay yourself first.  You and your family members will be surprised the abundance this creates Only when we make loving ourselves a priority can we sufficiently love others.

On Sunday, May 14 you will be celebrated and praise by many, but never forget to praise and celebrate yourself all year long.  Take a trip, take a break or just take a bubble bath, but never forget to love thyself.

Please drop me a note to let me know how you are celebrating yourself this year. Are you taking a Girls' Trip Out? Or just a long hot bubble bath? Send me your idea for the perfect Girl's Trip Out and I'll enter you in a chance to win a treatment at a spa in your area! Please send me the details and a photo of you no later than May 30, 2006 -- the photo is required so we can show you off to your fellow Lifestyle CEOs in a future column!

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Terri Bynoe earned a BA from the University of South Carolina with a concentration in Psychology while raising 3 boys. She puts her professional training and keen sense of "what makes people tick" to good use in her home, community and anyplace else where she can edify and encourage others. Together with her husband, an emergency room trauma surgeon, Terri serves on several non-profit and charitable boards and is making a positive difference in her Columbia, South Carolina community.