Much-needed R&R

We recently embarked on a fabulous family beach vacation to Navarre, Florida – self proclaimed as “Florida’s best kept secret.” And it was awesome. About 20 minutes from Destin, Florida, this city was a sleepy little beach town – just right for a family looking to catch some much-needed rest and relaxation. And as a busy, working mother of two, R&R is what I was seeking!

Fact: I am a Planner. I am definitely the Forbus Family’s Recreation Director and Entertainment Guru. However, I didn’t plan a single part of this trip – which is totally unusual for me, and I must admit it was very liberating. …I confess, until I got in the rental SUV, I didn’t officially know where we were going in Florida – I just knew it was going to be a relaxing beach vacation! 

Between my husband, two sets of grandparents, two uncles and me, my two children always had adult supervision and quality time with each family member – which allowed me to take some guilt-free Mommy Time. Pure bliss.

To set the scene: The facility we stayed in was right on the beach, so my family and I had the ability to take the elevator downstairs, walk past a swimming pool and hot tub, and then cross a gated wooden bridge with stairs ascending onto a beach with white, raw-sugar-feeling sand and turquoise water. Our 12th-floor, three-bedroom condo had a large balcony overlooking the ocean, so we could enjoy the sound of the waves 24/7 and view the sunset each night. Ahhh… I miss it already!

My four-year-old son had a blast playing in the ocean’s waves, but my nearly-two-year-old daughter preferred the comforts of “upstairs,” where she would sit on the balcony and watercolor or read books.

As for me, for the first time in years, I actually allowed myself to sit back, relax and take in a magazine. I enjoyed the experience so much, I started a paperback novel (as of lately, all the books I read are digital – this was a welcome throwback!) – it’s a thriller by an author my Mom enjoys. Lounging in a beach chair under an umbrella with the sand in my toes, the sound of the waves in my ears and a fun book in my hands was amazing. Now I understand why “beach bums” exist!

I must admit, I’m a high-strung person by nature, so forcing myself to let go and let be was quite an experience. And I liked it. Now I’m trying to bring elements of my R&R time into my norm… Starting with taking at least 10 minutes a day to just breathe and be.

When you can’t escape on a beach vacation, what do you do to get some R&R?

Mandy Forbus is a Sr. Marketing Specialist for Texas Health Resources and Mom of two.