I spent the weekend in Vegas. Does that sound like the beginning of a racy post or what? Sorry to disappoint, but there is nothing really scandalous to report (save a frozen shot of whiskey in a bar made of ice-which was actually more tame than it sounds). I did bring something back with me though and it is a theory. I now firmly believe that every mother should spend three days a year in Las Vegas and it will make her better at her job.
Now I’m not merely advocating a mom vacation, that is too obvious. No, I believe in order to truly get the experience that will enhance your every day life, you must retreat to Sin City specifically and here is why:
1. There are no decisions that need to be made but plenty that can be made in Las Vegas.
Case in point, I woke up my first day and I had nowhere to go and nothing specific to do. It was glorious. I couldn’t remember the last time I had woken up and wasn’t in charge of at least one other person’s day. Sure, you can get this freedom in any city away from your kids, but in Vegas, you are not even in charge of your own day. There is so much to do you can literally just walk out your door and drift where the (dry, overly fragranced) air blows you. The beauty is, when you feel like moving from your clean and quiet hotel, you get to do whatever you want whenever you want. I could have seen a show, listened to music with non kid-friendly lyrics, played some poker, shopped for $3000 shoes. If I wished I could have had a morning cocktail and danced until dawn. I could take a hot shower that lasted 40 minutes. There was no one interrupting with pleas for pancakes or clean underwear and I didn’t even have to worry about paying the water bill. I could read an entire paper, by the pool. Glorious.
2. Everyone is cool in Vegas.
I don’t know what it is, but the lack of inhibition that the city seems to foster translates into innocent freedom for mothers. This means a typically frazzled mom can turn into a nightclub diva, black jack pro or (at least while I was there) Rodeo fan and not only fit in, but feel like you are on top of the world. The spirit of Vegas provides the freedom to have good old fashioned fun without worrying if you fit in or if you are going to make a fool of yourself with your dance moves. No one cares what you do and who you do it with-or maybe they just don’t remember, either way-you win mom.
3. It actually does not take a very long stay in Las Vegas for you to start craving your normal life.
Las Vegas is bright and huge and smells a little like desperation and cheap perfume. After a few days the sound of kids arguing over the Spongebob action figures becomes more attractive than the constant ting-ting of the slot machines. Yes, after just a short time of feeling young and carefree, you start to seek the comfort of order that only comes from your Blackberry. You begin to miss the babies that fill your day with very different kinds of noise than that which comes from a casino floor or poolside bar. Thus, it is time to return home, rested and rejuvenated-ready to make decisions and follow a schedule (that doesn’t include morning cocktails) once again.
We have just had elections here, who do I speak to about this into law?
This post originally appeared on the SVMoms New Jersey Moms Blog. It also appears on Technorati.
