Hey, New York Moms – It’s Okay to Want Time Alone This Mother’s Day

Can I be real with you for a second? Mother’s Day is sweet. The homemade cards, the breakfast in bed, and the flowers that look a little tired by the end of the day. I appreciate every little gesture, but if I’m being totally honest? What I really want is a little break.

I know it might not be the most popular thing to say out loud, but I’m going to say it anyway: I don’t want to spend every second of Mother’s Day with my kid. That doesn’t make me a bad mom, it makes me a human one.

I already spend nearly every moment with my child, and I love him with everything I have. But you know what I’d love just as much? A little space. Not a disappearing act, not a week-long getaway. Just a quiet moment to drink a full cup of coffee in peace. Maybe a nap. Maybe even,  dare I say it,  a chance to shave my legs without an audience. Just a tiny window of stillness to breathe.

The idea of taking a momcation sounds really appealing, and I’m not the only one who will admit that.

A Survey Asked Over 3,000 Moms Where They’d Escape If They Could

The answers were beautiful. Peaceful, cozy, quiet spots that just let us breathe. No alarm clocks. No laundry piles. Just… space.

Lake Placid Was the Clear Winner

Lake Placid feels like the kind of place that whispers, “You’re safe here.” Surrounded by the Adirondacks, with Mirror Lake reflecting back that peace we’ve been craving, it’s the dream spot for rest. I imagine sipping coffee by the water, taking a slow walk through the forest, and not having to talk to anyone unless I want to.

The Catskills Came In Next

The Catskills are that quiet kind of beautiful. You can hike, journal, nap in a hammock, whatever your soul needs. It’s not flashy or fancy. It’s just calm. And isn’t that what we want most?

Saratoga Springs Rounded Out the Top Three

Historic charm, mineral baths, parks that practically beg you to meander through them, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel taken care of. You can walk slowly. Linger in the sunshine. Remember who you are when no one’s calling you “Mom” every 47 seconds.

READ MORE: Exploring The Intricate Bond Between Mother And Daughter

We’re Not Asking for the Moon - Just Some Time

The survey didn’t just ask where we want to go. It asked how we’d spend a day off, too. The top answers?

• Binge-watching something without being interrupted (19%)
• Sleeping in. Doing nothing (16%)
• Being in nature, where it’s quiet (15%)
• Hobbies, spa time, a little shopping, and just… breathing

Sound familiar?

But What’s Stopping Us?

Time. Guilt. Money. The top three reasons we don’t take breaks.  Maybe you’ve felt it too - that tug of guilt when you even think about taking a day for yourself. Like the world might fall apart if you’re not there to hold it all together.

But hear me out: you are allowed to rest. You are allowed to need it. That doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you human.

The Truth? We’re Running on Empty

Most of us are scraping by on less than 6 hours of alone time a week. Not even an hour a day. And ideally, we say we need closer to 8 1/2 hours a week to feel even a little recharged. That’s not indulgent. That’s survival.

We Don’t Want Fancy -  We Want Support

The survey asked what would actually help lighten our load. And guess what topped the list?

• Someone to clean the house (yes, please)
• One full day off with zero expectations
• A meal we didn’t plan, shop for, or cook
• A regular massage or spa moment

Other answers? Help with groceries, childcare, therapy, and laundry. Basically, take one thing off our plates so we can breathe again.

The Guilt Is Real. But So Is the Need

Nearly half of us feel guilty taking time for ourselves. And one in ten moms hasn’t had a single uninterrupted break in the past year. That breaks my heart. Because we pour so much into everyone else but rarely give ourselves the space to refill.

If You Need to Hear This Today

You deserve rest. You deserve to be cared for, celebrated, and supported in the ways you actually need. This Mother’s Day, I hope you get more than a card or a candle. I hope you get time. Space. Stillness. Maybe even a little trip -  if not now, then someday soon.

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From one tired, loving, trying her best mama to another: you’re not alone. You are doing an incredible job. And yes, you deserve a break.