Hi from Montego Bay. Our driver from the airport to the resort yesterday told us we were now “Jamericans” so I’m rolling with it. He also spent 90% of the ride to the resort trying to convince us that we should stop to get “anything we want” so there’s that. We passed on this offer…haha.
Monday was not an easy travel day. I arrived at the airport too late to check my bag but luckily the ticketing agent told me to take my checked bag through security and gate check. That all worked perfectly, although I had to dump all of my liquids that were too big to go through TSA. I felt like throwing out my sunscreen was a small price to pay for not hoping I’d make it on standby later in the day.
The crazy thing is that our flight ended up being about 90 minutes delayed so my bag situation wasn’t really an issue but oh well. There were many other hiccups along the way but I won’t get into them. I’m in Jamaica and that’s all that matters.
The flight from Charlotte to Montego Bay is so quick and easy. There was also WiFi available for the whole flight, which was awesome. I got some work done and before I knew it, I looked out the window and saw this.
The transfer to our hotel was only about 20 minutes and I was pleased with the room that I was given. I asked for ocean front and I got it. This is the view from my balcony. I spent most of the first afternoon working. I was on a deadline for a project and worked my way through dinner, ordering room service instead of going out.
I wrapped around 8:30p and headed over to a welcome cocktail reception we were hosting for our retreat attendees. It was a short gathering and early night since everyone had been up since very early in the morning.
I was all about an early bedtime and slept like a rock.
I led a HIIT workout this morning and then Brittany led us through a power yoga practice. I have been partnering with Brittany to support her studio for a few years now but this was the first time I got to take her class. It was AMAZING and I wish she lived in Charlotte! If you’re in the central Pennsylvania/Harrisburg area, you’d be amiss not to catch one of Brittany’s classes. She owns Studio B Power Yoga and is just crushing it.
We have such a wonderful group of people for our retreat. I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone and am looking forward to much more conversation and connection this week.
After the morning workout and practice, I hit up the pool for some rest and downtime.
I ended the day at the beach where I chatted with Brittany and some others, took a dip in the water, read and napped.
As for things back home, Finn is doing well but I am struggling on that front. Y’all…I miss him so much and am feeling all the mom guilt for leaving him for five nights. It’s the longest I’ve ever been away from him. Also, when I first planned this retreat I thought that Finn would be weaned. We are not even close so it’ an added layer that I have to pump while I’m here.
I was talking to my mom about it when she was visiting and she assured me that it’s not selfish to take time for myself and that it will make me an even better and more present mom but it’s still really freaking hard. When I arrived here yesterday I just had this overwhelming feeling that I should go home and be with Finn and Zoey. It took me a solid 24 hours to move past that and to begin to relax and settle in.
I know both of them are being well-taken care of and loved but I miss them so much.
I need to head to bed. I am leading a sunrise run at 6:30a tomorrow followed by a power yoga practice. We are doing everything early tomorrow because we have our group excursion. We are taking a boat out kayaking and snorkeling. I’m looking forward to it and think it will be a lot of fun.
Have you ever been on a yoga/fitness retreat? If not, what would make you sign up for one?
Tips for leaving your littles?
Hi! Maybe instead of saying “I have to pump while I’m here” you could see this trip as a perfect opportunity to wean Finn? Pump a tiny bit off for comfort perhaps but if you can leave him for this period without breast feeding him I’d say he’s probably going to be weaned by the time you get back? Going away for a few days was how I weaned both my kids at the same age as Finn. No fuss! They didn’t even look for the boob when I got back, and I just gave them extra cuddles. Go for it!
But Jen hasn’t said she wants to wean and there’s nothing wrong with breastfeeding well past age 1. In fact the WHO recommends breastfeeding until age 2. And as a counterpoint to your story about your kids not wanting to nurse, I took similar length business trips when my kids were around this age (one at 14 months, one at 16 months). They were completely fine while I was gone, but as soon as I got home they were begging to nurse and would have been distraught if I’d told them I was closed for business. Many kids have a ‘mom = boob’ association and just because they’re fine with dad or another caregiver putting them to bed without nursing doesn’t mean they won’t want to nurse when they see their mom again. Gradual weaning and “don’t offer, don’t refuse” worked really well for us and it was way more comfortable for me (emotionally but probably also physically) than weaning suddenly over a trip.
I think by Jen saying she expected Finn to be weaned by now means she wanted him to be weaned by now. It comes off that she finds it a hassle to pump. Atleast that’s how I’m interpreting it. Sarah also didn’t mention a thing about the nutritional aspect of nursing so not sure why that was relevant. I think she was giving Jen a great suggestion that now is a good time to wean since it sounds like that’s what she wants.
Hi Laura – I think I didn’t expand upon what I meant when I said I expected him to be weaned by now…we planned this trip back in September. Finn was only a few months old and we were still relatively new to breastfeeding. June was a LONG time off and it seemed like a for sure thing that I wouldn’t still be breastfeeding by then. We have been blessed to have a great breastfeeding relationship and it’s been a very special bonding experience for us. Yes, I find pumping to be unenjoyable and a huge hassle, but it’s worth the trade-off. Finn takes bottles easily from his dad and he loves nursing with me.
While I appreciate Sarah’s suggestion and know that her chosen method of weaning works for many, ultimately that’s not what is right for us! 🙂
Thank you for adding this counterpoint! I think it’s helpful to hear different approaches. I also agree that just because a child can go for 5 days without nursing doesn’t mean that’s what they would choose.
Jen, power to you for pumping and listening to Finn during this weaning process!
Thanks Elisha – Finn’s normal is to take a bottle from his dad and nurse with me. I think he would be SO confused if I came home and we didn’t nurse. It’s a comfort and bonding thing for both of us! Pumping on this trip is not fun but worth it for my boy! 🙂
Hi and thanks for this comment. I am much aligned with your thoughts/approach to weaning. Finn is very comfortable with the dynamic of getting bottles when he’s with his dad and nursing with me. I truly believe it would be very hard on him…and me!…if I arrived home and we didn’t nurse. I am hoping to follow a gentle weaning process of slowly dropping feeds over the next few months and see how Finn is doing with it.
It’s crazy to me that there is still a stigma around nursing beyond one year and an expectation that one is the cutoff.
Hi Sarah – thanks for the suggestion. Always interesting to hear what works for others and this is an approach that I considered some time ago. I ultimately decided it wasn’t best for either of us. While I do find pumping to be unenjoyable, a hassle and annoying, the trade-off for the breastfeeding relationship that I’ve had with Finn is worth it. I am hoping to do a gentle weaning approach over the next few months. That’s just what feels best for us!
it IS hard to be away from him – so don’t feel guilty about your guilt (or really for missing him). don’t let it consume you either. you DO deserve this trip and it WILL be better for both of you in the long run that you had this opportunity.
for me the hardest part is always the leaving – once you’re there, you might as well stay!
but seriously, my husband and I both traveled to different places at the same time in early May leaving both my kids with their grandparents. I was in mostly panic mode leading up to it. once I was there, pics from home helped. and distracting myself with activities or whatever.
also…it’s worth it to leave for their reaction when you come home!!! so hang in there and ENJOY.
I am not letting it consume me and things got a lot better after the first 24 hours once I got here and settled in. <3
And yes, looking forward to that reunion moment when I get home. 🙂
I had to travel for work during my first month back at work. It was only for 2 nights but with travel I went 3+ days without seeing our son. He was 5 months old at the time so he was totally unaware that I wasn’t there but it was definitely hard on me. If I went on a business trip now, I still think it would be way harder on me than him. I feel like we are kind of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and that babies/toddlers don’t have a sense of time. So I try to keep that in mind if I need to be away from him again. It’s just so much harder on the mom. My husband would love to take a trip this fall without him but after talking it over, we have decided not to as I just can’t handle being away from him!
I hope you are enjoying your time away more each day. I think you are at the resort that our friends got married at 5 years ago. We had the best time there!
Hi Lisa! Thank you so much for taking a moment to share your experience with traveling away from baby. I have done 2-3 nights away over the last year for teacher training but this whole week was the longest and it’s hard!!! I totally agree that it’s harder on us than them at this stage and I just remind myself of that over and over. And I totally get your decision on not going away…it’s one of those things I never would have understood until I had a child myself!
We are at the Iberostar Grand. It’s lovely.
Wow, what gorgeous views! What resort are you staying at? We stayed at the Hyatt Zilara in Montego Bay a few years ago and we loved it. Nothing like those beautiful Jamaican beaches!
Hi! We are at the Iberostar Grand. It’s my first time at an Iberostar resort. The Grand is lovely.
So much love & prayers to you with all you’re experiencing in life right now. Let yourself feel it all – you’ve got this!
Thank you so much Kayla. <3
I think most moms are guilty of not taking time out for their self. I am not a mom myself but my sister and cousins are. I feel n encourage them to take time out for themselves without feeling guilty as they too need to relax and regroup. Mom’s take care and nuture kids which is such an important thing. A happy calmer mom is the best thing for a kid and your family(both in person and your blog family). You are doing a great job.
Thank you so much for these kind and encouraging words! And yes, even though it’s hard to be away, I know this is good for me. <3
Oh Jen, go easy on yourself. No “mom shaming” allowed. YOU very much deserve this getaway. Try to enjoy each and every minute of your time away.
Thank you so much for your kindness! 🙂 <3
Your trip sounds like so much fun! I am loving all the pictures, it looks so beautiful.
-Kate
https://daysofkate.com/
Hi! First enjoy every minute of nursing your sweet little baby!! nothing better then snuggling up and giving him exactly what he wants and needs!!
Second, if this is too personal, sorry! You are always in bathing suits, shorts, sleeveless, do you have a hair removal routine? Do you shave everyday? Wax? Thinking legs, underarms, bikini area?