Mamas, when did you first spend a night away from your baby?
I am half embarrassed to admit that I’ve not yet spent a night apart from her, but not for lack of openness to the concept. We simply have not had the occasion or the appropriate logistics in place to spend the night apart, as we live away from our parents and have been so swept up in a move and all its associated transitions to even think about taking a trip by ourselves. And honestly, I hadn’t even thought about it until a friend said:
“I can’t believe you’ve never spent the night away from her! I’ve always thought that would be important — to spend alone time with my husband after we have a baby.”
Her voice has been echoing in my mind, making me wonder if it’s bizarre that I’ve not yet left her for a night, or whether I shouldn’t prioritize a little R+R with Mr. Magpie after a year and two months of go-go-go-go since her birth. I know that many of my friends took brief getaways when their babies were a couple of months old — to catch up on sleep, to get some alone time, to take a breath. I’m sure we would have cherished that time, but the opportunity just did not present itself.
I will, though, be leaving her with Mr. Magpie for two nights in July to attend the bachelorette party of one of my dearest friends. I’m ecstatic to be able to celebrate my friend in person, and I’m also very much looking forward to the three hours of solo train time, where I intend to buy a glass of wine from the snack car, read my kindle, and enjoy some train snacks (a hunk of truffle-flecked cheese I’m obsessed with from Whole Foods and Red Oval Farms stoned wheat thin crackers? a bag of popcorn?) or maybe a pre-packed salad from SweetGreen (part of my personal #SBB routine). But I’d be lying if I said I’m not a little leery of it. Maybe I should have found some excuse to spend the night away earlier after all?
But after this first time, I feel I owe it to Mr. Magpie to get away for a night, just the two of us.
What about you mamas? When did you first stay away, and under what circumstances? How did you feel about it?
Post-Script: Travel Gear for Solo Mamas.
A chic weekender — I also LOVE this, shown at the top of the post!
My favorite travel tote (enormous/roomy and the zip top is genius for stowing purposes!)
I stow advil, bandaids, pens, etc in this pouch — easy to access and keeps things tidy.
I keep liquids in these pouches to contain potential spills.
I keep my lingerie in a separate monogrammed linen pouch similar to this I received as a wedding shower gift. (I’ve also heard good things about this brand.)
Of course I’ve got to give a shout-out to my favorite packing cubes: these and these.
Screen wipes, sanitizing wipes (to wipe down train seats!), and facial radiance pads!
I’m so sad I missed out on these — though they promise a re-stock in June and I’m signed up for alerts! — because I’d love to travel with it! (And I can’t quite convince myself to buy this.)
I never ended up buying a backpack — I just can’t find one I love and that has all the right compartments for toting around mini’s stuff! — but this is pretty darn cute, and under $100. It would also be a lovely travel companion!
I almost always travel with a pashmina/scarf that can double as a blanket on chilly trains/planes.
My Kindle, loaded with new reads — lots of good suggestions in the post-script here!
On travel days, I tend to wear jeans, a button-down (in pink and white or blue and white stripe!), and comfortable flats (I love my Gucci Princetowns — they have some amazing new prints, like these, and I also love these and these). Comfortable, adjustable, and unfussy.
P.S. For upcoming travel WITH mini, I am looking to buy a couple of “surprises” for the lengthy car rides. I have my eyes on this (thanks, Jen!) and this. Any other must-haves for car travel? For the beach, I just discovered this darling sand kit! More great mini beach gear here.
P.P.S. Don’t forget my new beach gear obsession!
P.P.P.S. More stuff I never travel without and the absolute best baby travel gear.