We hit the road after a long day of work, dirt bike in the bed, and camper in the back. The radio on truckin through the little towns, and all I can think about in that moment is how much I want to be home cuddled up on the couch with my family, not traveling again. After only being home for two weeks and then packing everything up and leaving for a long weekend I am less than thrilled. Here’s the catch NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT ME! I had to giggle to myself as I was sitting in the back seat thinking about how much I didn’t feel like going. By taking a step back I learned a few things about myself and my relationship this weekend…

1. Tough it Out!

Sometimes you have to suck it up and keep plowing through life. Spring is a busy time of year for us so we are just going all the time. This is the one thing my husband gets super excited about all year. So of course I am going to spend the day getting everything ready to go, making food, and mentally preparing myself for the long weekend with lots of people. It’s the attitude part that I have to tough out. Fake it til you make it right? Well I suck at that. So this weekend was a good time to practice that, and letting my husband relax and enjoy his friends and just being present. I didn’t do perfect, but it’s always a work in progress.

2. How to Not Feel Left Out

This is something I struggle with often, especially since being pregnant and having a baby. We do lots of camping with friends and family, local events, hanging out, and when you have to leave the group to put the baby to sleep, or feed them, or whatever it may be, it’s hard. You feel left out if everyone is out having fun, but you have to stay back because you have a responsibility. Being pregnant was difficult for me because I couldn’t walk far, I had no energy to do what everyone else was doing, and it sucked sitting there watching everyone drink and stay up late knowing I couldn’t. I wasn’t confident enough in my pregnant self to be proud of it.

This weekend my husband I worked on doing things together, like putting baby to bed, diaper changes, etc. That for sure helped, but the one thing I really absorbed was a new perspective. Instead of thinking I have to, telling myself I get to. Thinking of having to leave the group to do bedtime or diaper changes as a gift and not an inconvenience.

3. Take a Step Back, It’s Not About Me!

This weekend in particular is not about me, it’s purely for my husband and his family. I think because me and him do everything together I get a little caught up in that. To me it’s kind of boring and I don’t really care about it, but to see my other half light up, wake up early, and be interested in what’s going on is why I care. This last weekend I really indulged in that, and just observed him. Taking a step back, letting him roll the weekend is how I want next year to go.

The older I get the more I understand the world does not revolve around me, it sucks to have to say that but it’s totally true. This weekend gave me a different perspective, and it will further me in my life and my relationship so much.

As you go through your weekend take a step back, see what you find.