What I learned when I took my Mom on a Mother/Daughter trip

Today is my mom’s 75th birthday! To celebrate I want to look back on her 2018 birthday extravaganza. That’s when we jetted off to Iceland and England to commemorate her 70th. I expected to have fun, but there was a lot that I didn’t expect to happen on that vacation. Here is what I learned when I took my Mom on a Mother/Daughter trip for her 70th birthday. 

It’s Okay to Switch Roles … in some Respects

Over the years I’ve become a planner and I specifically really enjoy planning trips and itineraries. But that had historically been my mom’s job. So I was thrilled when she let me take over these duties for this trip. She gave me a few ideas of what she wanted to do, but I was given free reign to make all of the arrangements. I also took the lead when it came to our off-the cuff side trips and our transportation. As someone who has become a bit of a control-freak, I was nervous that this role-reversal would switch back as soon as we arrived, but I’m grateful that she trusted me to get us where we wanted to go. 

But don’t Expect them to Stop Being “Mom”

While she did let me act as tour guide, she was still “Mom.” At one point I may have had a little too much to drink (not really my fault) and she sprung into Mom-Mode right away, helping me into the cab, getting us back to the hotel, and then holding my hair while I got sick. She then took over the packing duties because it was our final evening and I didn’t feel up to it.

Be Prepared to Learn more about your Mom than you ever Thought Possible

While I share a special, close relationship with my mom, we’ve had to deal with some very real and upsetting issues over the years. I thought that because of the very adult situations I had to deal with, even at a young age, that I knew almost everything about her. I was so wrong. She told me stories that I had never heard before during our time together on this trip and I came home feeling like I knew and understood her better than ever.

Every Daughter should take a trip with her Mom at least Once in their Lives

At the time we took this trip, I had been married for almost four years and I had not yet had Arielle. It was the perfect time in my life to take a Mother/Daughter trip, especially since Alex and I had recently started planning for a family. I knew life was going to change soon and it did a little over a year later when I gave birth. But I am so glad that I took this trip when I did and I would love to take another Mother/Daughter trip with her once Arielle and Bébé #2 are a little older. And then eventually I’d love to take a trip with Arielle when she gets to be older, just like my mom used to travel with her mom. 

Happy 75th Birthday Mama!

Have you ever taken a Mother/Daughter trip? Where did you go and what did you learn from it?