Someone asked us recently on Instagram— “what do you do on your solo trips?”
2-3 years ago (lost count now!)…
- My trip – 7 months in Africa, as a UNICEF/WHO deployment: It broke me but shaped me in unimaginable ways. Cliff’s mum from Canada came to visit and help him!
- Cliff’s trip – He went on a solo climb up a mountain in Australia for a week or so, found his zeal after a long valley season of being a SAHD- that was the start of us having a special relationship with Perth and its spiritual community
A year ago…
- I took up the offer of a 3D2N retreat in Malaysia when a friend treated me to a beach retreat before we left for Africa.
- Cliff went to Hong Kong with his parents on a memorable heritage trail to learn more about his family and birth history. It was incredible! I had the help of lovely friends to help babysit my girls!
This year…
- Cliff went to visit his best friend in Europe for 10 days, which nourished him so much after living in a developing country with few close friends. A junior of mine offered to visit me in Africa at my lowest and conducted a first aid course for teachers here!
- I’m choosing to attend a trauma recovery conference and visit my therapist as part of my personal and professional growth.
So you can see, it’s not a day matched for a day… but whatever our souls and spirits need.
This was birthed really out of a very low point in our marriage when we both felt trapped and “chained down.” I think it’s okay to say that many parents of young kids often feel this way! And it’s okay to!
But it has to come at the right time too, with the right support network… and in alignment with both of you to make it work. Because it takes a great deal of sacrifice from the other person.
So I’ll say- don’t expect it, but maybe pray and discuss if it’s something that will help you both grow individually, to be better as a couple.
After our first experiment of Cliff’s solo trip, this was what happened…
… so I guess that’s what made it easier for me to say, “let’s do this for you every year!” 😅😅