i love my mom

yesterday my mom and i spent the most relaxing, indulgent, pamperific day together. we decided we needed some mother/daughter bonding time. what better way to do that than get massages at a swanky spa in sonoma?

i actually have never been a huge fan of massages. i've had massages maybe a handful of times in my life. if that. massages are supposed to relieve you of stress and tension, right? but each time i got one i found myself tensing up as the masseuse attempted to massage out all of the stress and tension i carry in my neck, shoulders and back. needless to say, i pretty much avoided massages even though they always sounded so fabulous.

this time was no different. i wanted to go to the spa with my mom, but i figured i would get a luxury manicure/pedicure. in the end, i caved and opted for the aromatherapy massage. i figured i would suck it up and take one for the team.

it is a new day my friends! i walked out of the massage room in such a splendiferous haze. my mom insisted she felt like mashed potatoes. what made all the difference was the fact that the spa we visited offers a "bathing ritual" and this ritual is the most relaxing and soothing experience EVER. it completely loosened me up so that i could fully enjoy and reap the benefits of the massage.

the bathing ritual is a six-step process consisting of:

1. showering off and using a wonderfully scented exfoliating scrub
2. immersing yourself in a pool of body-temperature water
3. immersing yourself in a 102 degree spa with jets
4. herbal steam bath
5. sauna
6. cooling off shower

we also had access to the spa's outdoor mineral pools and the water temperature was just right (not too hot not too cold). i could have stayed in that pool all day. floating. i wish i had a mineral pool in my house.

yesterday was the most wonderful and relaxing day i have spent with my mom in a long time. my mom and i are close, but it's rare (especially now that i'm married and have a family) that we get a chance to spend quality time alone together. we vowed to make a point to spend more mom/daughter time together.

as i get older i learn to appreciate my mom more and more. on an adult level. she will always be my mom, but i've begun to understand that she is an individual and not just a mom. i used to think my mom knew everything and if she did or said something wrong it was a huge blow for me. what i've come to realize is that as i was growing up she was figuring stuff out along the way too. she was learning how to be a mom and how to balance that with being an individual. being a parent is hard, but my mom did a great job.