Several months ago, I decided to do something completely out of character. I took a day and night to myself for a staycation at a local hotel.
For this posh solo staycation, I stayed at Nobu Hotel in Buckhead – located about 10 miles from my house in Sandy Springs.
Nobu is a high-end hotel chain with locations worldwide, anchored by the famed Nobu restaurant chain, which was founded in London by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Meir Teper, and actor Robert De Niro. The restaurant and hotel are well-known for their prominent hospitality and Japanese style and attract celebrities, influencers, and A-listers.
It was extravagant but worth it.
From the moment I walked in the doors and awaited checking in to my room, I felt like I was in a different city, but comfortably far away from home.
The NOBU hotel is an anchor of Phipps Plaza, a luxury mall with high-end stores such as Jimmy Choo, Balmain, Fendi, Hermes, Gucci, Balenciaga, and Free People.
While I mostly order my clothing online, it was nice to window shop and even try on a few things, without having to worry about my kids or husband getting restless or bored.
I have traveled solo for work, but this was different.
On my work trips, there was an expectation to produce, to have meetings, and to see outcomes. My kids were young, and I was extremely anxious about flying anywhere and leaving them behind.
I could not relax or enjoy these trips.
Family trips, well…If You Know You Know, they are trips – not vacations.
This was true relaxation. It took me about 20 minutes to drive to the hotel from home, and it felt like I had traveled to another city.
The time I got to myself was priceless. I walked around the mall aimlessly, with no particular goal. I window shopped and even tried on some things – something I haven’t done in years it seems (I buy clothing online), I even got a day pass to work out at one of the poshest gyms I have ever experienced: Lifetime Fitness at Phipps Plaza.
I went to dinner at Nobu Restaurant, where I tried the famed melt-in-your-mouth Miso Marinated Black Cod. I sent non-important calls to voicemail. I went to bed when I felt like it and woke up when I wanted.
It was pure bliss.
During my staycation, I met with another mother who flew from out of town for business at a cute French bakery and cafe, at Phipps Plaza.
We regaled our mini break from our families, and she shared with me a phrase that shook me: weaponized incompetence.
I had never heard this phrase before, and it made so much sense.
It’s something that mothers and wives face daily. This is the husband’s “Honey, where did you put the peanut butter?” “Honey, what time is carpool? ” and “Mom, can you find my soccer cleats, and can you…” from our kids.
It’s the incessant questions that they can answer, and things they can find on their own – yet they don’t because we are there to do it all.
It’s the cushion that we become for the most mundane of tasks. These small tasks, miniature burdens, ultimately add up to a mountain we carry on our shoulders. As mothers, we are a walking pile of post-it notes of things that need to be done, scheduled, and taken care of.
Taking a staycation by myself was the perfect respite from weaponized incompetence and the mental load that comes with motherhood.
I am already scoping out different hotels, and planning my next solo staycation.
Are you looking for places to take a solo staycation around Atlanta? Check out this list here.
