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Our weekly newsletter filled with news, updates, and inspiring stories of how God is working in the Bay Area.

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I’m a mom. I love being a mom. And as a mom, from the moment my alarm goes off in the morning (if I’m lucky enough to make it to my alarm, too often my preschooler is the alarm) until I go to bed, my family gets my heart and energy. A typical day includes getting ready for preschool (which we never seem to get to on time), going to work, cooking, cleaning, running errands and playing (everything from Legos to dress up). While I love being a mom, it can absolutely be stressful and overwhelming at times. And while I’d like to think I’m superwoman, the truth is I need a break sometimes. I think every mom needs time to let down, to be with friends, to laugh, and even have our own fun. We need a Girls’ Night Out.

Here are some signs that let me me know I’m in need of a Girls’ Night Out … can you relate to any of these?

  1. The only ‘me time’ I have seems to be in the bathroom or sitting in the car with the seat reclined hoping no one notices I’m home.
  2.  I’m talking to myself way more than I should be.
  3. My toddler has a more exciting social life than me.
  4. Every ‘Recommended For You’ on my Netflix is animated.
  5. I’m tired, and going out feels like too much work; I’d rather just sit on the couch in my sweats.

As moms it’s easy have our lives revolve around our family and to lose ourselves in our day to day routine. Our interests and hobbies take a backseat. Some of this just comes with the territory of being a mom, but sometimes we need to fight to take care of ourselves. Our kids don’t just need us to be any mom, they need us to be the best version of ourselves we can be. This means taking care of mommy. It means having the occasional Girls’ Night Out!

Every year we do a series of Girls Night Out events – by women, for women. You can find these events all over the Bay Area throughout the months of February and March. These Girls’ Night Out events provide time to…

1. Rejuvenate

And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

1 Samuel 23:16 NIV

Everyone needs a time to rejuvenate and refresh, especially moms. We need a time to find our strength. In order to the be the moms we ultimately want to be, we need time away from the family to have our faith and strength revived.

Are you in need of rejuvenation? Refreshing? When was the last time you took time away from your family to be with friends who rejuvenated your relationship with God?

2. Connect (and know you’re not alone)

 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 NIV

There are some times where I feel like I’m doing alright as a parent. But often I feel like I’m making it up day by day, hoping that the love I have for my family will speak louder than my mistakes. Honest conversations with friends who are willing to be real remind me that I’m not alone in my victories or failures and let me laugh at myself as I connect with other moms.

When was the last time you were able to just let down with friends? Told them what was really going on? In your marriage? With your kids? With you?

3. Learn from other moms

These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children.

Titus 2:4 NIV

Right when I feel I get one stage of parenting down, I seem to exit that stage and move on to the mysteries of the next. Our Girls’ Night Out events give us the opportunity to learn from moms who have been there and done that. Whether they did it last year, 3 years ago or 15, sometimes there’s nothing better than the hindsight of those who have gone before you. Other times it doesn’t need to be someone who’s been there, but someone who is going through it with you. You can bounce ideas, successes, and even failures off each other and inspire one another when it’s hard.

Do you have friends who give you guidance or perspective? Do you let other women teach or influence your parenting or marriage? If not, you are missing out!

4. Have fun

A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.

Proverbs 17:22 NIrV

Sometimes we just need to have some fun. We need to laugh until we cry. We need to pamper ourselves, whether pampering is getting dressed up or a getting a coffee with grown ups. When we find joy in our own friendships it makes us more healthy and helps us have the spirit to keep going. Girls’ Night Out gives the perfect platform for finding that joy!

5. Be more than ‘mom’

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10 NIV

I love being a mom and wouldn’t change it for the world, but I’m more than that, both personally and professionally. God never intended for me one dimensional, to be defined by one role. I want my kids to be people who make a difference in this world and I want them to see an example of this kind of person in me. God says he will give us life to the full and GNO gives us the time to reflect and remember that while being a mom is wonderful, we are even more than that. Our impact is meant spread far beyond our home.

Join us for one of our annual Girls’ Night Out events – don’t miss out on the friendships, faith and refreshment you can build in just one night out!

Written by

Jen Straw

Jen is the Director of Instruction and Specialized Services for the Hope Technology School in Palo Alto, California. She has worked in education since 2002, and is passionate about helping students achieve their full potential both inside and out of the classroom.