I’m sitting in Clay’s, La Jolla which is the rooftop lounge at the La Jolla Hotel. The west facing wall is lined with windows and the sun is setting. The whole sky is a beautiful pink, orange, purple, blue. (Yes, of course, before you ask, my close friend, Twitter is here and I’ve been Twittering away.)

Lately, I’ve been around the ocean more than usual and I’ve been paying attention to the sounds, the colors and noticing just how entirely FREE all this beauty is. How is it possible that I don’t do this all the time? Why haven’t I grabbed my husband and gone for a long walk on the beach at night under a full moon? How romantic of a date would that be? Instead of agonizing over planning the perfect evening, why don’t we just jump in the car with a few blankets and a picnic and hang out at the beach?

Well, I guess the answer to that is that my daughter is 3 1/2 and I’ve been a bit busy for the past almost 5 years. Yes, I guess I have been busy…working through, first a career transition, next a pregnancy, next nursing and then my mommy transition but who am I to complain. How about you? What’s your excuse for not seeing the beautiful places around you?

My question to you is When was the Last Time You Kicked Your Kid to the Curb? What do I mean you ask? Well, I talk to moms all the time that haven’t really spent much time away from their children. I’m hear to offer you permission. I want to ask you to open your minds to the free and beautiful opportunities that might be right outside your office or kitchen windows. What can you do that’s right in your backyard for free? Isn’t it time that you got back to your relationships a bit. You know, the place that you started in the first place?

Call me crazy…but just a thought….