I was 6 months pregnant with my first child when my husband and I decided to start a tradition: A romantic getaway to an exotic location 4 months after having each baby.

Having a baby is the most incredible experience anyone can go through. Making a baby is a surreal feeling, especially when it is a human that is exactly half of you and half of the person you love. However, this tradition has been one of the best decision of our lives and here is why:

1. Connect with your better half: When you have a baby, the sleep deprivation and crazy schedule take a toll not only on your body, but on your relationship as well. Being tired all the time is not a fun feeling, and it isn’t fun for anyone around you, either. So, I decided that after 4 months of being a 24/7 mommy, it would be the optimal time to take a break, recharge batteries and reconnect with my spouse. I realized that for me, an exotic location, good food and endless conversations over a glass of wine were the best ways to go back to being the person my husband fell in love with and vice versa.

In order for this to work out, I booked and paid the entire trip when I was 6 months pregnant. This would eventually force us to go no matter what. Every parent knows that once the little bundle of joy makes it’s entrance, is hard to plan and convince yourself to leave them, but when everything is ready to go, it is even harder to cancel a fabulous trip.

2. Regain perception of world: When you spend your days nursing, changing diapers and burping for months on end, you often times lose perception of who you are and what’s happening in the world around you. Traveling to Morocco last year and Tanzania this year gave me an incredible boost that shook me up, woke me up and made me love and appreciate my life (and family) even more. Why? Because I had time to look at my life from outside of my daily routine.

3. Dodge judgement: Living your life the way you think is best without dwelling on other peoples opinions is important for your happiness. When I told my friends and family about my trip, not everyone understood why I was doing it only 4 months after giving birth. To be honest, people closest to us disagreed and urged us to cancel the trip.

I didn’t cancel it and this is why: Everyone tries to be the best parents they can, and doing things differently doesn’t mean we are right or wrong, we are just individuals that have different priorities and dreams. My priority, besides being the best mommy, is to be the best wife, and my dream is to explore the world. And how do I do this? By carving out time to touch base with my husband, and explore countries I have not yet visited.

Being a mom every day, all day is great, but in order for me to feel whole, I need balance. I need time to be a mom, to be a friend, time for myself and time for my husband, it makes me happy and as a result it makes me the person I always dreamed of becoming.

If you are a new daddy or mommy and love to travel, ask the grandparents to babysit and do it! If you are waiting for the right time, there isn’t one. The best time is when you say to yourself: I need a trip.

We are in this world once. Live and travel like you have one shot.