Is It Time To Vacation Without the Kids?
If you’re wondering if it’s time to travel without the kids (which seems like a safe assumption since you clicked on this post), you’re probably also wondering how to counteract the guilt you’re feeling at even considering it as an option. I get it. As not only a parent but a single parent, I understand how much guilt plays a role in parental decision-making. In fact, it’s that very guilt that kept me, an avid traveler, from leaving the country for eighteen years while raising my own kid.
The pressure to be a perfect parent is high, while the ways in which to parent “perfectly” have never been more confusing. Add to that the fast pace of our current world, and it’s easy to feel like there’s just never enough time to do everything you have to do, let alone the things you want to do. No wonder the idea of traveling without the kids has parents feeling guilty as hell. Enough is enough.
Here’s why it’s time to take a break and travel without the kids.
Battle Burnout
Keeping another human or humans healthy, happy, and thriving is hard work. When we find ourselves stuck in the routine of feeding, bathing, putting to sleep, driving to soccer practice, attending Parent-Teacher school nights, and on and on without a break, it can lead to the very real issue of caretaker burnout, which is basically when you’re so physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted by taking care of other peoples’ needs that you start feeling hopeless and overwhelmed.
Before you chalk that up to just plain parenthood, it’s important to keep in mind that burnout doesn’t just affect you. It affects the people around you too. That’s because it often leads to withdrawing from friends and family, becoming more irritable and anxious, and being just plain uninterested in participating in things you used to enjoy. I don’t know about you, but parenting in burnout mode doesn’t sound very good for parents or kids. One of the best ways to battle burnout is to rest. One of the best ways to rest is to travel. Yes, without the kids.
Reclaim Your Identity
When becoming a parent, it can be incredibly easy for it to take over your life and your identity, completely eclipsing the person you were before your kids entered the picture. In fact, a little more than half of parents constantly feel that they have little to no time away from their kids to spend with friends or pursue hobbies, according to a Pew Research Center report.
Just because being a parent is an integral part of your identity doesn’t mean it’s the only part of your identity. Vacationing without your kids allows you to take the time to do what you actually want to do, whether that’s spending hours in a museum where they’d be bored stiff or just taking long, luxurious afternoon naps. Spending time doing adult activities you enjoy without catering to your kids' needs gives you a chance to reconnect with one of the most important relationships in your life, the one you have with yourself.
Return Refreshed, Rejuvenated, and Reconnected
Traveling without your kids gives you a chance to relax and hit the reset button on your life. When we’re stuck in the routine of taking care of others, that routine doesn’t vanish when you travel with your kids because they still have many of the same needs they did at home. This can make it incredibly difficult to fully unwind on vacation, defeating the purpose of traveling in the first place. By leaving your kids at home, you have a chance to fully unplug from your obligations for a few days and actually take a breath.
Before you worry that taking care of yourself is too much of an indulgence, keep in mind that self-care can make you a better parent. Allowing yourself the time to recharge is invigorating, so that when you do return to your family, you’re ready to be more present, something your kids will surely appreciate.
Whether you decide to travel solo, with your partner, or with friends, view the opportunity as a chance for renewal. There are so many unique, fun, Adult-only places where you can reconnect and remind yourself that no matter how many obligations you have in life, adventure still awaits you.
At The HedoNest, we believe in the power of pampering yourself. If you’re a parent, that goes double. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. So, take a break and refill yours when you need to. Perhaps with a martini by the pool.
Contact The HedoNest today to find out more about how we can help you plan your perfect getaway.