This generation of parents knows that travel is the best educational experience they can provide their children. Travels are also the best times for family to bond at a time when parents and kids can hardly find time to spend enough time together. This is the reason why family travels and multigenerational travels have become too popular.
Yet, you know that perfect family holidays are not only difficult to plan, the vacation is not as relaxing as you imagined it to be. It is just like taking your stressful domestic set up to another destination. You can continue having family travels with the little ones, but for relaxation, reward yourself with a kid-free vacation occasionally
This is the idea that this blog Why You Should Take a Kid-free Vacation posted in The Blog – Huff Post Travel is trying to suggest. The blog lets you weigh the pros and cons of traveling without kids.
“Faced with the prospect of spending a vacation doing mundane chores and childcare, many people choose to leave children out of the equation altogether. Perhaps a kid-free vacation sounds harsh from the outset, but if you think about it, there are several benefits you can only enjoy when you leave the little ones at home.”
Enjoying your holiday…
- Think relaxation. Having kids around can be fun and exhilarating too, but there is no denying it can stress you out. If you are traveling because you want to relax and have an enjoyable vacation, as “coldhearted” as it may sound, go with your spouse or partner minus the kids. You need to boost your mind and body with a relaxing time off from the little ones.
- Enjoy things you wanted to do, your way. As a responsible, loving parent, it is second nature for you to put your children’s interest, needs and pleasure above yours, most of the time. Once in a while, it is healthy to break away from this habit. Unfortunately, you can’t do this when they are with you. So do yourself a favor; get away once in a while without the kids.
- It’s time to enjoy “for adults only” kind of adventure. Have you been dreaming of picking up your extreme sport after the kids are a bit older? What about “reconnecting” with the sport when you can slip away once in a while? If things like these make you happy, you are also doing your children a favor by coming back invigorated and ready to tackle your job as a parent, as a spouse, and perhaps a professional/worker, etc.
- It is healthy for your marriage. The kids are meant to make your marital bonds, but be realistic and accept that can cause strain on your relationship with your spouse too. Do you know that couples who spend days together in a relaxing travel/holiday “enjoy more romance, more intimacy and are happier overall?” That is according to a 2013 study undertaken by the U.S. Travel Association.
The drawbacks…
- Missing the kids: Of course, kid-free travel will make you sorely miss your cute kids. Look at the separation as a strategy that you, your spouse and the kids need. Maybe it will be a wonderful opportunity for the grandparents to enjoy their grandchildren.
- Finding help you can trust. If there are no close relatives or friends who can help you with the children while you are away, that will be a big problem. It pays to plan your vacation several months before so you’ll have enough time to look for one trustworthy caregiver.
- Planning things for the children while you are away. It will not be that hard, but if you are a worrier, you stand not to enjoy the holiday. Prepare ahead of time, so you’ll not forget small details – kids getting sick, numbers to contact, food for picky eaters or special diet for the ones with allergies, etc. Make a list that you can update each time you remember something and make sure to get all of these are ticked one at a time before your date of departure.
Traveling with your kids is something fun, but you don’t have to travel with them each and every time. Get your motivation from the kind of fun and what you can do with your spouse to enrich your moments together. You never know; a kid-free trip might be exactly what your marriage needs.
