The most valuable thing I've learned about family holidays wasn't about travel.
It was about permission.
I've just returned from a lovely break with the family. I was reflecting on how our family holidays have evolved over the years. For a long time, I thought family holidays meant putting everyone else's needs first.
Making memories.
Keeping everyone happy.
Planning the days.
Being available for every moment.
I quietly assumed my own need to recharge could wait.
It took me years to become comfortable saying, "I'm going for a walk," or "I'm going to meditate for twenty minutes before everyone gets up".
Not because my family wouldn't support it.
Because I had convinced myself that asking for time alone somehow made me selfish.
Now, those moments have become non-negotiable.
✅ A coffee in silence before the house wakes up.
✅ A walk by myself.
✅ A minute to listen to the waves.
✅ A quick swim.
Ten minutes to breathe.
Taking those moments means I show up more patiently, more calmly and more present for the people I love most.
As working mums, we often carry the invisible mental load all year, and summer doesn't always make that lighter. School holidays simply swap work deadlines for activity planning, childcare logistics and trying to create magical memories.
But here's what I've learned.
You are a mother.
You are a partner.
You are the organiser, the planner and often the emotional anchor of your family.
But you're also an individual with your own needs.
Looking after that person isn't selfish.
It's sustainable.
This summer, I hope more parents give themselves permission to protect even the smallest pocket of time that's just for them.
Because the goal isn't to escape your family.
It's to return to them feeling more like yourself.
The best (fully recharged) version.
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Cultivating calm, resilience, and sustainable wellbeing.
I help organisations create healthier, more resilient workplaces by giving people practical tools…
