Why Solo Travel Means So Much To Me

The first time I traveled without my kid, EB was 5 months old. It was a quick work trip. I was flying in, sitting in meetings all day, crashing at a hotel, heading to more meetings the next day and then flying home. 

I was a wreck. The thought of leaving my little baby had me an emotional wreck. Plus, back in those days, I was exclusively pumping. Being a breastfeeding Mom is one thing. But being a full time working Mom who also has to pump? It was hard.

As hard as it was, it was also exciting.

For almost 2 days I got to only worry about myself. I enjoyed eating food that I didn’t have to share. I didn’t have to wash dishes or wash diapers or have my sleep interrupted. I got to brainstorm, connect with and laugh with adults. 

Basically…I thrived. 

That trip gave me the confidence to continue to travel for business and pleasure without my children.

And I mean, let’s face it. Traveling with children is pretty awful. Maybe you’ve come across Instagram accounts of darling couples with their cute kids as they trek in Bali or on snow-capped mountains or in Jamaica. They are probably vegan, live minimally, unschool their kids and are picture-perfect.

Lies and deceit. 

Cameras never show the real craziness that is traveling with kids. It is NOT fun. In addition to kids having so much crap (car seats, strollers, toys, books, tech, etc), you also have to be mindful of their sleep schedules, attitudes and if they’ll eat in new surroundings. And okay, yeah….I’m sure it gets better as they get older but should I wait until my youngest is 5 before I travel?

No. No, I won’t.

“So travel with Esposo, B. Duh!”

I’d love to travel with my husband but the reality is…we don’t have anyone to watch our kids. In fact, it has never happened. 

“That sucks. What about your friends?”

Traveling with friends is always fun but waiting on my gal pals to save enough money, get the time off from work, want to travel without their kids (because not everyone thinks the same way I do) and actually put some effort in planning the trips doesn’t always happen as easily as it should. 

In fact, this is what it looks like…

And so…I push past the nerves that may bubble up when I consider doing a trip by myself.

Perhaps this is easier for me because I’m used to doing things and going places where I don’t know anyone.

I moved away from home and went to college where I didn’t know anyone. After graduated, I moved to another state where I didn’t know anyone. Being uncomfortable doesn’t bother me.

It challenges me.

It can be scary.

But so what.

I have never once regretted solo travel and though life may change and provide me with more opportunities (I seriously can’t wait to travel with Esposo again), I hope to always take pride in traveling by myself and for myself.

The more I push myself to do things that scare and challenge me, the better I become. For this reason, I will never stop doing at least one solo trip a year.

 

Have you traveled by yourself for pleasure? Would you?