I love this! One of my favourite things about staying in a well-designed hotel is the inspiration. I planned my ensuite around the bathroom of a Copenhagen hotel I was lucky enough to stay in. Also, uses for drawstring bags - bring em on!
Doesn’t sound like this was Erin’s experience, but I’m curious— Do any other parents of small children get *way too excited* about a hotel room to yourself and then inevitably end up disappointed? I’ve had a few “wherever you go, there you are” moments at highly anticipated nights away from kids. Like I can’t sleep or I feel lonely or I just can’t settle in for some reason.
Absolutely. I just got back from a four night trip sans kids last week and had to accept a low level of malaise present the whole time because it wasn’t like so perfect and glorious as to feel like it was the perfect use of our one non-kids trip we’re likely to get for several years.
That malaise was present AND I still got the kid-free time my brain needed to relax in that different way - multiple people commented when we got back how relaxed we seemed, even though I was sad for much of the trip! I think back to when my trips all involved horrible flights with multiple layovers and gross hotels - it was a negative I just had to accept if I wanted the overall positive of travel. Now I stay in nicer places, but either I’m with my kid (so don’t get to do everything I would want to do without them) or without my kid (so rare, and then I judge every second of the trip based on if it was the “right” use of our kid free time or if I’m sleeping/relaxing enough plus I miss them).
Part of travel is that never ending pursuit of the perfect trip, but it helps me to remember that’s always been the case, it just changes shape as my life changes.
Oh totally. You nailed it. Even pre kids I remember checking into the Ace hotel in Palm Springs and bursting into tears in the room later because I had worked up this trip too much in my mind and I just felt kind of stupid about it once we got there. Like that old SNL skit with Adam Sandler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbwlC2B-BIg
omg it's so profound I'm so happy to have shared it with you. "A vacation won't fix that, that takes incremental lifestyle changes, sustained over time!"
I often have trouble sleeping my first night or two in a new place, so I definitely feel this! Fortunately my kids are now at ages where sleep isn’t my number 1 priority when traveling so I’m less anxious about it, which I think actually helps overall. My true fantasy is getting to spend a week by myself in my apartment, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon!
This is my younger brother's idea. For decades, he's been taking do not disturb signs and now has an enormous collection of them. There's some conceptual art project in store.
I love this! One of my favourite things about staying in a well-designed hotel is the inspiration. I planned my ensuite around the bathroom of a Copenhagen hotel I was lucky enough to stay in. Also, uses for drawstring bags - bring em on!
Doesn’t sound like this was Erin’s experience, but I’m curious— Do any other parents of small children get *way too excited* about a hotel room to yourself and then inevitably end up disappointed? I’ve had a few “wherever you go, there you are” moments at highly anticipated nights away from kids. Like I can’t sleep or I feel lonely or I just can’t settle in for some reason.
Absolutely. I just got back from a four night trip sans kids last week and had to accept a low level of malaise present the whole time because it wasn’t like so perfect and glorious as to feel like it was the perfect use of our one non-kids trip we’re likely to get for several years.
That malaise was present AND I still got the kid-free time my brain needed to relax in that different way - multiple people commented when we got back how relaxed we seemed, even though I was sad for much of the trip! I think back to when my trips all involved horrible flights with multiple layovers and gross hotels - it was a negative I just had to accept if I wanted the overall positive of travel. Now I stay in nicer places, but either I’m with my kid (so don’t get to do everything I would want to do without them) or without my kid (so rare, and then I judge every second of the trip based on if it was the “right” use of our kid free time or if I’m sleeping/relaxing enough plus I miss them).
Part of travel is that never ending pursuit of the perfect trip, but it helps me to remember that’s always been the case, it just changes shape as my life changes.
Oh totally. You nailed it. Even pre kids I remember checking into the Ace hotel in Palm Springs and bursting into tears in the room later because I had worked up this trip too much in my mind and I just felt kind of stupid about it once we got there. Like that old SNL skit with Adam Sandler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbwlC2B-BIg
Hahahahaha I’ve never seen that sketch, immediately sent to my husband! So accurate!
omg it's so profound I'm so happy to have shared it with you. "A vacation won't fix that, that takes incremental lifestyle changes, sustained over time!"
I often have trouble sleeping my first night or two in a new place, so I definitely feel this! Fortunately my kids are now at ages where sleep isn’t my number 1 priority when traveling so I’m less anxious about it, which I think actually helps overall. My true fantasy is getting to spend a week by myself in my apartment, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon!
This is my younger brother's idea. For decades, he's been taking do not disturb signs and now has an enormous collection of them. There's some conceptual art project in store.
excellent.
Off to convince my mom that a mother-daughter trip to the Berkshires is in order 🏃🏻♀️
omg please!