My First Trip Away from My Kids: What I Loved, Learned, and Regretted!
I wanted to share about my very first week long trip away from my kids—what I loved, what I learned, what I regretted, and what I’d do differently. It was almost 18 years ago, and the destination was Cancún. It was amazing, a little stressful, and completely unforgettable!
Tim always gets to give the travel advice, so I figured I should get to tell some stories.
We had three little boys at the time, and somehow, Tim convinced me to leave them and go. Looking back, I still can’t believe he pulled it off—David was still a baby! But Tim had served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Yucatán, and he wanted to share that part of his life with me. I absolutely wanted to experience it—but I was so torn about leaving my babies.
My brilliant husband did what he knew would work: he invited one of my very best friends to come along… and she said yes! My mom wasn’t just my mother—she was my best friend. Having her there brought comfort and reassurance. Her presence made it feel like a piece of home had come with me.
Because of that choice, we have a treasure trove of unforgettable memories. Nearly twenty years later, we still laugh and reminisce about that trip. If we hadn’t gone, would we even remember what we’d done that week? Probably not.
Top Three Memories from Cancún
If I had to pick just three highlights from that trip, these would be at the top of the list:
1. Dad Driving in Mexico
After an amazing couple days of touring inland (and not great sleep, more of that story below), we were exhausted. Tim was too tired to drive, so my dad took the wheel of our little SUV. Tim stretched out in the backseat with his head on my lap—no seatbelt on (so really nobody to blame but himself). He fell asleep immediately. All of a sudden, my dad slammed on the brakes, and Tim flew to the floor! As if that wasn’t bad enough, we hit a massive speed bump, and Tim launched into the air and crashed down again.
Groaning, he said, “Dad, didn’t you see the signs?”
My dad replied, “I don’t read Spanish!”
The sign was just a picture of a speed bump.
We’ve laughed about that for years. It was the epitome of a rude awakening—and one we’ll never forget.
2. The Sandía Incident
One morning at our all-inclusive resort, we sat down for breakfast. It was picturesque: turquoise pools, the ocean just beyond. My mom, who had been practicing Spanish for years, suddenly couldn’t remember what sandía meant. She asked Tim, and he just said, “It’s sandía.” (Watermelon if you don’t know)
So, without thinking, she poured herself a glass.
Backstory: My mom hates anything watermelon—has since she was a little girl. If you know my mom, you know she’s one of the kindest, calmest, most patient people alive. Most people don’t think “no” is even in her vocabulary.
Well, she took a big mouth full of the juice and then immediately spit it out. And in that moment, Fire entered her eyes. She was quite literally spitting mad—and it was all Tim’s fault!
We could not stop laughing. Tim just kept saying, “You knew what it meant!”
Safe to say—she has never forgotten again.
3. Parasailing—And the Unexpected Push
This one might get me in trouble again (sorry, Mom!). Somehow we talked her into going parasailing, even though she’s not a fan of heights. I’m pretty sure she thought she’d skip out on it once we got there—but they loaded us up on Jet Skis and took us out to a boat in the ocean.
When it came time to transfer from the Jet Ski to the boat, she hesitated. But the guide reached out and gave her a little shove—with his hands squarely on her backside—and said, “Come on, momma!”
Needless to say, she made it onto the boat. And somehow, he even convinced her to go up in the parasail. I think she figured he’d get handsy again if she didn’t cooperate. She faced a fear that day—and we all made memories we’ll never forget.
More Unforgettable Moments
One spontaneous day trip turned into an overnight adventure. We took my parents to Chichén Itzá but decided to check out Ek Balam too. It was still in early stages of excavation, and we were allowed to roam freely. (Taking our kids there more than 15 years later made it even more special.)
We stayed the night in Valladolid, Mexico, in a little place with two beds. One was larger than a king—basically a square acre of mattress. I told my parents to go ahead and take that one, but after sitting on it, my mom insisted that we take it. It was harder than plywood! We should’ve just slept on the floor. Between the geckos on the wall and the maroon bathtub, it was an unforgettable night—filled with laughter.
If my mom were telling this story, she’d probably remind everyone how I bravely climbed to the top of the ruins at Ek Balam… only to realize, once I turned around, that I’d have to come back down. Let’s just say my bravery didn’t make the return trip with me. I sat down and scooted down each step on my tush — one careful slide at a time. (Turns out, I may have inherited a little of that fear of heights — or maybe I just know my own coordination skills all too well!)
That trip to Cancun also included card games, where Tim learned that my sweet mom can be a sore loser when pushed just so—she flung a deck of cards when the teasing got to be too much! Or possibly my father might be a bit of a sore winner. Haha. And let’s not forget when she cleaned out her passport before we left for the airport to return home—throwing away the necessary entry documents.
At the airport, they detained her for questioning. Tim stayed with her to help translate, while my dad and I waited at the gate. I started to panic as the boarding time got closer, but eventually, they showed up—my mom, once again, who was normally calm on the outside was absolutely fuming. She turned to my dad and said, “I can’t believe you almost left me in a foreign country!”
He just chuckled and said, “I was confident Tim would take care of everything.”
This amazing trip even created a tradition of gift-giving watermelon décor between me and Mom that has lasted for years. It’s kept us laughing. We truly turned every lemon into lemonade!
Chichén Itzá- Chichén Itzá
- Ek Balam
- Cenote Zaci
- Hotel in Valladolid
- Gecko in Hotel
- Just me and my Mom
- Swimming in Cenote
- Xcaret
What Makes or Breaks a Trip!?!
That trip is a treasure in my memory. Here’s what I’ve learned about what makes or breaks a trip for me:
✅ Makes
- Travel companions matter. Who you’re with can change everything.
- If you’re leaving kids behind, leave them with someone you trust and who loves them. I couldn’t have enjoyed this trip if I were worried the whole time. I’m grateful for family that love my children!
- Do your homework. Ask others who’ve gone before. Or go with someone who has gone before! It’s no fun coming home and realizing that you’ve missed something incredible just around the corner.
- Slow down. Laugh at yourself. Life’s too short to take too seriously all the time. This post might make it seem like my mom was often the brunt of the joke — but the truth is, she laughed right along with us. I’m so grateful she taught me not to take myself too seriously. There’s a time and a place for everything, but sometimes, it’s more than okay to just laugh.
❌ Breaks
- My biggest regret? I weaned David to go on this trip a couple months earlier to prepare for this trip. I’ve never done that again. After that, we either took our nursing babies or waited until they were a bit older. Babies grow up too fast. But… They were fine! They are adults now and it was a blink of an eye…
- Honestly, all the other “cons” turned into such great stories that I only look back with joy. If you learn to laugh, even the bumps turn into adventures.
Final Thoughts: From Guilt to Gratitude
This trip wasn’t just a getaway—it was a storybook of laughter, mishaps, bonding, and bold steps outside my comfort zone. I’m so grateful my best friend—my mom—was there with me through it all.
Would you take a weeklong trip without your kids? Have a hilarious vacation memory or a travel regret you turned into a win? Share it in the comments—we’d love to hear it!
