How to Survive a Trip Without Your Kids (Spoiler: The Anticipation is Way Worse!

I did it! I went on a trip without my kids and only cried a handful of times (mostly at the end, okay, I’m not perfect). I was gone for 5 nights (it was supposed to be 4, but my journey home was a bit of a comedy of errors—check my Instagram highlights for the full drama). 4 nights ended up being the perfect amount of time. By night 3, I was definitely ready to come home and see my babies.

Here’s how I survived without totally losing it:

• Partners are your secret weapon! Mine didn’t mention a single meltdown or middle-of-the-night wake-up call. Every time we talked, he assured me everything was “great” (even though I know there were some interesting moments). Mamas, please tell your husbands to keep it to the essentials. We don’t need to hear about the chaos at home—we’re already feeling guilty enough!

  
  

• Get yourself a solid support system. My dad and in-laws came through big time, especially with those flight delays. Seriously, knowing my kids were in good hands made it so much easier to relax. A strong support system is essential.

  
  

• Stay busy! I was in New York, the days went by so quickly with the conference and enjoying the city. Every day was packed with things to do and see, and the constant movement was the perfect distraction.

  
  

• Travel with supportive friends. It’s a total game-changer. I got to vent, talk about my kids, and they pretended to care (bless them). Having that support was key.

  
  

  Biggest takeaway: The anticipation of leaving was SO much worse than actually leaving. The guilt and dread before the trip? It’s way harder than being away. Trust me—once you're there, staying busy and knowing your kids are safe at home make all the difference. So, if you’re feeling guilty or nervous about leaving, take it from this stressed out mama—it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought!