I’m writing this from Mexico. We’re here for our daughter Reese’s March Break.
We’re a family of 6, but for this trip, it’s just my husband, daughter, and I. Plus she brought a friend.
We asked all the older kids if they wanted to come on this trip, but with school, work schedules, etc., they weren’t able to make it work.
It gets harder to travel together when your stepkids become adults.
But this trip with just the three of us isn’t just because of age. It isn’t the first time we’ve travelled with just her. We’ve had several trips with just her over the last 11 years.
Travelling without your stepkids. The do’s and don’ts
Stepmoms often reach out to me asking whether it’s okay to travel without their stepkids.
Often, they’re craving time with their subfamily, while their husband is reluctant, not wanting the kids to feel left out.
Which is very valid and definitely something to consider.
I think this becomes especially complicated when your stepkids and children are around the same age.
My youngest stepson was 6 when my daughter was born. When we decided to have a child of our own, I was very clear about one thing. She would not be living her life based on a week on, week off schedule.
Her life wasn’t going to be put on hold when the kids were at their mom’s.
Thankfully, my husband agreed.
Their life didn’t stop. And neither would hers.
That’s how we operated.
They had fun experiences with their mom that she didn’t get.
She has had experiences they didn’t.
That’s what happens when you spend half of your time in other houses.
Truthfully, it’s never been an issue for us. The kids have never said a thing.
I think where it becomes an issue is if you don’t travel often, or you always travel without them.
If you’re always travelling with just your kid.
If your stepkids are always left at home.
That is definitely an issue. There has to be some balance.
What this newsletter is
This newsletter isn’t a travel tips post.
- It’s a behind the scenes of what life looks like right now.
- What I’m wearing this vacation.
- What I think you need to know about travelling without your stepkids.
- What the difference is travelling with Reese vs our family vacations.
- The truth about loving your child differently than your stepkids.
- And how even years later, sometimes I feel like an outsider when all my stepkids are around.
