Ah a mini break…. Just what the pharmacist ordered, right? A break from the ordinary, the daily doldrums and why is the kitchen a mess AGAIN! As the saying goes, a change is as good as a rest, right? Plus, we all lead busy lives and sometimes taking time away as a couple, family, or even by yourself (hello? Where do I sign up?) can give your batteries a much needed recharge.
That said, I am beginning to wonder how relaxing my getaways actually are, considering the last few holidays I’ve had have been interesting 🥴… think glass hob explosion, overbooked and therefore unavailable to me accommodation on my recent trip to Rome. Yet, despite the bumps in the road, I want to try to get as much time as I can with my boys now as they become increasingly busy with their lives (natural, I know but it does make me very emosh 😭) and it won’t be long before they fly from the nest…
Despite the pain of the shin splints, (my fault for refusing to acknowledge comfort over fashion) we had such a great time together as a family. The pressure to cook was gone (hooray!) and the food in Rome delivered! Oh my goodness, every meal we had was amazing. What I love about eating in Rome is that they are geared for kids. And even though I ate my own body weight in pizza and pasta, somehow I managed to find space for gelato while walking around. I think that’s the key though- we walked everywhere and we know that daily walks help with our digestion.
We are also at that stage where my boys are older and so there’s no prams or bags of toys/wipes/nappies to haul along. They could roam (pardon the pun) by themselves which left a bit of mum and dad time without the bickering. There was also a built-in history lesson on every corner; Rome is a museum come to life! Everywhere you look there’s an ancient ruin, an aqueduct or ancient temple. Although they did get a bit fed up on the last day when we dragged them to The Vatican (a 45 minute walk) and then all across Roman ruins explaining what temple this pillar was from, then through the Vatican museum and back into town to find a beautiful pink gúna and cardigan for my gorgeous niece. Anyways we did take them to the rugby match, as Ireland was playing in The Six Nations Cup and the atmosphere was fabulous! The whole trip was a real stress reliever- I don’t think I realised how wound up I was before we left…. And my recent podcast with Dr Robert Kelly, consultant cardiologist at The Beacon discusses how heart health differs greatly for men and women and why STRESS is a major factor for positive cardiac outcomes. Well worth a listen.
The mini break was just what I needed. It was just lovely to get that change of the usual four walls and just enjoy each other’s company. I’d highly recommend it. It doesn't have to be as far as Rome- it could be a local getaway, a camping trip- whatever works for you. United in our love of Irish rugby (well- them more than me), pasta and gelato and a beautiful city preserved for us all to enjoy for many years to come. We will be back!
I’ll make sure my accommodation reservation is sound and that I’ve packed better walking shoes!
But one thing is for sure, I would prescribe that EVERYONE do something they LOVE everyday to look after their heart health for a happier life for yourself and for those you love around you… I’m off to go look at pictures of the boys when they were little… 😭
Laura x
