The secret to a peaceful holiday as a single mom

A Relaxing Holiday for a Single Parent

When traveling as a single parent with two children, the word “relaxing” might not immediately come to mind. Instead, words like “fun,” “adventure,” and “brave” might be more fitting. While I was proud of my ability to be brave, I had no illusions about the possibility of relaxing. I anticipated a fun, fulfilling, and bonding trip with my kids on my first ever holiday abroad as a single parent. However, I never imagined that I would return home feeling relaxed enough to brag about it.

Upon landing at the Westin Resort, Costa Navarino—a luxury resort located in the Greek region of Messinia, in the southwest Peloponnese—I began to think that maybe, just maybe, this could be possible. With a kids’ club program packed with activities, five outdoor swimming pools, a perfect beach, and a sports and entertainment center, I wondered if I had finally found the secret to a relaxing holiday as a single mom.

The Perfect Start

The family suite we stayed in was beautiful, featuring two separate rooms, two showers, a freestanding bath, and a balcony complete with its own sun lounger and views of the sea and mountains. My son declared he wanted to live there. The adage “you are only as happy as your unhappiest child” seemed to hold true, as both of my kids were ecstatic. This was a promising start.

Like a group of overly excited Labrador puppies, we explored the vast grounds of Costa Navarino. The resort is so large that you need golf buggies to move around. My son was amazed, and I think it was one of the best moments of his life. The golf buggy tour revealed a second resort, the Romanos, which boasts serene swimming areas, dark blue-tiled pools, and a grand piano. There was also a waterpark with slides and tubes, and an entertainment center called “Division 16,” which includes a bowling alley, VR arcades, an American diner, and an NBA basketball school.

Exploring New Adventures

We went from being reluctant to attend the kids’ club to my son voluntarily signing up for a basketball lesson, a bike track adventure, a paddleboarding session in the actual sea, and even a private tennis lesson at the nearby Mouratoglou tennis center. The downside was that the lesson was at 8 am, but the upside was that I had an hour to myself at the Anazoe spa. It was truly relaxing—so much so that I nearly forgot I had children.

Scott Dunn, the luxury travel operator who organized our holiday and also runs the on-site kids’ club, offered a wide range of activities: archery lessons, a traditional Greek culinary experience with a local family, watersports, climbing lessons, golf, and an escape room. These were all enticing, but they may not have accounted for the stubbornness of teenage girls.

Navigating Teenage Tastes

My son was sold on the idea of a water balloon fight and hanging out with other kids. My daughter, however, had different plans. She wanted to sit by the pool with me, watch Married at First Sight Australia, and drink mocktails. She did not want to make friends. When I asked why she didn’t want to join the kids’ club, she used a tone only British 13-year-olds (and characters like Regina George in Mean Girls) can master: “Maybe try not calling it ‘kids’ club’?”

I remembered what it was like to be 13 and realized she had a point. Despite the thoughtful names of the kids’ club programs, such as “Globetrotters,” “Adventurers,” “Voyagers,” “Pioneers,” and “Crew,” she still knew it was kids’ club. And, like in Fight Club, you can’t talk about it when you’re 13.

Finding Balance and Connection

Embracing this lesson, I realized that it is indeed possible to relax and enjoy time away with your kids. The real secret of my first ever holiday abroad as a single parent was that my kids are, in fact, the best company. I discovered that taking their devices away and focusing on having “grown-up dinners” with them could be incredibly rewarding. A sunset-streaked feast at the resort’s Flame restaurant and a final night eating fresh fish at the Barbouni beach bar with its moving canopy ceiling were highlights.

I learned that it only takes one of them to say “yes” to an activity for me to spend quality time with the other. Quality time, when it happens, is worth its weight in golden sunsets. Spending time together, rather than rushing them into kids’ clubs, is precious. Even when they do choose to go, I appreciate the time they spend away.

I’ve also realized that the sharp remarks of teenage girls are a force to be reckoned with.