Motherhood is often framed as the end of adventurous travel – but it doesn’t have to be. That’s why for Mother’s Day (in the U.S.), we’re spotlighting one of SoloTrvlr’s newest travel pros, Faith, who’s figured out how to keep her independence while traveling with two kids. Now, she’s helping other moms do the same. Book 30 minutes with Faith to get a leg up on traveling with your kids.
If anything prepared me for motherhood, it was travel. The adventures, missteps, and meaningful work made me more empathetic, resourceful, and patient – all essential for raising my two little nuggets
Twenty years ago, unsure of next steps after university, I took a leap and moved from Florida to Guatemala to teach. It was pre-Facebook, I had no laptop, and I didn’t know a soul – let alone if the school was even legit.
Thankfully, it was. I worked with inspiring teachers and was humbled by remarkable students. Then Hurricane Stan hit, wiping out entire villages. This was different from the hurricanes I experienced growing up in Florida. It was life or death. I moved back to the USA and pursued a Master’s in International Development to better support communities in crisis. When a massive earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, I joined a USAID-funded recovery project and went to live on the island for over a year.
The hours were long, but for the first time, I could afford travel. I used my R&R breaks to explore the Caribbean and beyond. I got lucky with fun, adventurous colleagues who loved scuba diving and country-hopping. My R&Rs even took me to Iceland and Australia! I didn’t know it at the time, but those trips with friends were growing my confidence to travel more independently.
In 2011, I landed my dream job on a global rapid-response team based in Singapore. I traveled 60–80% of the time, witnessing devastation but also the beauty of the world coming together for good. And I tagged personal travel onto almost every work trip.
I got my first taste of solo travel in Vietnam. A friend left early, but I couldn’t skip Halong Bay, despite my nerves about being stuck alone on a boat with strangers. I’m so glad I went. Waking up in that serene bay remains one of the most memorable mornings of my life.
As my confidence in traveling solo grew, I spent a week alone in Turkey just after my 30th birthday. I explored the coast from Antalya to Fetiye, and onward to Istanbul, embracing both the freedom and the occasional mishap, like hitchhiking in the dark to see the flaming rocks of Chimaera (luckily, a kind family picked me up. They seemed more nervous than I was.) I loved setting my own pace: eating when and what I wanted, and spending entire days wandering with no one to answer to.
As my confidence in traveling solo grew, I spent a week alone in Turkey just after my 30th birthday. I loved setting my own pace: eating when and what I wanted, and spending entire days wandering with no one to answer to.
Because of the constant travel, I never felt at home in Singapore. So in 2014 I moved to New York City, hoping to make friends and try dating. After a few awkward app encounters, I met a guy at a comedy night who wasn’t intimidated by my thick passport – or my independence. Bonus: He had two passports of his own.
In 2016, we eloped at City Hall and moved to London a month later. As newlyweds, we quickly learned how to make space for our different travel styles. It turned out that he loves reading EVERY museum placard, while I prefer a couple of hours at a museum before walking around town or reading by the water. So on a trip to Crete, I booked us a hotel with a pool and a museum nearby. That way, we could each do what we wanted – together and apart.
As newlyweds, we quickly learned how to make space for our different travel styles. My husband loves reading EVERY museum placard, while I prefer a couple of hours at a museum before walking around town or reading by the water.
When we became parents in 2019, I instantly wanted to apologize to every parent I’d ever known: I had no idea how hard it was. Aside from figuring out feeding, sleeping, and taking care of a baby, even grabbing coffee became a logistical puzzle. Is my baby welcome here? Why aren’t there baby change stations in the men’s room?
Then came baby #2. Before she was born, I asked for one night away – alone. My husband said yes without hesitation and that “momcation” became an annual tradition. When we celebrated my 40th birthday in Malta, my one request was 48 hours alone. He flew home early to relieve grandma so I could stay.
I read, walked, and enjoyed my new favorite splurge: Dinner alone. As a rather extreme extrovert, I never thought I’d enjoy solo dining, but something shifted after becoming a mom. Now I crave it.
When we celebrated my 40th birthday in Malta, my one request was 48 hours alone. My husband flew home early to relieve grandma so I could stay.
We’ve also started a family vacation tradition: each of us now gets a half-day alone. It’s our way to do something we love, while one of us tends to the kids.
Solo travel can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to start big. For me, it began with a meal out alone. Then one night. Then a weekend. Eventually, I felt ready for a week.
Travel made me a better person. I’ve been fortunate to visit 64 countries – and I want my kids to have the same opportunities for adventure. That’s why I’m building The Nugget: to help families enjoy more time together, and less time stressing over planning, while also inspiring local businesses to see the value in being more welcoming for the whole family, from baby to grandparent.
None of this would be possible without a supportive partner. From the beginning, I told him: I don’t want a big house. I just need to travel.
Love this perspective!