Help - depressed mum trying to plan a 1st family holiday without dad

[Hasrani]

Hi all, new to this forum - a short intro on me - a perimenopausal 45 yr old London mum (for last 13 years) with 2 kids - DD15 and DS9. Not travelled widely (Parents and sis live abroad so holidays have mostly been visiting them++) but have an opportunity to go without husband somewhere in Feb ‘25 half term break. Would ideally like a planned group holiday as under treatment for major depression/anxiety and would feel safer in a group but don’t know where to start. So many questions:-

1. How do you go about finding a safe travel operator?
2. DD is quite independent and opinionated - would group tours work for teens ?
3. We are not British and vegetarians- am I taking a big risk here counting on the group to be inclusive?

Any advice appreciated - I have been quite ‘absent’ this year so really keen to take my kids somewhere and compensate a little - also feel going somewhere will help with my recovery - thank you in advance.

This is very good advice @CrystalSingerFan thank you. I will look up MSC cruises - have always loved watching these ships in Southampton- will be nice getting on one of them.

Definitely the buffet option 😂 @CrystalSingerFan - my teen would run away from fine dining. Let me research these - I really appreciate these inputs.

Do report back!

Plus maybe pick one of the (relatively) smaller MSC ships to start with. They'll still be big enough to not be too bouncy in low-season weather. 😀

@TheWeeDonkeyFella learning the chat protocol ropes - so I don’t have to reply on messages as that makes scrolling harder.

Funnily enough I saw an ad for Hays travel during my Christmas date with British telly and there is a branch 3 miles away from me. Have never stepped into one so might be a nice window shopping experience even. Will also check out the trip advisor forum you suggested. And maybe I should book a solo group escorted tour later down the year - might be a nice motivation to work out and get fit! Menopausal depression is such an ugly demon to fight but feeling hopeful and enthused reading all these supportive messages here.

How about you sit with your kids and ask them each one of two things they definitely want out of the holiday? So one might say, ‘I want to swim’ and another might say ‘I want to go climbing’. Or whatever it is. Then sit and try to figure out with them where would work for all three of you inside your budget. Maybe get involved trying to make a holiday timetable/working out an itinerary together, so all of you feel comfortable and in control of the holiday. There’s a risk with kids that they can feel ‘dragged around’ on a holiday, and you want to make it clear to them that this is as much their holiday as yours- it’s a time for all you you to spend time doing stuff you enjoy and bonding with each other.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday and get a good break. You’ll smash it I’m sure.

Skiing with ski school

Dubai for winter sun? Marrakech - pool, camel ride, desert safari

https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise/bookitineraries/Canarian-Flavours-101493?itineraryCodeOne=101493&itineraryCodeTwo=&shipCode=150014&mc=false&isMCTracs=false&isStayBefore=false&stayDuration=0&cruiseDuration=7&duration=1-7&noOfAdults=1&noOfChildren=2&childrenAge=9,15&from%5B%5D=&flexibility=false&noOfSeniors=0&when=14-02-2025&sailingDate=14Feb25&to%5B%5D=L34386:CRUISEAREA&packageId=17395236000001739538300000TOM659617401479000001740162600000TOM65971229382799/3/410/7ZI03&index=8&brandType=null&addAStay=0&cabin%5B%5D=1,2,3&dp=BOH&bb=AI&cabinOnly=false&room=&mcId=101493%7CT&searchVariant=FLY_CRUISE_ATCOM

@theallotmentqueen appreciate the inputs and definitely plan to involve them once I have done my research - with a 6 year gap and different interests (active boy who loves swimming and vs a teen girl who is rather timid but very diffident), I know this won’t be an easy conversation. Wishing myself all the luck thanks and appreciate your vote of confidence 🙏🏼

Thank you @HeddaGarbled for this fine suggestion- adding this to the mix too.
much appreciated 🙏🏼

They would love this for sure - I would just be a nervous wreck though as I would entirely be dependent on the instructors for their safety - I have never skied in my life and not in the best fitness level to try this now.

Thank you - Will check these out too.