Traveling as a Parent: Overcoming Mom Guilt
When Andrea Andree had everything she thought she wanted—the baby, a thriving career, and a country house—she realized something was missing. She was overwhelmed, yet deeply bored, by the grind of working mom life.
The turning point came when "I Miss Me More" played on the radio. That song became her anthem—the push she needed to put her own desires back on the front burner. One of those desires was the call to travel more.
Andrea celebrating her 40th birthday on Laura’s 2025 Cuba trip.
The Death of Adventure (And Its Resurrection)
"Life for me was boring," Andrea reflects on her pre-awakening days. "I had my daughter and I was working full time, and I just felt like all I was doing was rushing out the door to get her to daycare, to rush to work, to get through work and rush home and rush into bed. Like everything was rushing and nothing was exciting."
Sound familiar? For many parents, that adventurous part of themselves seems to die a quiet death somewhere between diaper changes and school pickups.
But Andrea discovered something crucial: that part of us doesn't have to stay buried.
After years of inner work and self-discovery, she made a bold decision that many parents dream about but few act on—she booked a solo trip to Cuba, leaving her husband and two kids (ages 6 and 9) at home.
Breaking Through the Fear Barrier
When it comes to solo travel as a parent, Andrea identifies three major fears that hold people back:
1. The Fear of Death
"What if I die? Who's gonna take care of my kids if I die?" This might sound dramatic, but it's a real concern for many parents venturing into unfamiliar territory.
Andrea's empowering reframe? "If I'm supposed to die in Cuba, then there's nothing I can do about it. If it is my time to go and leave the planet, then it's my time. I don't believe that we leave the planet accidentally."
2. The Guilt Factor
The persistent voice that whispers, "I can't take time for myself."
3. The Control Issue
"Who will take care of the kids? They can't do it as well as me."
Here's where Andrea offers a reality check: "My husband is not a mom. And so when I was gone in Cuba, some of the kids got sick and my daughter just did not make her art class. I'm sure they were eating out of cans more often than I would feed them out of cans, but you know what? It's fine for a week."
Her mantra? "80% of the way done by someone else is 100% awesome."
The Ripple Effect of Self-Care
What Andrea discovered in Cuba was transformative. For an entire week, she felt free to be herself—not as mom, just as Andrea.
"I just felt filled up. I felt energized. I felt like I could be myself. I didn't really care a whole lot about what other people thought of me. I felt like I could make jokes if I wanted to make jokes or I could dance if I felt like dancing."
But here's the real magic: that freedom didn't stay in Cuba. She returned home as a better mother.
"When I wasn't allowing myself to be me, 100% of my time I was shitty. And now that I've seen the before and after of how before I just spent months just wanting to get out of my life... after I came back so clear headed and much more able to be present at home and just much happier."
The Kids Are Watching (And Learning)
Far from being selfish, Andrea's solo adventures are teaching her children invaluable lessons:
The world is big and exciting: Her kids' immediate response to hearing about Cuba? "I want to go to Cuba!"
It's okay to pursue your dreams: Children learn more from what we do than what we say
Self-care isn't selfish: When we fill our own cups, we have more to give others
"We're all role models for our kids and they see the world very big but they see the world very small. They see it through us and through school right now," Andrea explains.
Practical Magic: Making Solo Travel Happen
For parents reading this and thinking, "This sounds amazing but impossible," Andrea offers concrete steps:
Financial Planning
Set up a separate travel fund with automatic transfers
Use travel rewards credit cards strategically
Consider funding your own trips to reduce family budget guilt
Logistical Planning
Write out detailed schedules for your partner
Arrange backup help (grandparents, friends)
Handle all the usual travel prep (out-of-office messages, etc.)
Emotional Planning
Work through your fears before you go
Remember that other people's fears are often projections of their own limitations
Trust your intuition about where you want to go
[Cuba, 2025]
Dealing with Other People's Fears
One of the biggest obstacles Andrea faced wasn't her own fear—it was other people's opinions. Her advice for handling the inevitable "That's dangerous!" or "You shouldn't go there!" comments?
"We're all just projecting our own stuff onto other people all the time. If someone tells me they're afraid of me getting kidnapped, that means they have their own inner fear around getting kidnapped that they're not willing to look at."
Her litmus test for travel advice: Has this person actually been where you're going? Do they have firsthand experience with this type of travel? If not, their opinion might say more about their fears than actual reality.
The Bigger Picture
Andrea's story isn't just about travel—it's about identity, authenticity, and the courage to remain yourself even as your roles expand.
"There are two parts of us. There's the part of us that is true... that is here for adventure, for expansion, for trying new things. And then on top of that, there's a version of us that is afraid."
The key is learning to honor the true part while working through the fear.
40 hits different when you’re celebrating in Cuba.
What's Next?
Inspired by her Cuba experience, Andrea is now planning a transformational group trip with us to Colombia for early 2027, designed specifically for women who want to combine personal growth with adventure travel. Because sometimes the best way to discover who you really are is to get completely outside your comfort zone—with support.
The Bottom Line
Andrea's journey from overwhelmed, rushing mom to confident solo traveler didn't happen overnight. It took inner work, practical planning, and the courage to trust herself over other people's fears.
But the results speak for themselves: a mother who models authenticity, children who see the world as exciting and accessible, and a family that benefits from a mom who knows how to fill her own cup.
As Andrea puts it: "We can't deny the truth of who we are and what we want. The more we don't allow that to be, then the more out of alignment we're going to feel within ourselves and everyone is impacted by that."
Sometimes the most generous thing we can do for our families is to remain fully ourselves—adventures and all.
Andrea Andree is a leadership and embodiment coach who helps people trust themselves before the evidence appears. Learn more about her upcoming Colombia trip and coaching work here.
