FAMILY TRAVEL

Getting my children on holiday this year has proved to be extremely difficult. Not only do I not have the money to spend, but I have one son gainfully employed, a daughter recuperating from a knee operation and another son who would far rather hang out with his friends locally, so I’ve had a lot of “I hope we don’t have to walk everywhere and look at historic shit”. So even the temptation of a superb holiday in Cuba has been very hard to sort. Finally we’ve done it, after a lot of unexpected persuasion, mainly because of all the uncertainty around the world, found suitable dates, an empty credit card and we’re going! I’ve leapt at the chance to go because of the changes already occurring in Cuba and also because other friends are coming too with their children so it won’t be as difficult as taking them on my own. We are going to see where Hemingway used to hang out and to smoke cigars and drink rum and dance like no one is watching (which by the way my children will be). I’m excited. I think we all are.

Additionally trying to find house sitters to care for the cats, plants and general house stuff was not easy. I don’t remember having so many things to worry about when I was a child going off on holiday and it has proved to be exhausting. I know it will be all worth it. There is nothing better than being surrounded by your children for a period of time and sharing experiences together. This has been one of the hardest parts of being divorced. When they were younger, not going away with them as they went off with their father was heartbreaking. I have hardened my heart enough to deal with it these days, but all the more reason to have my time with them myself.

After the holiday with me, my children are getting off the plane and immediately getting on another one to go off with their other family. Questionably an upside of divorce for them – they get to have two holidays, but it’s still not easy to manage for them. I know we are very lucky to be able to go anywhere at all, let alone to Cuba, so I shouldn’t moan, but it has been unexpectedly stressful. I hope it will all be worth the effort! Sure it will be.