Our friends at WAY Widowed and Young asked their peer support network to share their advice on holidaying after being widowed young. Here are their tips…
My teenage daughter and I have gone to places my husband would have liked to have visited. We take some of his ashes with us to scatter a few in the sea because he loved to swim.
Sammy, WAY member
We don’t do long road trip holidays now – more shorter breaks around a theme.
Paul, WAY member
Some friends have been amazing and invited me on holiday but it’s one of the aspects of my life that has probably changed the most.
Lucy, WAY member
My children and I went away without my husband two or three times before he died. This year will be our first time not coming home to him. Good friends have invited us to join them so, while I’m apprehensive, we’ll be in a ‘safe space’, which seems to be more important than ever at the moment.
Anoosha, WAY member
I can’t lie on a beach and do nothing now because the thoughts roll in. Have to be busy holidays and action packed. About to go to PGL in Devon and then a week in the Pyrenees later in the summer.
Clare, WAY member
We go away with family so that it’s not just me and my son.
Lin, WAY member
We used to go caravanning and had done for over 20 years but had to sell the van and 4×4 when I was widowed as I couldn’t afford to keep them and wouldn’t have gone on my own anyway. I work term time so really loved spending lots of time off with my hubby. Now it’s just a lonely time but at least I get a rest.
Pamela, WAY member
Mostly we go visiting people we know who live in nice places or just me and my youngest go on mini adventures in the UK.
Pascale, WAY member
I bought a caravan that I tow around the country for our holidays. Couldn’t afford it before and one of my boys likes to be home so gives us a home on wheels. Innocent fun in our own space. We also go for weekends away and holidays with our ‘widow friends’ – helping each other through as solo parents.
Amanda, WAY member
I took the kids on cruises, the big ships with lots of families on. There were lots of single parents and kids’ clubs. I could hang out with the other parents, the kids made lots of friends and we saw lots of the world.
Barbara, WAY member
I go with my parents to help with my kids.
Lisa, WAY member
I travel with my sister, haven’t had the courage to go alone yet. Also we go to places Ian and I didn’t go to together.
Susan, WAY member
I was brave enough to take my boys to New Zealand and Australia for 5 weeks by myself last year. But I never leave anything to chance, everything is meticulously planned within an inch of its life before I go so I know exactly where I’m going and what I’m doing to reduce my mental load. We have a lot of picnics so that I get a break from cooking every night. Luckily the boys like it!
Suzanne, WAY member
About WAY
The WAY Widowed and Young community offers a safe space to talk to other people (both with and without children) who understand how it feels to be widowed at a young age.
Find out how WAY can support you at www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
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