‘Do we mothers ever really have a holiday?’
Photography: Nine IJff
Jannine Berkelaar is editor-in-chief of Kek Mama. Together with her husband Erik, she has daughter Elin (10) and son Mats (8).
“Yes hello, it’s my holiday too!” I can still see myself standing on the first day of our long-awaited holiday in the South of France. It’s a hot day. I am overheated and tired. Really great, the kids are on vacation! But do we mothers ever really have a holiday? Sandwiches still have to be lubricated, just like the sunscreen, dirty diapers have to be changed, that rebellious toddler also wants to do everything himself in Southern Europe.
At the time of the blowout, I’m standing in the mobile home’s teeny tiny shower with my buttocks glued to a wet shower curtain, rinsing the sand out of Elin’s hair. It sounds like I’m treating her with acetic acid, the screeching must be heard on the other side of the mega-sized campsite. When Erik then asks if I would take something from the kitchen for him on the way out, I burst into anger and despair. This has to be different. And I can only do that myself.
Read also – ‘Nice relaxing day? Meh’ >
Letting go
I simply took the endless to-do lists that I had in my head at home with me on holiday over the thousand kilometers of asphalt. I had to do so much of myself, while vacation should be the time to let go and do nothing for a while. I found it quite difficult, but the more I gave myself space to relax, the more fun it became. For everyone! Then go to bed with your hair full of sand – as long as it’s not my bed, brrr. A big ice spot on your shirt all day long? Does not matter. No vegetables for a week? We’ll catch up at home.
‘Hello, it’s your holiday too’
Go for easy and relaxed. Because hello, it’s your holiday too. Grab those moments of enjoyment for yourself. Musing about nothing, feeling the sand between your toes, the grass between your fingers, the wind in your hair and of course those sweaty sticky kisses on your neck. We’re never going home again.
With a subscription to Kek Mama you enjoy great benefits:
*Cheaper than in the store
*Read Kek Mama first every month
*Shipped for free
Subscribe now and pay only €4.19 per edition.
