I Had One of My Best-Ever Vacations Because I Left My Family Behind

Less than one hour into my flight from New York City to Vancouver, I knew I’d done the right thing.

I was watching the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing “on the seat-back TV screen, and wow, did it make me feel good.

This was one of my first solo trips without my family since my kids were born in 2008 and 2010. The others were brief visits to my elderly parents in the UK.

It felt good to be independent

I wasn’t plagued by whining about how long the journey was taking or demands for blankets, for which some budget airlines have been known to charge.

I’d also been spared the stress I’d absorbed from my ultra-cautious husband, whom we nicknamed “Travel Dad” during our trips, about getting to the gate at least an hour before boarding.

My husband always took charge of trips. It was good to be more independent and not rely on him.

I recently saw a hilarious cartoon that showed a family arriving at an airport before it was even built. The prudent father had insisted they show up early for their flight. He could have been my husband.

Somehow, I’d come to rely on him to handle the passports and navigate the airport, which made me dependent and lazy.

I booked my vacation on Thursday and was on the plane by Sunday. The flights were expensive because they were last-minute, but I was between jobs. I wanted to make good use of my time before I returned to an office.

The entire trip was freeing. Although I was only in Vancouver for four days, it felt great to make my own decisions without having to consult the family first.

My 30-year-old nephew lives in the city after immigrating from our native UK, but he was often tied up with his job at a five-star hotel and too busy to show me around.

I sometimes felt self-conscious as a lone traveler — but it didn’t last long

One of the highlights was my seal-watching tour on a zodiac. My son has had a phobia of open water for more than a decade, so I grabbed the rare opportunity to ride on a speed boat.

I was self-conscious as the only passenger on my own. But as soon as we boarded, I chatted to an older couple from Australia enjoying a round-the-world cruise. They told me about their experiences and how their next stop was Japan. The woman tapped me on the arm whenever she spotted something interesting, like a porpoise.

That night, I dined at my nephew’s hotel. Instead of scolding my husband and children for staring at their phones in the restaurant, I happily people-watched while sipping a cocktail.

The lone diner sitting next to me struck up a conversation. She was a law professor from Toronto who was visiting Vancouver for a conference.

It’s not selfish to leave your family behind to have a solo break

I was fascinated when she described her work. Then she asked me questions about my 30-year journalism career. I would never have engaged with a stranger if my family were there.

Unfortunately, I flew home the following day. This time, I didn’t watch a movie but spent ages looking at the photos — many were unflattering selfies — I’d taken in Vancouver.

Now I’m encouraging my mom friends to follow my lead. I’ve told them it’s not selfish. I hope they’ll take a well-earned solo break from the daily grind.

Do you have a story about solo travel as a parent? Please send details to this reporter at jridley@insider.com