A Brit mum is set to go on a pricey tropical holiday alone and is leaving her kids at home to teach them a "vital lesson". Jill Ritchie, 42, has two sons - Jude, seven, and Eden, 11, but neither of them will be travelling with her to Bali when she goes on her next holiday.
She'll be spending three weeks in the tropical paradise on her own, and she insists that it will be good for her two children and teach them how to cope without her, as the Scottish Daily Record reports. They won't be on their own as Jill, from Edinburgh, Scotland, is also leaving her husband, Daryl, behind so she can fully relax.
Jill, a life coach and podcaster, booked the holiday after losing her mum, Fiona, to cancer, and she wanted to be able to grieve on her own.
She grew up in a single-parent household and insists that her mum inspired her to live her life to the full.
And now Jill wants to set an example to her own children through her trip to Bali, and teach them that it is not selfish to take time to look after yourself.
She said: "My mum was a single parent who brought my sister and I up on her own. The three of us had an incredible bond. We were there for her every step of the way throughout her illness.
"The oncologist told me that he'd never come across someone like my mum who had put up such a fight to live. It gave me hope that I could do that, and inspired me to challenge the limits I place on my own life"
"I've wanted to travel since I was 17," Jill explained, "but it was actually my mum that was terrified of me going. Then when I became a mum myself, I didn't think it was something a mum could do.
"But after working on myself, I realised that it wasn't selfish, and it doesn't mean I don't care about my kids. By doing this, I hope to change the trajectory of my kids' lives and show them that there are different ways of being a parent.
"Their little eyes are always watching me and if they see their mum hiding her emotions and never fully expressing herself, they'll go into relationships believing that's how their partner should be.
"I want them to respect and honour women and I know I'll be a happier, less resentful and calmer mum by the end of it."'
Jill has booked accommodation for the first four days on the island but after that, she is leaving it up to fate.
And despite feeling 'nervous' about voyaging to the other side of the world, particularly as she has never been away from her family for more than two days, she has been heartened by the reaction of her husband and kids, who, although anxious, are rooting for her every step of the way.
Jill continued: "Daryl's been very supportive. Before, he would've been like, 'what are you doing? Are you crazy? You can't leave me alone to look after the kids and run a business.'
"But we've gone through couple's coaching recently, and when I went on my own healing journey five years ago, I started to lean into my own needs and he had to get on board. If he didn't, we might not be together now."
She added: "I think the kids will be emotional when I go. They say they're fine but I dropped them at school this morning before the airport and there were lots of cuddles, kisses and tears.
"Do I think they'll have wobbles? Yes, because we're very close".
However, she says: "I always come back to what I'm teaching them and the impact it will have on their lives. I just can't be on my death-bed wishing I'd done life differently."
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