Vacations look a little different when you live with chronic illnesses. Summer brings the excitement of travel, family gatherings, and making memories. For those of us managing pain, fatigue, or health limitations, it can also bring the quiet anxiety of “how will I keep up?”
I’ve learned that balance isn’t about doing everything the way I once imagined—it’s about creating space for joy and honoring the boundaries my body sets.
The Myth of the “Perfect Vacation”
Now that my child is a teenager, the challenges look a little different. It’s less about chasing after little feet and more about navigating group dynamics when extended family travels together. Larger family trips can be wonderful, but they also come with layers of planning, expectations, and energy that aren’t always easy when you’re managing illness.
Sometimes I worry my slower pace might hold others back, especially when the group is eager to pack the days full of activities. But here’s the truth: my teen doesn’t need me to be everywhere, all the time. What matters most is being present in the right moments—sharing laughter over dinner, joining a walk when I can, or simply listening during quiet one-on-one time.
Your family, whether it’s just your teen or a whole group traveling together, doesn’t need perfection—they need connection.
Gentle Planning, Gracious Living
Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
- Plan Rest as Part of the Vacation
Instead of seeing downtime as “missing out,” I now build it into the trip. A quiet afternoon reading, a nap before dinner, or simply sitting by the water can be as memorable as a full day of excursions. - Communicate Honestly
Let family know your energy levels ahead of time. Saying “I’ll join you for the morning, but I’ll need the afternoon to recharge” sets expectations and avoids last-minute disappointments. - Choose Flexibility Over Rigid Schedules
Illness doesn’t run on vacation time. Having open, flexible plans allows space for the days when your body asks for more care. - Find Joy in Small Moments
Sometimes the sweetest memories aren’t in the big events but in the simple ones—sharing coffee on a balcony, watching your teen laugh at a silly game, or stargazing together at night.
Releasing the Guilt
As women, mothers, and caregivers, we often carry the weight of “being enough.” Chronic illness can make that even heavier. But your presence, your love, and your laughter—even in smaller doses—are more than enough.
Vacations are not about proving endurance. They are about collecting moments of peace, laughter, and connection.
A New Kind of Vacation
For me, balance means letting go of what a vacation “should” look like and embracing what it can look like: gentle mornings, slower days, and the freedom to rest without apology.
If you’re traveling with illness, remember this: you don’t have to keep up—you only have to be there, in the way you can. And sometimes, that presence, lived with honesty and grace, creates the most lasting memories of all.
💖 Final Thoughts
Vacation, family time, and illness don’t always fit together neatly—but life rarely does. What matters most isn’t doing it all; it’s choosing the moments that matter most and showing up for them with love. That is enough. You are enough.
With strength and graciousness,
Aimée ❤️✨
Fiftyandmore 
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