Being away with family by the seaside is lovely, but a change of scenery doesn’t mean the big emotions stay at home. Holidays with kids still mean navigating sudden bumps in the road.
I’m Laura, joint founder of Happy Confident Kids, I am a mum of two, and a qualified Kids wellbeing coach. I’ve been helping kids and their families to have happier lives for over ten years.
Wanting to get into a good headspace—and set a calm tone for the kids—I snuck out early one morning during our holiday in stunning South Wales while everyone was still snoozing.
It felt genuinely freeing to grab a tiny slice of me-time.
I kicked off my shoes and stepped onto the sand dunes just outside our stay. Walking onto the empty beach, I wanted to make the most of every minute and release the tension I’d been carrying. …Right, time for some deep breathing, I thought.
Then my brain hijacked the moment. I started overthinking which breathwork technique would be “best” for the time I had. I was literally getting het up about how I should relax. (The irony!)
I stood there with my feet at the waters edge taking a few deep breaths Then…
I opened my eyes. Right in front of me, a little black head with big, beautiful eyes popped out of the water. It was just staring at me. I stared back, completely exhilarated.
“Hi!” I said to the seal “Hello!” with the excitement I decided I would have a chat with it!
I felt like the seal had popped up just for me. It stayed for ages while I stood there talking to it (looking like a total crazy woman on a quiet beach alongside a few dog walkers ) and feeling pure joy.
I’d been trying so hard to be in the moment, but the second I stopped overthinking, presence just happened. I looked up, took in the sunrise glistening on the water, and realized the magic arrived only when I stopped trying.
Later, I brought the kids back to the spot. The little seal was still bobbing around, turning my quiet morning win into a shared “glimmer” for all of us.
The night before had taught me the exact same lesson about trying too hard. We’d gone out for an expensive dinner that turned into a complete disaster—tired kids, rejected meals, big emotions, and a painful bill for a wasted evening.
So we pivoted. The next night, we stayed in, cooked simple food, and pulled out some board games.
Gathered around the table, we ended up having the best evening of the trip. We laughed so hard the the tears streamed down our faces.
Lately, I’ve been talking to so many parents juggling summer work, childcare, and heavy “parent guilt” for not booking massive, expensive days out.
It’s in these messy, unplanned stretches that we need the reminder: the simplest moments are usually the ones that stick.
Quick, low-pressure ways to catch a glimmer:
10-Minute Reset: Play a quick card game or throw a ball in the garden—no huge schedule required.
Garden Camping: Pop a tent up in the backyard for an instant, budget-friendly adventure.
Ditch the “Perfect” Dinner: Swap high-pressure restaurant outings for easy comfort food and floor picnics.
The free, simple stuff that happens when we stop trying so hard isn’t just easier—it’s usually the best part of the story.
