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By ESTHER MARSHALL and AMY WALTERS Published: 11:50 BST, 2 April 2025 | Updated: 12:12 BST, 2 April 2025
A mum has revealed how she’s ‘ditched’ her kids to go on holiday solo – and says she hasn’t got the time to feel any guilt over it.Catherine Lofthouse is a self-proclaimed ‘tight mum’.The 44-year-old often hits the headlines with her savvy – yet controversial – tips and trick, especially when it comes to travel.Now, to tighten the budget further, she’s ‘ditched’ her three boys, Alex, 12, William, 10 and Robin, five, and gone away solo – visiting Lille in France and Stratford-upon-Avon in less than a month.The mum says that each of the trips only cost her £230. And she reveals that she doesn’t feel guilty in the slightest about leaving her kids behind.’I haven’t got a lot of time for mum guilt over this sort of thing,’ Catherine, from Leicestershire, told Luxury Travel Daily. ‘As long as my children are happy and safe while I’m away, there’s no need to feel this way.’I think all parents, especially mums, should all try to take a bit of time for themselves. Catherine Lofthouse (pictured above) is a self proclaimed ‘tight mum’ who has been on two trips without her kids She ‘ditched’ her three boys (pictured above), Alex, 12, William, 10 and Robin, five, and went away solo’It’s often easier said than done when it comes to a busy family life and keeping all the plates spinning.’But you’ve got to put yourself first sometimes – and if that means going away without the little ones for a few nights to give yourself a break, then so be it.’Catherine’s take comes as recent research from Trainline revealed that one in two mums feel too ashamed to travel without their kids.That’s despite 57 per cent of mums saying they would like to get away without their tots in tow.Catherine, who is already planning her next trip to York, says these two trips are the first time she’s gone away solo. But she wishes she had done so sooner.She said: ‘I’m definitely going to do it more often and for longer periods now that I’ve done it a couple of times and it’s gone well.’I think going away solo actually makes me a better parent.’Instead of me dragging them around to do the stuff I’m interested in, they get to stay at home and I don’t have to hear any whining and whinging. Catherine says she hasn’t ‘got a lot of time for mum guilt’ about her solo holidays The mum says she always tries to keep her costs ‘as low as possible’ when she holidays alone’The money I’ve saved by going by myself without my family has also meant that I’m able to splash out on them more during the school holidays. It’s a win all-round.’The mum says she tries to keep costs as low as possible when it comes to solo travelling.She explains that guilt would start to kick in if she was splashing the cash on herself, rather than her family.But if she did go away with her kids for the same two trips, they would’ve cost her in excess of £600 for just travel and accommodation.She added: ‘When going away with the family, I have to be realistic about how much everything is.’And trips such as these end up not being much of a holiday as the kids are bored, hungry and tired.’I would definitely recommend parents going away without their children if it’s doable.’It’s great to do your own thing without them in tow sometimes. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and more able to be the present parent that we’re all aiming to be. It’s a no brainer – and you shouldn’t feel ashamed.’
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I am ditching my kids to go on holiday solo – I do not have time to feel mum guilt over it
