Don't Tell Me I Can't Explore The World Solo

ANNABEL ABBS REGULARLY LEAVES HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN BEHIND SO SHE CAN TRAVEL ON HER OWN

- Emma Rossiter

Strolling through the cobbled streets of Paris, I look on in amazement at the beautiful row of patisseries, fashion boutiques, and fancy French restaurants. I can’t believe I’m here. The best part is, I’m completely alone. No children complaining that they’re bored and no impatient husband trying to hurry me along. It’s just me, enjoying the fabulous city, doing whatever I like and loving every second of it.

I’d attempted traveling alone through Africa and India in my early twenties, but both trips didn’t turn out the way that I had expected them to. Being so young, I didn’t enjoy my own company. After that, I never really had any desire to travel by myself again.

Then, when I was 23, I met Matthew. We married soon after and, four years later, had our daughter, Imogen, shortly followed by Bryony, Saskia, and Hugo. Between busy hours at my office job and raising four kids, there was very little time for adventurous travel.