Holiday with mum
Who says a holiday with your mother can’t be enjoyable? Here are some handy tips to help make it so, writes Karen Ho
AT some point in our lives, we stopped travelling with our mothers and started gallivanting with peers once we earned our own money. If you think this important woman in your life deserves more than just a twohour dinner treat, consider spending quality time with her on a holiday, where you both can find common ground to enjoy fun experiences and create new memories.
You’d be surprised how pleasurable it can be.
Here are five tips to help you do that.
PLAN AHEAD
The first thing to do is agree on the type of getaway that will appeal to the both of you. A shopping and eating holiday? Island hopping on a cruise ship? Maybe a package tour to cover all the main attractions?
An organised holiday tour allows you to leave everything to the professionals but it also means forking out a bit more and following a packed schedule.
Planning a free and easy holiday isn’t such an ordeal nowadays, with tons of travel information quickly available at your fingertips.
The planning process with mum can be a bonding opportunity. Even if she tells you that she’s fine with anything, you might discover that with a bit of coaxing, she will reveal a desire to see or do something.
When I once planned a short trip to Ipoh with my mother, she conveyed an interest to visit a pomelo farm, an activity that would never have occurred to me. Suffice to say, we enjoyed ourselves very much.
While there’s nothing wrong with deciding on activities when you arrive, in some instances, it might be best to know earlier so you can make advance bookings and avoid queuing on the day. For example, buying tickets to enter a historical site or to watch a performance. Avoid cramming the days with too many fixed activities; allow time for lingering or any spontaneous change of direction.
Needless to say, any plans should also consider your mother’s interests and her health condition. Can she do long rides on coaches or ferries? Will she need to climb lots of steps or slopes to visit a hilltop attraction?
As my mother is prone to vertigo and sea sickness, I know that visiting any floating market or taking cable car rides is out of the question.
CHOOSE A HOTEL WISELY
You may be looking for a place that gives you fast WiFi with a gorgeous pool, but your mother might have other priorities. Consider whether she’d appreciate that small boutique hotel close to the local nightlife or a log cabin near a ski resort.
Aside from a suitable location and ambience, find out what else the hotel offers to make your mother’s stay more comfortable.
For example, if she’s a light sleeper, then it’s worth ensuring that you get a quiet room away from a bustling main road.
BE PREPARED FOR HEALTH ISSUES
This should be standard practice when travelling anywhere with anyone. One never knows when a bout of food poisoning can crop up and seniors may need extra help to recover if they’re hit by an unexpected ailment or injury.
Your mother may already travel with a mini medicine cabinet (like mine) but do cross-check and ensure you’ve both got everything covered, from insect repellent to gastric remedies.
During a holiday in Taipei, my mother woke up one morning with little bumps all over her arms and parts of her body, resembling insect bites. She believed they were caused by an allergy while I theorised about bed bugs. Luckily she’d brought appropriate medication so the bumps and the itching soon disappeared.
If she’s on prescribed medication and you’re travelling overseas and will have to grapple with a foreign language, note down her medical conditions in the local language and bring the original packaging in case you need to find it or convey her issues to a medical professional.
Also, taking out personal travel insurance is recommended for both your mother and yourself.
TAKE BREAKS
Coach tours usually make pit-stops for toilet breaks and some leg-stretching but not as often as some may like.
On a free-and-easy holiday, take advantage of the freedom to slot in a power nap and try to make sure that there’s easy access to a toilet should she have a weak bladder. This shouldn’t be a problem in cities and resorts, but might be so if you’re doing a road trip or will be at a crowded tourist site.
AVOID BEING OVERPROTECTIVE
So she has high blood pressure and tires more easily but avoid fussing over your mother in a manner reserved for kids.
“Have you taken your medication? Are you sure? Perhaps you need a nap” may not go down well. Older people don’t want to feel like invalids so remember to allow them their independence which is good for their mood and ego.
If anxiety should creep in over your mother’s safety or comfort, step back and adjust your perception and your approach. In certain situations such as when she’s climbing steep stairs, just stay alert and keep an eye on her.