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Following the relationship concluded, I believed vacations as a single parent would be easy. Quickly realized they proved often extremely expensive, otherwise appeared exclusively designed for “conventional” families, or were far too cheap that I came back even more knackered than before I’d left.

Early Holiday Attempts

My first endeavor, camping with friends, was fine until I had to dismantle our shelter. Hours of struggling with the tent in the heat later, I hated camping. Next, the adventure trip for single-parent families. The abseiling and caving were fantastic, but resting in a bunk bed wrecked my back. We attempted a low-cost package in Tenerife, but the crowds of traditional families felt intense, and poolside chats with fellow ladies died down because I didn’t come with a handy partner for their own husbands to talk to. An excursion to Mallorca alongside a pal and her kids was wonderful, but the cost was staggering.

Finding House-Sitting

Later, the previous fall, an acquaintance asked if we could house-sit her pets within the county as she went to a wedding. During a peaceful weekend, we walked on the beach, and settled near the fireplace in the evening. That led to house-sitting for her associate in the region, and it also went well. Inspired, I subscribed with an yearly £99 fee to register on a pet-sitting website, where, in exchange for looking after people’s animals, you stay at their residences free of charge. In just a couple of days, I secured a 10-day house-sit within the county, looking after a retriever called Buzz during the time the proprietors traveled overseas.

Each day's walks provided the opportunity to explore stunning natural settings.

This marked our first assignment for strangers, but all anxiety vanished as soon as we reached the beautiful spacious house and met the calm Buzz, who lived for tummy rubs. Our daily dog walks offered us the possibility to venture into stunning nature spots, and, once we came home, we were able to unwind in the garden for meaningful discussions about our preferred “Ghosts” characters from the BBC sitcom. We avoided any pricey overrated attractions to wander around – rather, we browsed bookshops, indulged to nail care, and went on paddling excursions. I felt lighter and happier than I had for a long time, and noticed my bond alongside my child Polly strengthen daily. I don’t hesitant to admit that I cried with happiness. Things felt achievable once more.

Is Pet-Sitting for You?

Pet-sitting isn’t for everyone. Some people want zero duties on holiday other than selecting their upcoming cocktail, are not into dogs or cats, or feel odd about sleeping in a stranger’s bed, clearing their dishwasher, and taking out the trash. However the gentle pace of everyday living, with work removed and new places to explore, is perfect for me.

This prevents myself from descending into complete inactivity, which makes me feeling twitchy and oddly hollow. And, financially, pet-sitting acts as a lifeline for a single parent. Ten days getaway in a comparable house in the same area we stayed could cost me about £2,500 via rental platforms.

A New Perspective

As for staying in a stranger’s home, I discovered it nourishing. Although house-sitting is a transaction, it is equally an act of trust between strangers and animals, which has unleashed my best self – my calm, caring and balanced side, full of gratitude for the people and places we discover. I’ve already scheduled another short break away, caring for a sighthound in leafy Surrey, and, in the coming year, I’d like to attempt pet-sitting abroad. Due to a touch of creative planning, we can experience the world from the coziness of a home – it simply turns out to be someone else’s.