A mum has spoken out after being slammed online for putting her children in holiday clubs – insisting she’s not “offloading” them.
Kayla Squier spent years feeling too anxious to let her children Eli, five, and Vayda, four, out of her sight on family trips.
After finally giving kids’ clubs a go, she says the break from them has made her a better mum – and given her children a confidence boost.
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But the 38-year-old and her husband, Aaron, 41, have faced a lot of backlash with sneers from other mums and dads.
Kayla faced criticism both offline and online, particularly after sharing a video from the family’s all-inclusive resort holiday.
“My best friend of over 20 years was shocked when I told her we tried a kids club,” Kayla, a content creator, told What’s The Jam.
“For years, I avoided them out of fear, shame and worry for what others would think.
“But once our kids were older and more verbal, we had travel experience under our belts, we decided to try it – because I was deeply tired and mentally drained.
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“[After sharing my video], I had people commenting that we were lazy and selfish for using the kids’ club.
“That type of feedback is exactly why parents hesitate to share these decisions openly because they know they’ll be judged before anyone understands the full context.
“Even some family members expressed doubts and raised concerns about us using kids’ clubs before our vacation, especially around safety.
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“That only added to that pressure.
“It made the decision feel even heavier, like I had to defend the idea before we’d even tried it.
“Taking one hour to rest doesn’t mean I am ‘offloading’ my child – it means I am prioritising my ability to show up for them with energy.”
Kayla, who lives in Thunder Bay, Canada, first tried out a kids’ club in Mexico last year.
She’d always been hesitant, especially as a mum to two autistic children – but the tipping point came when exhaustion took over and she realised something had to give.
The autism advocate and paediatric sleep consultant said: “One of the biggest things that helped me say yes was the setup of the club itself.
“The room had floor-to-ceiling windows.
“I could see everything at any time.
“Just a few minutes after drop-off, I walked past and saw my kids laughing and playing.
“Watching their joy through the glass eased my fears instantly.”
Then she did it again on a Royal Caribbean cruise – and now the children ask about the club before the suitcases are even unzipped.
She said: “We toured the space with the staff, previewed the activities and made sure both kids felt safe and comfortable.
“During the cruise, my husband and I got to have an actual adult conversation – from start to finish – for the first time in what felt like months.
“We laughed, went to a comedy show, and I even got time to myself at the spa.
“The kids’ club gave us time to breathe.
“That might sound simple, but as a mum, especially of two neurodivergent kids, breathing room is rare.
“I realised the kids were not only safe, they were having the best time, and I was able to return to them more present and patient.”
Now, Kayla wants to start a wider conversation about rest, parenting and why taking time for yourself should never be a source of shame.
She encourages other mums not to let unrealistic expectations define what a ‘good parent’ looks like.
She said: “Some parents, like me, are raising kids with complex needs – others are doing it with zero support.
“It’s not about ‘offloading’ – it’s about knowing your capacity and giving your kids the best of you, not what’s left of you.
“We come back together recharged, not resentful.
“Everyone gets something out of it.
“There’s this quiet but persistent belief that good parents should never need a break – and that if you do, you’re failing.
“But the truth is, rest isn’t indulgent.
“It’s how I stay regulated and present with my children.
“I’ve been judged for so many things as a mum.
“I’ve had strangers give disapproving looks when I let my kids use iPads at a restaurant or when my autistic five-year-old rides in the grocery cart.
“I’ve had people whisper and shake their heads when my kids have had meltdowns in an airport due to sensory overwhelm.
“These moments build up.
“They make you second-guess your parenting style and choices until you remember that only you know what works for your child.
“Choosing rest, when you need it, isn’t weakness – it’s how you teach your kids that everyone’s wellbeing matters. Including yours.”
The family used their first kids club in December 2024 in Mexico and again in February 2025 aboard Wonder of the Seas.
