A young mum said she receives online hate for going on holiday without her kids to “keep sane.”
Ania Grabowska said travelling is her true passion and a way of life.
She faces many challenges as a mother of two boys, Kuba and Maciek, who have autism.
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The 43-year-old, who works as a teacher, said she often whizzes off somewhere exotic to avoid going “mentally crazy”, especially when dealing with the challenges of her son’s condition.
Ania told What’s The Jam: “Travel is a huge mental escape for me.
“It allows me to recharge my batteries and become someone else for a moment, and that’s invaluable to me.
“I travel to avoid going mentally crazy; it’s my way of dealing with stress.
“Life can be tough. I have my own worries about Maciek, but also those everyday, ordinary problems we all know.
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“Travel recharges me with so much energy that when I return, I can once again fight for Maciek and for a better world for him.”
Ania said she receives a lot of online hate due to her need sometimes to fly off somewhere alone.
“I hear all sorts of comments, some absurd and sometimes downright malicious,” she said.
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“People often don’t understand that when you have a sick child, you can and should take care of yourself to be in a position to help.
“I’ve heard that I’m ‘irresponsible’ and that I’m ‘abandoning my children’ because I’m going away, completely untrue and hurtful judgments.
“It’s these trips that give me the strength and peace to be a good mother.
“Sometimes people fail to understand that support and time for myself are the foundation for loving and helping even better.
Ania, who lives in Olkusz, between Krakow and Katowice in Poland, added: “You have to be a little selfish to avoid going crazy.”
However, Ania said her two boys still get to travel regularly with her too.
Her solo trips, sometimes including her partner Marek, are in addition to as many family vacations as she can manage.
She explained: “I think it’s also incredibly valuable for the children to travel and experience other cultures and places, learn the language in natural settings, and gain memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.
“This is especially important for Maciek, who thrives in an environment of change and novelty.
“If we have a happy mother, the children are happy, that’s why it’s important to think positively about ourselves and find time to pursue our passions.
“I’m self-employed and have two months of vacation, which I try to make the most of.
“My teaching budget isn’t a fortune, but it’s enough to fulfil my travel dreams thanks to saving, planning, and buying tickets in advance.
“Travel is a strength and inspiration for the entire family.
“I travel most often with my partner and my children, mainly with Maciek.
“He’s not content with just packing; he wants to fly right away!
“Kuba, my eldest son, also enjoys travelling, albeit in a more leisurely way.
She added: “The most important thing is that everyone is happy, and so am I.”
When it comes to destinations, Ania has already travelled to the far corners of the world.
She said: “I’ve visited the Dominican Republic, Zanzibar, the US, Bali, and almost every country in Europe.
“And I’m planning a weekend trip to Dubai, South Africa, in November.
“For Christmas, I’d like to fly to Egypt with Maciek.
“Next year, I dream of Sri Lanka and the Seychelles, although the final decision will be made later.”
She added, “Good planning and saving are key. I buy my tickets in December for the summer vacation because that’s when they have the lowest prices.
“I have my own struggling teaching finances, but that doesn’t stop me from fulfilling my dreams.”
