Becoming Burnham
A blended family, big feelings, mental health days, and grief that shows up uninvited. Becoming Burnham is messy, honest, healing, and very us.
Becoming Burnham
27 - A Whole New World
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Once a year, Kat and Kyle take an adults-only trip to Disney, no kids, just each other. Kristina and Kat talk about why that matters so much: prioritizing your marriage isn't selfish, it might be the best thing you can do for your family. They get into how to reconnect, how to recharge, and how to build a village at home you actually trust, so you can turn your mom-brain off for a few days.
Welcome back to Becoming Burnham. Today we're talking about a really special kind of trip. Once a year, you and Kyle leave behind all the wrestling gear, the schedules, the two kids for an adult-only Disney getaway. Today we're talking about why that kind of marriage maintenance is an absolute non-negotiable for your marriage. What it looks like to experience the parks without a tr a stroller or a teenager rolling their eyes, and why every couple needs a whole new world moment to stay sane. Ready to jump into this? Absolutely. I'm so ready for this conversation. My favorite topic. Yes. Like you just got back. We haven't even really talked about it. We didn't. And the, you know, the summer months can just kind of be a gauntlet for us emotionally. June, July, everybody's home. It's crazy all the time. And so a trip like this, whether it's with your spouse or girlfriends or whatever, any kind of adult-only trip is like that oxygen tank that keeps our friendships alive, the marriage alive, um, and and gives you back some of that energy you need to continue leading the family. So you go back Tuesday to no water, by the way.
SPEAKER_00We did. That was terrible. Yes. My my uh yeah, my water was turned off while we were on vacation. And we came home and it sucked because we had spent the day at Disney Springs because our our flight didn't leave until like seven o'clock at night. And so we walked around, and it's July in Florida. Florida, it's hot. And so like poor Kyle was real sweaty, yeah, and I was sweating. Um, we did a boat tour that day, and so like we it was hot. Yeah, it's just really, really hot. And so we all were looking forward to coming home and like rinsing off before we got.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00And there was no there was no terrible, and so we can you can call after hours and pay $200 to have it turned on after hours. Really? If you call before 10. So, Kyle, he was like, because I told him, I was like, it's $200 to turn it back on. Like, we can't do that. That's crazy. And he was like, I'm desperate, I need to shower. And I was like, a truck stop or something. Yeah, and so he like called to do it, and they were like, Oh, sorry, it's after 10 o'clock. We can't like that little sliver of hope. Did he jump in the pool? He did think about it, yeah, but he he just decided it's fine, it'll be on first thing in the morning, and it was like I want to say the guy was here at like at eight o'clock. Yeah, and but yeah, not fun.
SPEAKER_01Well, yeah, so you have that excitement, but we really haven't talked about your trip at all and how it went. I saw a couple pictures, but I want to know more. So um, before we get into the details of that, I just want to know kind of how this developed um for you in your relationship. Like when did you and Kyle, was there a conversation or a moment where you guys looked at each other, or you know, you realize how much you love your kids, but how did you identify that you also need this time, you know, not just a date night away from your kids, but you guys go for several days too sometimes. Um, what does it feel like to experience Disney without them? Or what does it feel like to experience Disney with them? How is that different? And and how has Disney become your happy place for reconnecting uh as a couple uh or as a family, even?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so Kyle and I have always been all about traveling alone. Um, not that we don't take our kids places because we take them on some pretty fabulous vacations, but we do think it's important that we take some time to do some stuff, just the two of us. Um it's hard when you're married and you have kids, and you know, somebody always needs you, somebody always wants something, somebody always needs to go somewhere, somebody always has something due at school or a sport event that they have to go to, and you forget to like connect as a couple because everything revolves around your children. Yeah, it's all logistics. That's all your conversations are about the logistics. And so, even like, I mean, most couples like what do you talk about when how was your day? Yeah, like that's it. And so we have always kind of felt like we need a moment to just be by ourselves and be people outside of our children again. And him and I both have the same idea of like, our children won't be with us forever. We they won't. And what are we gonna do when they leave the house? Yeah, you know, we're gonna be alone and like looking at this person across for us and being like, oh hey, forget you were you. Yes. So we just we have always, always traveled together quite often. I don't want to say quite often, but like several times a year, even if it's just like a weekend in Nashville or something like that. Um, so we went to Disney for the first time in December of 24. So um the week of, you know, the anniversary of the tornado and our own passing. Um, we like there was so much anxiety coming up on that one year, Mark. Yeah, that we were just like, God, we we can't be here. Like we, we just we can't. And we were like, you know what? This week is gonna suck no matter where we are. So we might as well go somewhere where at least we can kind of escape and like be, you know, in a bubble by ourselves and we just don't have to worry about anything else. Um, and so we went and it was uh it was fabulous. Like we stayed on property so we didn't have to drive. Um we, you know, got parked copper tickets, so we can do whatever we wanted at any time. And that trip we did premiere passes as well, so we could go at whatever pace we wanted. If we wanted to get the parks done in three hours, we could get the parks done in three hours. Um we had like the Disney dining plan, and so you just you just walk up to like wherever it is that you want to eat and you just eat and like it's already paid for. Um, we did the photo pass, and so we didn't even have to have our phones, yeah. Because like again, we had the premiere pass, so we don't have to book on like the multipass, you have to book in advance. So like I didn't have to take pictures, I didn't have to book anything, I didn't have to make reservations, I didn't have to do anything. Oh, that's it was amazing. All you got to do, all you did was enjoy. Yes, yeah. And so it was literally just we're here and we're here now, and we can enjoy it, we can be sad, we can whatever it is, we don't have to have like all these other things that require our attention and details and things like that. And so we discovered the Disney bubble, and we now like swear by the Disney bubble because it's a real thing because it's probably the only vacation. If I go there, I'm not I'm not taking my work computer. Yeah, I'm not picking up my phone. Like you got what, maybe five texts from me that you made me, and I feel like that was towards the end, yeah. Like I am like I don't exist anymore, and that is what I need. Yes. Um, yes, and so when we go with the kids, like it's you know, it's great, but I mean, of course, like we have a teenager, and so like, you know, she's like this is stupid, and like, you know, doesn't want to do certain things and then Archer And then the other one wants to do everything, probably and he's like he he picks on her, and like the like I I can't explain like extra dynamics, yes, and so it's super fun. We have a great time, yeah, but you're still a parent, you're still a mom. I s I am responsible for something. So Kyle, on um, I want to say it was early on in 2025, he was like, Do you want to go to Disney? Just the two of us. And I was like, Yes, absolutely. That sounds great. And so we went that first time, and I want to say it was um, I think it was June when we went the first time because it was pretty warm, but it was just the two of us, and we had a blast. Like we had so much fun because we didn't have to be parents, we didn't have to be anybody, no, other than us, or you could could be anybody, you could be anybody you want while you're down there. Anyone I wanted, I could be a princess, I could be a villain. I mean, like I had a great time, and I I will say the one thing I do really appreciate about Kyle as like a husband compared to like maybe other husbands, that man loves dress up. He's just oh my god, he loves a theme. Yes. So he gets like right into it with me. And I love that about him. Did you do any themes this trip? So we all kind of like we kind of chose um like more like unique okay, like shirts or accessories of some kind. Even Ella wore some athletic dresses with ears, um, which like is a big step for her. But he had just like funny t-shirts. Um, like he had one that was like goofy and is like, I don't give a hook. Um trying to remember some of the other ones, but yeah, we had so I I wouldn't say the theme is just like funny, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01So have you ever been to Disney when you're a kid?
SPEAKER_00Or like the California one or the floor? So I have been to Disney World when I was really young, like don't remember it. I was probably like two years old. But Disneyland, because I grew up in Arizona, was not like super far away. And so that's where I probably spent more time. And um comparing the two, they're very different. Because Disneyland, it's smaller, obviously, but um, it really is, in my opinion, like built more for like locals. Yeah, like there's always something new going on. You could literally go probably once a week and it wouldn't feel like the same experience. Disney World isn't really like that because it's supposed to be supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience. And so like it's not changing as often. It's more kind of fixed, yeah, like like a big chunk of time, like when we go in December, it's Christmas. And like that starts around um Halloween, yeah, is when they like make that change. And then it's like that until January.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so um it's it's nice. I was actually talking about this just recently. I think with the tornado and losing Arlen and like everything our family's been through, I I need to have like consistency and I need to know what to expect. Yeah. And I really struggle when I don't know. Yeah. Um, the don't know doesn't really work for me anymore. I used to be much more flexible than I am now, but I'm just not anymore.
SPEAKER_01Well, there's some safety in that. Yes, in that um predictability.
SPEAKER_00Yes. And so I think that that is actually also part of why I really like Disney World because I know exactly what I'm gonna expect or what to expect and what I'm going to experience. And that makes, again, vacation even easier and more enjoyable. I've been getting out of my box a little bit though, um, because the premiere passes are really expensive to like do, and like so is Disney dining. Super expensive to do it if you do it every single time. Yeah. Um, so I've been kind of playing around with different ideas. Um, but like even that, I'm like, I've got it so down that it doesn't feel like we did multipasses this last time. Yeah. Didn't feel hard. Yeah. Yeah. I wasn't overwhelmed. I wasn't like, oh my God, I have to constantly look at my phone. There was a few times I actually forgot to book a ride because I wasn't looking at my phone, but it was fine. And you came back from it. Yeah. It was all good. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But it was hot. I don't doubt that. Oh my God. July whole. That's why we went to Wisconsin because I was like, I am not doing July 4th in Florida. No. That was we wanted to go somewhere, but I can't imagine how I you probably had sweat running down your entire body all day. All day.
SPEAKER_00It was brutally hot. I will say we we were smart. We did all like the after hour stuff, so it was all like at night. Yeah. So we didn't really spend a ton of time. I think the earliest day was Magic Kingdom. I think we went to the parks at like four. Okay. So we had maybe a few hours where like the sun was even out. Um, and but like there were so many people that were there like all day. And I just like that's wild.
SPEAKER_01Like I was wondering too, like, I know you have mentioned when you know that time of year rolls around where you guys are starting to get a little bit more emotional and things are hard, um, that you enjoy just kind of vegging out and watching Disney movies, even that there's that predict predictability in those movies. Um, and I just was curious too. Um you said you spent some time at Disneyland um in um California. I wondered if there was some kind of like nostalgic element to going back to Disney, or maybe it's just the magic in general.
SPEAKER_00We were not um well off when I was younger. So um going to Disneyland was like a big deal. Yeah. Um, I think I probably went maybe twice before I was an adult, and I went probably two or three times after that. Um and like I loved it, but it was just not something that like my family couldn't afford. And honestly, the two times that I went, um, I think I'm trying to remember, I'm pretty sure I just went with a friend. Yeah. Like I went with my friend's family who was going, who was going, and my mom just like bought my ticket. Yeah. And um, like had that not, you know, if I didn't have a friend who was going, like I probably I wouldn't have gone until I was an adult. Um, and I think one time I went with my with my youth group at church. Yeah. But like we, it wasn't something that we could afford. So there isn't like a lot of nostalgic with the perks. I think it really is about like the magic and and really being able to shut off like essentially an entire like piece of my brain because I don't, I don't even have to drive.
SPEAKER_01Like, well, that's it too, because you know, as efficient as you are, everything about those experiences are efficient. Yes. So that you can fully immerse yourself into their world and and whatever.
SPEAKER_00Which I can't do if I'm going on any other vacation because I still have to, I have to drive, I have to park, I have to get there, I have to plan where are we gonna have lunch? When are we gonna have lunch? When are we, and like it's just a lot.
SPEAKER_01It's exhausting. You almost need a vacation after the vacation when those when you're doing those kinds. Yeah. Well, um, what about how it feels with just Kyle there? What what does this like luxurious, kid-free Disney day look like for the two of you?
SPEAKER_00So with Kyle and I, when we go, it's to me, it's a little bit more laid back. We don't stress over we have to get to like this ride at this time, or even um if we don't do a ride, like we just do the things that we want to do. And we don't have children like I want to do this, or I want to do this now, or I want to eat now. Um, we tend to eat a little bit more expensive when it's just the two of us. So we've tried um several of the steakhouses. We do partake in probably too many adult beverages at Epicush. Like every where we're walking around and we see like the festival booths, we both like look and we're like, ooh, that sounds really good. And like before we know it, we've just had a drink everywhere. But you don't have to drive and you don't have to have to drive in, so it's fine. And we're just like, you know what? It's who cares that we are a little inebriated at in just like you're in Disney World. Like, where else would you be? It's it was just the coolest experience. Yeah. But the food, I would say, like, we we try to do some of the more um, I don't want to say like adult things, but things that like kids just don't care about. Yeah, the kids don't care if they eat a steak or if they eat chicken tenders.
SPEAKER_01Um in fact, they probably may not even want to stop to eat because it means they're not on the rides and things. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00Um, they don't care about you know timing or like we we take a nap every single day when we go, the two of us. We'll we'll do something in the morning, we come back probably around lunchtime, and we take like a two or three hour nap. This last time when we went just the two of us in um May, was it May? Um, one of the nights we were out for five hours. Like I like we literally slept for five hours in the middle of the day. Like, just happened. Yeah, we just sucks it out of us. It really does. Um, and so we like we slept and we like woke up and we're like, oh my god, we have dinner reservations in an hour. And so like we you know, rushed out. But like we can do that. I can't do that with Archer. Yeah, because as soon as you're at the hotel, you want to know what he wants. Can we go to the pool? Yeah, they're not gonna nap. No, yeah, no. And like, I I don't understand that kid.
SPEAKER_01Like, where where does their energy come? I have no idea. I have no idea. Man, I took the boys fishing the other day, and um, they like to go out to um Montgomery Central. There's like a big giant pond out there. They like to fish there. So we went out there one day and they're like baiting their hooks, and I brought, I'm gonna die. I have these new like Chinese 3D sticker things that I'm doing on TikTok. Um, so I brought some of those because I was gonna just kind of veg out and just do these little sticker things while they were fishing. But it was right next to the road, and all I could think about was how loud it was with all the trucks and everything going by, and then like Damian's fishing pole got snagged, and then Draden got too close to him with his fishing pole. And you know, that's what happens when you're anywhere with your kids. It's just there's constant noise and things to worry about.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01It does sound like absolute heaven, and I love the little snippets I get when you're gone, the little pictures from the lounges and the restaurants, the dim lighting and the fancy cups. And I'm always back here completely jealous. Um, but beyond all of the luxury, um, how does being in environment in that environment where there's just pure joy and magic, how does that change how you and Kyle connect and communicate?
SPEAKER_00I would say it is for one, life is hard, right? And it's just it's hard. You constantly have stuff happening that is negative. Like no matter how wonderful your life is, there is something going on, even if it's just like this is what's happening in the world. Yeah. And I think, I think as humans, we tend to focus on the negative. Just it just happens. Like, I mean, when do you leave a review for a company? Right. When it's a bad experience. You don't hardly ever leave one when it's a good experience. And so I think that we really fixate on like when things are going wrong. Yeah. And I try not to be like that. I really, really do. I try to live a very positive life. Um, but it's hard. I mean, it's just really hard, especially in the the world that we live in today. Yeah. And um, when you are surrounded by like that much magic and like that much joy, it is really hard to feel any of those negative feelings that you just, you know, naturally do. Like I will say the heat did bring out a little less magic in people. Um, we did, we did have a little bit of an experience on one of the rides where um a mom was had some words for Kyle. Um she did not like his language, and um it was she was rude. She was like, she was totally being a Karen and was just like a total jerk. Um but like she like they I don't even know how it happened. Somehow the lines got messed up, and so she was trying to ride with her kids, but they were gonna end up being in like the cart after her. Oh yeah. And but like, so she was gonna skip that, and she had told us that we could go in front of her, which we were like, no, we can't because we're riding with our kids. Yeah. And so then she just didn't get on, and so then we were like, uh, you need to get on, otherwise we're not gonna be able to ride with our kids. And she was just like, That's not my problem. And we were like, Oh, okay, that's really cool. So, like, you want us to be considerate of you, yeah, but like you don't want to be considerate of us, and so like we fixed it, it was fine. Um, but you know, like Kyle had said, like, she she fucked us over, is what he said. Uh-huh. And and she heard it. She was like, We're in Disney with children. And I was like, please, like, your kids haven't ever heard that word. Well, and she's not exactly setting a good example. No, and it was just stupid, but like to me, I was like, that's like, yeah, we have that's the first time something like that has ever happened in Disney. And again, like it was really hot, and we're just a little bit tipped test ear when it's hot. Was it close to a meal time? It was, yeah. It was like right around dinner time, and so it was fine. Um, we all got past it. It was, I mean, I will say, I did I happen to see her on two more rides after that. I sure did. And both times she just had this total stank face as like, well, we're just living our lives, being happy. She's just I was like, you're just a negative person. Yeah. Um, but you know, it's I think that there are very few opportunities that we have to just be positive and where things don't bother you, or you're not necessarily thinking of every bad situation that could possibly happen, or like how people are treating you, because in all reality, most people are treating you really well. Yeah. And so For us, it's like we get to have a different conversation. So instead of talking about the things that are hard in our lives or sad in our lives or whatever, not that those aren't important conversations because they are.
SPEAKER_01But you have those other places.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Yeah. But like we now get to talk about like we talk, we the things that we talk about when we're in Disney is like wild to me. Because we'll talk about like random memories from when we're kids. Yeah. Or like things that like make us happy. Or like, oh, I saw this funny TikTok. Like everything is just it's different than at home because you just don't, you're not thinking about all the bad shit.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You're just not. You can't. You literally cannot think about it. And so it's just a much more positive conversation between even just the two of us. And um it's really hard to like get you down. So like, do you think we fight in Disney? I I've heard that people do. Yeah. We don't. Because and like, and we've we've actually we've kind of talked about it too. Like we've even like kind of laughed at like other families, like they're like getting all mad at each other, and and it is stressful. Like I totally get it. It's it's not that I don't see why they're fighting, but like we both kind of look at each other and we're like, hee. So glad that we we are not like in that yeah, you know, realm. But I I will say we probably would fight if we had like a young child. It's a lot of stress. Like if you had a three-year-old and I cannot even. If they're acting up, then yeah, and you're like, I just spent all this money. Yes, yes. I'm like, there's no way I couldn't do that.
SPEAKER_01Well, does it leave you feeling a little bit more lighthearted even after you return? Like how how do you, how does that magic carry over into your marriage when you come back to reality?
SPEAKER_00I think it's like, you know, even some things are like silly. Like the other day, like, you know, well, yesterday, um, like I made sure I wore one of my Disney shirts still. And like we, you know, you're still like, oh, remember when we did blah blah blah, or oh man, it's such a bummer that we didn't get to do this. And then of course, like our phones are listening to us, right? So like for the next week or two, you're just getting TikToks on Disney and like all these experiences. And so you're like, man, the next time we go, you should really do planning your next trip. Yeah, and and guess what? Is my next Disney trip on the books? When is this? When is December?
SPEAKER_01Yay! So I'm like, I don't know. This is only July. I feel like another one's gonna pop up between now and that.
SPEAKER_00Oh my god, like it's a long time to wait. Our podcast would need to get much bigger in order for me to afford to go to Disney another time. But when I went to the nail salon to get my my pretty Disney nails, um he like I was like, Oh, I'm going to Disney, so I need to do something really fun. And he like looked at me, he's like, Didn't you just get back from Disney? And I was like, uh-uh, uh, no judgment. Like, and that was different. That was with Kyle. And now we're taking the kids. So like I had to go back. And he was just like, uh-huh. And he's like, so, because he knows, like, I mean, he's been doing my nails for two years. He's like, so um, how's that September trip planning going? And I was like, I don't go in September, I go in December, you know that. And he like looked at me and he's like, How's the September trip looking? And I was just like, shut up. I'm not going in September.
SPEAKER_01Or even fall break or Thanksgiving. There are a lot of opportunities.
SPEAKER_00It's wrestling season at that time. That's true.
SPEAKER_01I hadn't thought about that. Yeah, that's true. Well, you know, you decide which tournaments you go to. So that is true. Well, you can't have a successful couple's getaway if you are constantly staring at your phone and worrying about feeding the kids and if the house is still standing. It takes family and friends and people you can rely on to make an escape like that happen. So, how do you set up your support system at home so that you can go and turn off the mom brain and just trust the system and trust that every all the work you've done to make this as um carefree and worry-free as it is? How do you how do you what do you set up and what do you do to make that work?
SPEAKER_00So um having Sam right next door adds like an extra layer of comfort because like if something, like if my house were burning down or something, like somebody's right there. Yeah. Um, so that piece is really nice. But this time around, um I I I I gave it to the kids. Yeah. Um, actually, I mean like Drayton, he helped out and we split the duties between two of the, you know, the kids' friends. So Drayton helped, and then her friend Izzy helped, and they came twice a day to like play with the dogs and let them out and feed them and do all the things. Twice each. So you had these kids come in like multiple hours. Yeah. Everybody was like, everybody had a set schedule. I mean, like, I sent you the schedule. Yeah. Like it was pretty thorough. And like, he needs to be there at this time and this time, and this is what he needs to do. Um, and then I even like I left a note, I don't know if you saw it like on the counter. Yeah. Like even outlining like where the dogs need to be eating. Yes. Because like my dogs can't eat altogether because they get mad. And what happens when one refuses to eat? Yes, even that, because like I know my dogs and um Bella, I don't think, ate for it was like a day or two. I think it was a couple, yeah. Um, because she just doesn't when when I it's like she goes on a food strike when I'm not around because she's sad. Till she gets too hungry and then she's like, fine, fine, I'll eat. I guess they're not coming back yet. I guess I'll eat. Um, and then of course when we come home, she'll do it again because I haven't been eating this entire time. It's like, please get out of here. Um and like we put the kennels, like easy access, and it just I try to think of all the things that we do or that somebody might experience when we're gone, and try to like, I don't know, I try to be really proactive. Yeah, think of all of that ahead of time so that no one's calling me and being like, hey, this happened. Like, what what do I do? And so, like that, like Bella not eating. Yep. That's why that was on the note because I don't want you know, you to be like worried, yep, and being like, cat, like, oh my god, what do we do? Yeah, like what do we do? Doing you need to take her to the vet or blah blah blah. And then on the flip side, I know me when I'm in Disney, I might not even answer that call. And so then what? Yeah. And so I just have to like try to think ahead.
SPEAKER_01Umf course then I bothered you with the copper pool insert. What is this thing and why is there a cloud coming out of it? I didn't realize there was one in the pool, so I thought one of my kids maybe had taken it out of the pool.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, that one was trash that I just never actually like made it to the trash can. That was actually really funny.
SPEAKER_01I didn't mean to intrude on your your getaway. It was all good. It was one thing you didn't account for was I didn't mean putting that in.
SPEAKER_00I did not account for that. But um, yeah, the like the kids swimming. Um, I did get messages from Sam. Oh do you know that the kids are swimming next door? Yes, I I did know that the kids were swimming next door. The dogs being over. Did you know that the dogs were next door? No, I actually didn't know that, but yeah, that was a surprise.
SPEAKER_01I didn't know Dorwyn was bringing them over here either.
SPEAKER_00Um so that yeah, there was there was a few different messages that I got over the week, but nothing, nothing major. Nothing that needed my immediate attention.
SPEAKER_01Well, I know it it requires a massive amount of trust in all of those people, um, but the payoff is huge for you guys. So um how do you feel now coming back refreshed? Like you've you're I think you're still on a Disney high because you're kind of glowing a little bit. Um, how do you feel coming back and getting right back into being a functional mom for the whole family?
SPEAKER_00It felt so disappointing on Wednesday. So um Tuesday when we were at the airport, I started getting a bunch of um, we had like a big announcement. And so I had all these meeting invites that came through on Tuesday and starting first thing, 8 a.m. And um like it just was like brutal. Yeah, so you did not give yourself a nice like transition period. Normally I give myself an extra day to kind of recover, but instead we spent an extra day there because we went to Universal as well. And so I needed, yeah, needed the extra time like in Florida. Yeah. And so I'm like, it's a Wednesday. What could go wrong? Yeah, that was kind of how I thought I was like, it's midweek, yeah. There's nothing crazy that's gonna happen. And it was it was a little bit crazy coming back. Um, and it did suck a little bit of that joy out of me. Um, but when I did close my computer, I was like, okay, like I can talk about Disney again and look at my pictures. Yeah. And because like that's what I'm gonna be doing for the next like week to two weeks is downloading everything and deciding like what I'm gonna print and put in my my like pretty little um photo book that Kyle had bought me. And you know, do I want to make anything? Do I wanna like add any new pictures to our walls? Because I mean there's still a lot of blank walls there for us. Um, so yeah, like that's what I'll be.
SPEAKER_01So you're still kind of like living in it a little bit.
SPEAKER_00But then that's the nice part about having another trip on the books, yeah, is because all the things like as I'm going through, I might think about like, oh, we didn't get to do this. Yeah. So then I can add it to my list of things the next time. Next time. Yes.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, I would imagine, I don't know. I mean, have you ever done another trip like this, not Disney? Because I was gonna say maybe it doesn't have to be Disney, but now that I'm saying that out loud, I'm thinking maybe it really does have to be Disney. Like, have you done it just you and Kyle somewhere else?
SPEAKER_00Um, so Kyle and I have been to um we did a universal for his birthday, um, and that was just the two of us. And um, we did we've done Atlanta, um, we've been in Nashville numerous times, we've done Chattanooga, um, we've done Arizona. Um trying to think of anywhere else that we've gone, just the two of us. And we've been like Florida, like to the beach, and just the two of us. Um nothing comes close to the disconnect that you get in Disney. Nothing. Nothing is even remotely close to it. Yeah. So hands down, like if that's what you need, if you need a total like unplug, yeah, spend the money. It's worth it. I'm sorry. Like, I like I don't care what anybody tells me, somebody could be like, you are wrong, and like Disney's crazy expensive because there's lots of flack that Disney's getting for how much I mean they cost, but like the amount of disconnect that you really get, yeah. Like, I'm sorry, there's no amount of money that I would pay. Because it's so unlike anything else.
SPEAKER_01It is.
SPEAKER_00I mean, it really is fantasy. It is a hundred percent. But um, Universal was close-ish. Um, they have some like good theming and and like a little bit more immersive than like a six flag or something like that. Um, so Universal was good. Um, I do like their city walk, I think almost a little bit better than maybe I don't know if I'd say better. It's just different, like different types of restaurants to eat at. Um, and that's kind of cool. But like the hotels aren't yeah, they're just not as great. Um, the cast members aren't as great, and they're not like because it's not magical. Like it's and like that's not what they're trying to do. Like they want you to have a good experience, but it's not necessarily a magical experience. Right. Um and then like places like Atlanta or Chattanooga, like once again, you have to make a decision on everything. Like, yes, where are you gonna eat? What are you gonna do? How are you gonna get there? Where are you gonna get the tickets? Yeah, and so it's not it's not as relaxing because I mean, like Kyle and I, we when we do trips by ourselves, we do like to get some really good sleep. Yeah, we really do, because it's just not something that you get like as a parent. You you know, you have a baby and you're up every four hours, and you have a toddler and they're up at 5 a.m. And then you get like into the fours and fives years old, and they're up at seven, and it's just even the bigger kids, like you hear them clanking around and it just wakes you up for us right now. We have Archer who and he's pretty decent, he sleeps until 7:30, 8 o'clock, but like he's up decently early. Yeah, and yeah, that's not vacation wake up. No, and like Ella is up really late and her room is right below ours, so we can hear her. I can hear her on the phone. Like, sometimes I text her, I'm like, dude, go to bed. Like, I can hear you, or like, I don't know, text your friends, stop talking to them. Like you're killing me. Yeah, and so like I'm up really late because of her, and then I'm up really early because of him, and like that just happens for 18 years of your life. Well, or 18 plus years, yeah, depending on the situation. I'm not complaining because I love being a mom and I love doing all of those things, but when we get the chance to sleep, we take the chance to sleep.
SPEAKER_01You sleep in, you take some naps. Do you go to bed early or do you stay up late?
SPEAKER_00Uh, it depends. Yeah. I would I would say most of the time, probably pretty early. Yeah. Compared to comparatively to other people on vacation. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But again, you're also soaking up the sun all day and like you're even though you're taking some breaks, you're still doing a lot. We do do a lot.
SPEAKER_00We do.
SPEAKER_01But for couples listening right now who are feeling guilty about even thinking of taking a trip without their kids, what is your number one piece of advice to help them pack their bags and just go?
SPEAKER_00Piece of advice because I I literally just want to say spend the money and go. Like, literally, just spend the money and go. Cause like I don't know if any amount of advice would actually necessarily get you there. Yeah. Like it's something you have to experience. And so to me, it's just like that is my spend the money, go unlike wind with your spouse. Like, make sure you have your kids taken care of, like in a way that like you're not gonna be worried about them and do the work ahead of time. Yeah, like to get those do it so that that way you really have nothing to worry about and just and for everybody it might be like different. Yeah, some people might go on a cruise, and some people might go, like, I don't know, to Florida to a beach vacation, or or some people might go to New York City.
SPEAKER_01But in any of those situations, spend the money, be pampered, try to set yourself up in a position where you're not having to just make decision after decision after decision. Yes, absolutely. And that's really what gives you the space to connect.
SPEAKER_00It does because like you get to focus on right now. Yeah. And like when in your life do you actually get to do that? Right. Never. Like literally never. There's never a moment. And we all talk about it. Be more in the now, be in the moment. Like that was. I always say I want to do this. Yes. And it's like, no, just do it. Yeah. Like literally, just do it. And the more planning that you do ahead of time, the more you'll be able to be in the moment then. But literally, spend money and go.
SPEAKER_01Whether it's Main Street USA or just a quiet weekend away down the road, go find your whole new world. Your marriage and your kids will thank you for it. Kat, thanks for giving us the unfiltered look at kid free travel today. Thanks everyone for listening. Next week, there won't be an episode drop on Friday. Instead, we'll see you two weeks from now on the brand new Tuesday night slot at 9 p.m. sharp. We'll be moving on from the happiest place on earth to one where we explore a generational plot twist, and you won't want to miss it. Bye.