Why Family Vacations Feel Like Work (and How to Enjoy Them Anyway) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 24, 2026 · 47 MIN

Why Family Vacations Feel Like Work (and How to Enjoy Them Anyway)

from What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms · host Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson

Why is it that our own vacations never look like the perfect, happy families on the posters enjoying their destination without a sunburn, meltdown, or lost bag in sight? Here's how to manage expectations while traveling with kids and enjoy your trip, whatever it ends up looking like! We share stories of Disney overwhelm, international travel wins and disasters, airport anxiety, and the unexpected moments that end up becoming the best parts of a vacation. Topics include: How age and stage affect what kind of travel works best Traveling with neurodivergent kids and accommodating different needs Helping anxious kids prepare for flights and unfamiliar places How to adjust plans when travel stress and meltdowns happen The moments kids remember most (hint: often not what you planned) Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode: The Autism Community in Action blog: Traveling with Your Child with Autism TSA Cares program Bill Springer for Forbes Magazine: Kids Who Travel Do Better In School What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: ⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why is it that our own vacations never look like the perfect, happy families on the posters enjoying their destination without a sunburn, meltdown, or lost bag in sight? Here's how to manage expectations while traveling with kids and enjoy your trip, whatever it ends up looking like! We share stories of Disney overwhelm, international travel wins and disasters, airport anxiety, and the unexpected moments that end up becoming the best parts of a vacation. Topics include: How age and stage affect what kind of travel works best Traveling with neurodivergent kids and accommodating different needs Helping anxious kids prepare for flights and unfamiliar places How to adjust plans when travel stress and meltdowns happen The moments kids remember most (hint: often not what you planned) Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode: The Autism Community in Action blog: Traveling with Your Child with Autism TSA Cares program Bill Springer for Forbes Magazine: Kids Who Travel Do Better In School What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: ⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

Why Family Vacations Feel Like Work (and How to Enjoy Them Anyway)

0:00 47:20

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms?

This episode is 47 minutes long.

When was this What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms episode published?

This episode was published on June 24, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Why is it that our own vacations never look like the perfect, happy families on the posters enjoying their destination without a sunburn, meltdown, or lost bag in sight? Here's how to manage expectations while traveling with kids and enjoy your...

Can I download this What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!