🔗 Share this article

Following the marriage concluded, I naively thought holidays being a single parent would be easy. Quickly discovered they proved often outrageously expensive, otherwise appeared only designed for “conventional” families, or else were so budget that I came home more knackered than before I’d left.

Initial Holiday Attempts

My first endeavor, camping with friends, was fine until the moment came to pack up the tent. Four hours of struggling with the tent in the heat afterward, I developed a dislike for the outdoors. Next, the adventure holiday for solo-parent families. Rappelling and caving were brilliant, but sleeping in a bunkbed wrecked my back. We attempted a budget package on the island, but the crowds of traditional families were overwhelming, and poolside chats with other women died down because I didn’t come with a convenient husband for their spouses to talk to. An excursion to Mallorca alongside a pal and her kids was wonderful, but the cost was staggering.

Discovering Pet-Sitting

Later, last autumn, a friend asked if we’d house-sit her pets in Devon as she went to a wedding. During a peaceful couple of days, we strolled on the beach, and curled up near the fireplace in the evening. That led to house-sitting for her friend in Dorset, which also went well. Inspired, I paid an yearly £99 fee to join a pet-sitting platform, where, in exchange for looking after individuals' pets, you reside in their homes without cost. Within a few days, I’d arranged a 10-day house-sit in Sussex, looking after a labrador called Buzz during the time his owners traveled overseas.

Our daily walks provided the chance to explore breathtaking nature spots.

It was the initial sit for unknown individuals, but all anxiety vanished the moment we arrived at the beautiful spacious home and met the gentle Buzz, who lived for belly scratches. Our daily canine strolls offered us the possibility to venture into stunning nature spots, and, after we returned home, we were able to relax in the garden for meaningful discussions about our favourite “Ghosts” characters from the BBC sitcom. There were no expensive overrated attractions to wander around – instead, we perused bookshops, treated ourselves to manicures, and embarked on kayak trips. I experienced lighter and happier than ever for a long time, and could feel my bond alongside my child Polly deepen every day. I’m not hesitant to admit that I wept with happiness. Things felt achievable again.

Could Pet-Sitting for You?

Pet-sitting isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer no responsibilities during vacations other than selecting their upcoming beverage, are not into pets, or perhaps feel odd about staying in a someone else’s bedroom, emptying their dishwasher, and putting out their bins. But the gentle pace of ordinary life, with work stripped out and fresh locations to investigate, suits me perfectly.

This prevents myself from slipping into complete idleness, a state that leaves me experience restless and oddly empty. Moreover, financially, house-sitting acts as a lifeline for a solo mother. Ten days getaway in a similar-sized property in the same region we visited could cost me back approximately £2,500 on Airbnb.

A New Outlook

As for residing in a stranger’s home, I found it enriching. Even though pet-sitting represents a transaction, it is equally an act of trust among strangers and creatures, which has unleashed the finest version of me – my calm, loving and measured aspect, overflowing with gratitude for the people and locations we encounter. I’ve already scheduled an additional short break away, caring for a whippet within verdant Surrey, and, in the coming year, I hope to attempt pet-sitting abroad. Due to a bit of creative thinking, we are able to see the globe from the comfort of home – it simply happens to be someone else’s.