The case for a parental offsite

Corporate America has historically believed in the power of the company offsite. Executives are whisked away to remote locations where they sip mediocre coffee in meeting rooms and strategize before catered lunches arrive. Meanwhile, parents, quite possibly the most overworked and understaffed management team on earth, rarely get more than a solo run to the grocery store. If they’re really lucky, they might get to enjoy five minutes in the shower before someone is pounding on the bathroom door.

I say it’s time to correct the imbalance. Parents need offsites too. Not just the once-in-a-decade vacation you take after a major anniversary or a milestone birthday. I am talking about regular, kid-free weekends scheduled with the same urgency as a company budget review. The reason? For many of us, the home team’s “long-term growth plan” is being held together with caffeine and prayer.

The power of short breaks

This idea isn’t frivolous. Research consistently shows that parents experience higher daily stress levels than their child-free peers, reporting more fatigue, less leisure time, and higher rates of burnout. A 2022 study aptly titled “Give me a break!”  found that short breaks from duties can boost mood and reduce fatigue. Think of it as mental maintenance. You wouldn’t run your car for 100,000 miles without an oil change so why run yourself ragged without pausing to recharge?

And collapsing on the couch after the bedtime routine doesn’t count. 

An offsite is different. It’s a deliberate escape from your usual day-to-day, designed to give you space to reflect, restore, and maybe even remember who you were before you became a chauffeur, short order cook, and 24/7 project manager for both home and work.

The logistics

So how do you make this happen? Arranging childcare for a weekend is tough. But this is a time to call in favors or rely on grandparents, godparents, and other extended family. Some parents even negotiate a swap with other families they are close to: “You take my kids for a weekend next month and I will return the favor.”

And for those already formulating counterarguments, let’s address:

It’s expensive. What you do with this free time doesn’t matter and there is no need to go far away. Book an Airbnb in a nearby town and wander through bookstores, take naps, eat dinner in front of a hotel TV.

 It’s hard to find time. You find time for everyone else. Put yourself on top of the to-do list for a day or so. Besides, protecting your own mental health is an insurance policy.

I’ll feel guilty. Guilt is the ever-present background music of parenthood. You might as well let it play while sipping your coffee in peace someplace. Your family will survive without you for a couple days.

Rested and recharged

You are stepping away to ensure your team keeps functioning smoothly. Every parent needs a moment when no one is demanding crayons, asking you to cut their chicken, or provide a market update for the morning meeting. You will come back recharged, patient, and more capable of tolerating the next crisis.

There is also the added benefit of positive parental modeling. When your kids see you prioritize your own well-being, they learn that self-care isn’t optional. Everyone around you will see that rest is part of a sustainable life, not a luxury. And don’t you want them to grow into adults who know how to step back before they break down? 

Besides, the world doesn’t need another burned out parent. It needs you at your sharpest, and sometimes that means packing a bag.