Latest news with #familyvacation
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
She left the family vacation five days early—what happened next reignited a parenting firestorm
As a mom of five, I've evolved my strategy for 'vacations' with kids over the years—mostly out of survival. Because let's be honest: when we're traveling to a faraway destination or staying in someone else's (non-babyproofed) home, it's rarely a break. The nap schedules disappear. The snacks run out. And somehow, you're doing the same parenting hustle you do at home… just in another time zone, without your support system, and usually with more sand involved. We've learned to adapt: taking one-on-one trips with our kids to places we're excited to visit, bringing a babysitter when we can (even if it costs more), and setting expectations with extended family ahead of time. But still—traveling with kids rarely feels restorative. So when one mom shared she tapped out of her family vacation five days early, it felt instantly recognizable. Related: 8 Signs of Mom Burnout & Tips for Self-Care – Motherly The breaking point at the lake house Every summer, Kelly Hubbell packs up her three kids and heads to her in-laws' lake house. This year, she left five days early. The internet had plenty to say, especially about the deeper truth her exit exposed: the invisible weight many mothers carry every day. In a now-viral Instagram post, with over 20,000 likes, Hubbell explained how illness, disrupted routines, and a chaotic lakeside BBQ with three kids under six pushed her beyond her limit. She and her husband packed up and headed home on day 12 of the trip. The response? A split screen of support and outrage. Payalforstyle: 'The difference in comments from men and women on this post tells you everything you need to know. Men still wish they married their silent suffering moms and pissed when that are held accountable to be being an equal parent.' Titusvdu: 'Cannot imagine my wife embarrassing me by leaving a family trip early and then seeing her post a book about it acting like it's acceptable behavior.' Nancyshuba: 'Maybe just keep family stuff to yourself. Not everything needs to be public.' Scmarta: 'What kind of child care were you expecting to be at this BBQ?' Chayes3200: 'Sounds like you don't communicate well. Why didn't you have support? Probably bc u didn't ask.' Some parents praised her boundary-setting. Others accused her of overreacting, embarrassing her husband, or, predictably, 'making it all about her.' Hubbell's story captured the quiet strain so many mothers endure: the emotional labor that builds with every unseen task and unspoken expectation. The myth of the 'relaxing family trip' Let's be honest: family vacations with young kids is often just like regular life at home, just with fewer routines and more wet bathing suits. Instead of rest, many moms find themselves in overdrive—responsible for everything from swim diapers and sunscreen to bedtime routines and emotional regulation. Family trips often magnify the responsibilities moms already juggle, especially when routines vanish and support systems are left behind. Research backs that up. A Gallup study found that 81% of working mothers report feeling burned out from the strain of 'managing it all'—from juggling meetings and school pickups to answering emails late at night. Add the pressure of being the 'chill mom' during family gatherings and it's easy to see why Hubbell's story struck such a nerve. These trips tend to expose an unspoken truth: moms often remain the default parent, regardless of how many adults are around. They're tracking swim diapers, sunscreen, snacks, and bedtime routines—while trying to smile and soak in the lake view. Related: 81% of working moms face burnout while 'managing it all,' Gallup study finds What happens when the default parent taps out Hubbell chose to leave—a quiet but powerful decision during a moment that demanded more than endurance. She didn't storm out. She just quietly decided to leave—before things got worse. Her decision resonated with thousands of mothers who are increasingly vocal about the unsustainable pressures placed on them. The idea that moms should simply 'make it work', often at the expense of their health, joy, and peace, is being questioned more than ever. These moments of refusal reflect a growing shift: mothers speaking out against the expectation to silently shoulder every challenge alone. Hubbell's takeaway: when the parent doing the most is running on empty, nobody wins. The kids suffer, the marriage strains, and the 'fun' family vacation becomes a countdown to meltdown. Related: Why every mama needs a weekend to do nothing When personal choices reveal a deeper cultural truth We're long overdue for a reimagining of what partnership, parenting, and rest should look like. That starts with questioning why it's still controversial for a mom to say, 'I've had enough.' Real support goes beyond surface-level self-care. Mothers need systems that share the workload and recognize the mental toll. And moms deserve real rest, not just 'trips' that somehow make motherhood even harder. Related: Mom of four shares genius road trip tips for all your summer plans The bigger picture Hubbell left because she was drained—and because staying any longer would've come at the cost of her well-being. Society rarely questions why she's carrying so much—it just critiques the mom who breaks the script. Vacations, like the rest of family life, reveal the architecture of our households. And if the default parent is crumbling while everyone else enjoys the lake view, it might be time to leave. Related: Go away, working mom guilt: I didn't have kids (or a career) in order to feel inadequate Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
R.I.P. Malcolm-Jamal Warner: ‘Cosby Show' and ‘9-1-1' Star Dead at 54
The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner has died at the age of 54, according to reports from People and TMZ. Per People's report, Warner passed away after drowning while on a family vacation in Costa Rica. DECIDER reached out to reps for Warner for comment. According IMDb, Warner's first acting credit was a 1982 appearance on Matt Houston. The actor landed his breakout role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, appearing in nearly every episode of the eight-season-long sitcom as Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) and Clair Huxtable's (Phylicia Rashad) son. He was chosen by Cosby during NBC's casting search, per Variety. His work in sitcoms continued with Malcolm & Eddie, which he starred in alongside Eddie Griffin. Warner also voiced The Producer on The Magic School Bus, and also starred on the shows Listen Up, Jeremiah, Reed Between the Lines and The Resident. Over the course of his decades-long career, Warner also had guest arcs on shows like Community, American Horror Story, Suits, Sneaky Pete, 9-1-1, and Alert: Missing Persons Unit. In a May 2024 interview with DECIDER, Warner opened up about the resurgence in interest in The Resident on Netflix after it got axed by FOX in 2023. Warner starred as AJ Austin across all six seasons of the medical drama. 'I think one of the best things about that show is how much we as a cast loved and still love one another. I think we would all jump at the opportunity to be able to work together again,' he shared at the time. 'I think we would all jump at the opportunity to be able to work together again. Matt [Czuchry] was just here last night. We were just hanging out last night. And I just saw Bruce [Greenwood] a couple of weeks ago. We all really, really dig each other. So I think it would if we had the opportunity to work together again, we would be like, 'Yeah, man!'' Warner also spoke to his four-episode-long cameo as Amir on 9-1-1, noting that the job was his fourth time working with series star Angela Bassett. 'She did Cosby. We did an episode of Tour of Duty together like in '85 or '86. And then American Horror Story,' he recalled. 'So each time I get to have more camera time [with her], which is always great. And also I came in and I was a huge Six Feet Under fan.' Warner also launched the Not All Hood podcast with Candace O. Kelley and Weusi Baraka in June 2024, which according to its website, 'addresses the evolution, exhilaration, and triumphs of being rooted in a myriad of versions of Black America.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Burnt-Out Mom Leaves Family Vacation Early—and Sparks a Debate
Is this an unnecessary peace out, or protecting your peace? While parental stress season lasts year-round, it can really kick into high gear during the summertime. The irony is, it's often due to the very thing that's supposed to give us a recharge: family vacation. Even if you do plan the perfect trip six months in advance, the unpredictable is bound to happen—especially when young kids are in the picture. And it can cause a domino effect that sends everything spiraling. But what if you could it? Tap out. Call the game. Pull the plug. Whatever cliche you want to use to say you're leaving vacation early, you as a parent actually do have that power. One mom who was stressed out during a recent family trip with her in-laws shares how she remembered her "Eject Button" and pressed it hard. Abort Mission Kelly Hubbell, a 37-year-old mom of three (ages 6, 4, and 2), went on Instagram to explain how her family spends a few weeks at a lake house every summer with her husband's family. She writes that they love being there and spending time together, but it's "a lot to juggle." That's because they are traveling with young kids for over seven hours, including a flight, a car ride, and a ferry. But on this year's trip, Hubbell says that she was sick, which of course, depletes the energy and patience meters quickly. "Our youngest learned to crawl out of the pack + play. We were away from our usual routines. And after a 6-hour BBQ with three kids under six running in three different directions (in an extremely water safety hazard environment), I hit my limit," Hubble writes. So they left and went back home, five days early (which was on day 12 of their trip). In an interview with Today, Hubble says her husband "was disappointed and I know he felt guilty about it, but he understood.' Her in-laws? She says they're "taking it personally." Despite this, says she has no regrets about the decision, writing in the Instagram caption, "Despite what mom guilt propaganda might tell you, you ARE allowed to protect your peace." She adds that when one parent is running on empty (even during family vacation), everyone looses. "The only way your family thrives is when you do. When you are rested. When you are supported. When you have a system that actually works." Opinions Are Strong, but Mixed As for the responses in the comments, they are, of course, full of very strong opinions about this mom's decision. Granted, full context is lacking; and we don't hear any other perspectives about the trip. But it didn't stop commenters from giving their two cents. Many applaud Hubble for her agency: "12 days is about 10 days longer than I can stay with anyone. Family or Friend. You did good mom!" empathizes one responder. "On my way home now early from the same situation. Go us," writes another. "You totally did the exact right thing. Self-care then family care! If you're exhausted, then everyone else is missing out on your best you," comments someone else. But other commenters aren't so rosy about how it went down. "You're the problem," writes one commenter, bluntly. "You would never let your husband pull this stunt if it was your parents lake house," another assumes. A commenter who isn't so definitive responds in part with, "I'm on the fence. I get why you left. But from the end result I'm assuming there was no game plan between you and your husband before you left." Continue To Count the Cost As parents and as adults, we're constantly counting the cost of our actions—even when we don't necessarily have options to weigh. While it can be a really hard for some of us to put ourselves first (mentally, physically, and emotionally), the cost of not doing so will eventually catch up with us. This is especially true for those of us who feel obligated to please others. I can't say that's what this mom was feeling when on this trip, but she certainly didn't have enough in the emotional bank account to stay. So I can't blame her for wanting to leave. However, I do wonder if there could've been a more cost-effective way to handle this with her husband, either before they arrived or before they left. Not knowing exactly how the conversation went down or what other options were on the table, it's tough to draw too many conclusions like those in the comments. Twelve days is a long time, though. Was the length of stay discussed between mom and dad? Did other family members offer to ease some of the burden? Was mom accepting of help? These are answers we likely won't get. But having been in somewhat similar situations with my own family in the past, I can say there is often at least some compromises that can be made with good communication. Either way, it's absolutely true that self-care is important—for you and for your family. And getting there might require making a quick withdrawal. Read the original article on Parents Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead at 54: Remembering his undersung, award-winning post-‘Cosby Show' career
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the Emmy-nominated actor who played Theo Huxtable for eight seasons on The Cosby Show, has died at the age of 54. People confirmed that Warner died in a drowning incident while swimming on a family vacation in Costa Rica. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Unlike the typical career of a child actor, Warner's carried on consistently after his breakout role on The Cosby Show, leading subsequent series of his own like Malcolm & Eddie and Reed Between the Lines, the latter of which earned him an NAACP Image Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He also made memorable appearances on Community and in the Emmy-winning first season of American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, on which he played Al Cowlings, the driver during the famous Bronco chase. More from Gold Derby 'It feels like I've won the Medal of Freedom': Molly Gordon loves being part of the Emmy-nominated 'The Bear' Anne Hathaway reveals first-look photo from 'The Devil Wears Prada 2': Everything to know about anticipated sequel But Warner's post-Cosby endeavors were not limited to work in front of the camera. He took to directing early on in his career, helming five episodes of The Cosby Show, along with episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Kenan & Kel, All That, and The Resident in 2022. His breakout performance on The Cosby Show scored him his sole Emmy nomination, a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series alongside Newhart's Tom Poston, Cheers' John Ratzenberger and George Wendt, all of whom lost to John Larroquette for Night Court. Warner had more luck, however, at a different award show: the Grammys. A spoken word poet and bass player, he put out his first EP in 2003, The Miles Long Mixtape. He would eventually release three more records — 2007's Love & Other Social Issues, 2015's Selfless, and 2022's Hiding in Plain Sight. Warner won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song "Jesus Children" with Robert Glaser and Lalah Hathaway. The Grammys nominated him again recently, in 2023 for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album with Hiding in Plain Sight. Best of Gold Derby 'Five new life forms from distant planets': Everything to know about 'Alien: Earth' as new trailer drops Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins Everything to know about 'Too Much,' Lena Dunham's Netflix TV show starring Megan Stalter that's kinda, sorta 'based on a true story' Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Social media users are proving why nothing beats a Jet2 holiday. What's that?
As of late, the internet seems to be in agreement on one thing: nothing beats a Jet2 holiday. A 2024 television ad for the British airline Jet2 recently resurfaced on TikTok, sparking thousands of users to share their own videos with the audio. Set to the tune of Jess Glynne's 2015 song "Hold My Hand," the ad cheerily declares, "nothing beats a Jet2 holiday." It goes on to detail a discount of £50 per person on flights — which totals £200 for a family of four, the ad points out. The clip has been used over a million times across several audios available on TikTok, with users superimposing the sound over funny moments. Even the voice actor behind the viral audio and the airline itself have weighed in on the trend. Here's what to know. What is a Jet2 holiday? Jet2 is a British airline company. In 2024, it released a television ad titled "nothing beats a Jet2 holiday." The original clip, which has more than two million views on YouTube, promotes a discount on flights using a series of clips of a family on vacation. In British English, it is common to refer to a vacation as a holiday. Voice behind 'nothing beats a Jet2 holiday' weighs in on virality View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zoë Lister (@zlister) Zoë Lister, a voice actor from the United Kingdom who narrates the viral clip, has leaned into the success on social media. "Chances are if you have a social media account and you live in 2025 on planet Earth, you've heard my voice," she said in an Instagram video this month. Lister said since the audio gained popularity, she has received messages from people all around the world asking about Jet2 holidays. On July 21, Lister and Glynne, the artist whose song is used in the original ad, met up for an appearance on air for Capital UK radio station. "One more thing off our 2025 bucket list" Jet2 commented on the post. 'Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday' trend explained TikTok users have taken over the sound for funny moments that exude the opposite of vacation relaxation — from clips of unwanted rodents and creepy crawlers to activities like axe throwing and surfing gone wrong. Here's a look at some of the videos. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the Jet2 holiday meme? The viral audio explained
