Sea Pines, Hilton Head

This month, I traveled to Sea Pines, Hilton Head with Sullivan, Ellis, and my sister’s family. This time, Jared stayed in Nashville for work, and luckily, this meant Jones, our (quite sensitive) golden retriever, was not without a parent. We traveled to visit my mom and her long-time partner.

As I was packing for our trip, I looked at Jared and asked, “Am I crazy?”

“I’m traveling with both sons, without Jared,” I thought to myself.

He lovingly replied, “Yes, you are.”

Instead of inviting doubt or worry into my day, I asked myself, “What if I treat our trip as a challenge, one that can ultimately empower me as a mother?” It is true to say: facing something scary is, by nature, facing something empowering. We cannot face our fears without facing our will. In motherhood, and in all pursuits, fear and will are a packaged deal.

As I applied this perspective, I noticed how it altered the way I viewed myself. I felt proud of myself for pursuing this trip with our sons. I felt inspired to create new, mother-associated memories together in a place we love.

As we began to check off accomplishments—successful navigation of a bustling airport, Ellis’s first flight, and an honestly enjoyable car ride to our rental home—I began to feel as I hoped: deeply empowered.

Throughout our trip, I continued to apply this perspective. I pursued additional challenges I once feared, such as taking our sons to lunch on my own for the first time. It was far from relaxing, but we had fun! Most importantly, we did it.

As our trip came to end, I was reminded of how powerful it can be to throw ourselves into a challenge without creating too much space for doubt or worry, similar to the ol’, “Jump into the water before you have time to think about how cold it is!” approach. While I relish thoughtfulness and planning, sometimes, it truly is best to simply go for it.

My Favorite Items for Sea Pines

Explore what we wore and used in Sea Pines here, as well as below.

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