Why I'm Switching Off in Colombia This Summer

Right now, I'm not answering emails from my kitchen table in Anerley. I'm somewhere in Colombia, probably eating something with plantain in it, with my husband beside me and absolutely no baby monitor in sight. I wanted to write this before I go quiet for a bit, because I think it matters, not just for me, but for anyone reading this who spends their life looking after other people. Who am I when I'm not "Eva from And Chillax"? Most of you know me as your first aid instructor, or the doula who sat with you at 3am, or the person who helped you sort out a latch that wasn't working. But that's only one slice of me. I'm also: A hospital worker, still doing shifts on the postnatal ward A business owner, running And Chillax pretty much single handedly A baby massage instructor A mum A grandma A wife My husband, alongside me on this trip, is a teacher, a dad, and a grandad too. Between the two of us, we've spent decades looking after other people's children, other people's students, other people's newborns, and our own family, of course. The trip so far We started this whole adventure in Toronto, visiting family. Lots of hugs, lots of catching up, and the kind of easing in that only happens when you're surrounded by people who've known you forever. From there, we headed to Colombia, just the two of us, to properly switch off. And when Colombia's done, we're finishing up in Rio, staying with old friends before we head home. Family, adventure, friends. It felt like the right shape for a trip like this. Why this holiday matters We work hard. Properly hard. The kind of hard where you're up at 5am for a shift, teaching a first aid course by 9, and still answering a worried parent's WhatsApp message at 10pm because you know they're scared and you know it can't wait until morning. So this trip isn't a "nice to have." We've earned it. And honestly, we deserve it. I say this because I know a lot of you reading this are in that same boat, new parents who haven't had an unbroken night's sleep in months, or who feel guilty for even wanting five minutes to themselves. I see you. And I want to gently say: wanting rest doesn't make you selfish. It makes you human. What this means while I'm away I'll be slower to reply to messages than usual Any First Aid or antenatal courses booked will still run as planned (my brilliant team has it covered) I'll be back with fresh energy, and probably far too many stories about maple syrup, coffee, and caipirinhas A small thought for you, too If you're a new parent reading this feeling like you can never switch off, you're not alone, and it does get easier. Rest isn't a reward you earn once everything is perfect. Sometimes you just have to take it, messy house and all. Whether that's a trip across three countries or twenty quiet minutes with a cup of tea while someone else has the baby, it counts. When to get in touch anyway Courses, bookings, and general questions can all wait until I'm back. My team will help in the meantime. But if it's a genuine medical emergency with you or your baby, please don't wait for me: Call 999 for anything serious or life threatening Call 111 if you're worried but it's not an emergency Right, I'm off to go and enjoy my husband's company without a to do list in my head. See you all very soon, rested, tanned, and probably still talking about babies within five minutes of landing. With love, Eva x

Eva Levinson is a part-time Postnatal Midwifery Assistant & Infant Feeding Specialist for the NHS, a Doula UK trained postnatal doula, and an Ofsted/HSE compliant first aid instructor. She runs And Chillax in Anerley, South London.