I met Royal Marine turned TV adventurer, Aldo Kane, in 2015 on an erupting volcano in Ecuador. We met again at a party a few months later and sparks of romance flew, but he then promptly disappeared to row across the Atlantic and I went to Nepal to work on the production of a long documentary series. In the first 7 months of our relationship we spent 3 days together, but in that time I realised I’d met the person I would spend the rest of my life with. This life led mainly apart, was the blueprint for the following years, right up to when I gave birth to our son, Atlas, with Aldo watching via video call from the other side of the world.
But as any parent knows, at that point, things changed. I loved those first weeks and months, getting to know Atlas and navigating the wild world of parenting. But while Aldo had to earn a living in the only way we knew how – which always involved travel – I had become housebound and with that, I’d lost a little bit of who I was. We went on some amazing family holidays, but whenever Aldo left to go on another long work trip my wanderlust would start to smoulder into envy.
Anna (and a leopard) on location, filming in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
At the end of one of these family holidays, Aldo had to stay in the States and it was agreed Atlas and I would travel back from Seattle on our own. We’d had an amazing fortnight travelling in an RV up the west coast of America, but throughout our holiday my mind kept flitting anxiously to the journey home. Through my work as a producer and in my personal life, I’ve been lucky enough to travel extensively. I love airports, I love long, drawn-out journeys and I also love doing things on my own. But flying from Seattle Tacoma to London Heathrow with a one year old, seemed to have become an almost impossible task in my mind.
Aldo packing for a work trip while watched by 3 month old, Atlas – slightly wide-eyed!
I have to admit, a lot of this anxiety was exacerbated by the wide-eyed gasps I’d been greeted with when I’d told friends and acquaintances our plans. Horrified, they would exclaim, “All that way? On your own? With Atlas?!”, and before I knew it, I was horrified by the thought of it too.
But then do you know what? It just happened. Like all the things we dread, eventually you just have to get on with it. We got dropped off, I strapped Atlas into his carrier on my chest, I’d given us loads of time – and then some more! – and we just flowed through.
Anna Williamson and husband, Aldo Kane. Photo credit Martin Hartley
I’d got chatting to a man at the airport on the way out and when he’d discovered it was our first time travelling long haul with a baby, he gave me the best piece of baby advice I’ve ever been given. “Look,” he said, “I used to work in aviation and this might sound cheesy, but nip to duty free now and buy the cabin crew some chocolates. Give them to them as you get on the plane and explain you’re travelling with a baby and you don’t know how it will go, but the chocolates are a thank you in advance. I promise they will look after you”. So chocolates in hand, I explained I was travelling alone with my son and thanked them for their help in advance. But to be honest, they couldn’t have been nicer anyway. And I didn’t need to worry, because Atlas was good as gold. We also had a ridiculous stroke of luck and had two empty seats next to us. I could hardly breathe while I waited for the ‘doors closed to manual’ announcement! Atlas mostly slept soundly and although I didn’t sleep a wink, I arrived into London with a new spring in my step. I could do this! And more importantly, we were going to do it again.
‘Road tripping with my two favourite allies’. Aldo and Atlas whale watching from the RV on a family holiday to the US in March 2022
Before I had Atlas, if you’d asked me who my hero was I’m not sure there would have been a clear answer. Now I can tell you without hesitation that my hero is anyone who is a single parent. I have very limited extended family support and I spend more time parenting on my own than I do with Aldo by my side, but I know he’s out there, somewhere. If you’re doing this on your own, all the time, I have more respect and admiration for you than anyone else on earth.
Sleeping like a baby – Atlas sound asleep just after take off
In retrospect, I can’t believe how much of a big deal I made out of that flight. And I can’t believe how many people said, and still say, they could ‘never do that’. Seeing a lone parent on their own with their kids on holiday, or on a trip, still feels quite alien. I regularly have people saying, “but you’ve been on holiday on your own with Atlas? That’s amazing; I can’t believe you did that!” and other people who have said it’s inspired them to do the same.
Anna and Atlas walking in Glen Coe, Scotland
I can remember bumping into another solo mum in Glen Coe in Scotland and feeling an instant kinship. We both had our baby boys in carriers and we were out exploring, on our own. We briefly chatted about the fun we were having, how hard it was sometimes (because make no mistake, it’s really hard sometimes!), but mostly we shared how we couldn’t imagine being stuck at home this whole time and not doing the things we loved. I have only had that one encounter in 2 years. So I hope by sharing some tales of my travels with Atlas, you will feel inspired and empowered to do the same. There are highs and lows for sure – but that’s parenting anyway! You may as well have those highs and lows on a road trip around Scotland, or on a Greek beach. You will feel so much more empowered coming back to reality afterwards, and you will have a brilliant time!
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