As working parents, my husband and I juggle too many things at the same time so once a year, we hit that point where we tell ourselves we need to get off the rat wheel. We need time to decompress. With the kids.

We decided not to travel far this time – a 12 hour flight to Tokyo was off the cards. We packed our bags and left for Maldives and then Sri Lanka last month. Sri Lanka because I’ve always wanted to see it (and it’s only 4 hours away from Dubai) and let the children wander in the wide green spaces and see elephants and Maldives because it’s a short flight from Colombo.

I loved everything about our time in the Maldives – the people, the pace, the sound and smell of the sea, the perfect climate, the breeze that I so wanted to bottle up and bring back to Dubai…the kids loved Maldives, too.

I enjoyed every bit of my time at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives. As an introvert, I appreciate some time alone and it’s amazing how you can think of a thousand and one thoughts at the same time when you find yourself in a serene environment such as this. The resort where we stayed, located far north of the island country was a world away from it all. It gave me the slower, quiet life pace I longed for.

It’s surreal to think how the other part of the world is in chaos, from trivial things such as traffic in the streets of Dubai to bombings in Gaza while there I was, so much at peace and looking at the serene sea and sunset in the horizon.

It’s hard to imagine this is the same world.

We also learned a lot during this trip, like how important it is to take it slow and to just focus on the basics – that the best thing we can give to our children (and to each other) is time and undivided attention.

Sure it doesn’t have to be in Maldives but surely, spending time at one of the world’s most beautiful, unspoiled paradise doesn’t hurt, yes?

We both decided that he can work as hard as he needs to, and I won’t complain about the long hours away from us as long as we go out as a family for a month, once a year, wherever it is.

(Maldives was magnificent. The only problem though is that, you won’t ever want to leave.)

No work related phone calls, no conversations about work. Just him and me as full time parents to the kids. And to make time to reset and reconnect our relationship as a couple.

Right now, we’re back to Dubai and I dread the heat outside. I dread the fact that we cannot just go out and walk outside (for the next couple of months at least) or enjoy the beach because it is too hot. The kids are back, cooped in the four corners of the house again.

I can still remember the feeling of the warm sun touching my skin. Most of all, I remember the moments we spent as a family – our walks on the beach, baths in open air Maldivian style shower, and the nights we spent outside stargazing at the pitch black sky when the stars looked like bright diamonds.

Our lovely experience in paradise was short but we brought home memories enough to last a lifetime. I felt reborn and rejuvenated. It will be another 12 months or so before our next holiday but I am already excited.