There were slow days at home rewatching Babyfather on BBC iPlayer (which deserves its own newsletter, truly), family celebrations, and long overdue dinners with friends. And, beautifully, there was Italy.

We managed to escape to Florence as a family of four and stayed at the 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino, in the Santa Maria Novella neighbourhood — a charming, somehow still-undiscovered part of the city that felt peaceful and tucked away, yet central. When travelling with children, location becomes even more important, and this spot felt like a gift.

The hotel’s decor is inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy, so rooms are themed around heaven or hell — and you know I stayed in a heaven room. Waking up in a space laced with cloud motifs, soft blue tones, and signage that simply said “Life is good”? It really did feel like a little piece of heaven.

And the bed? Let me just say — after months of early wake-up calls, sinking into that mattress each night felt like a full-body exhale. The kind of sleep that reminded me I’m not just a mum or working professional, but a person who deserves softness.

We had private cooking classes, museum visits, long dinners, and conversations with locals — including a mother-and-daughter duo who owned a gelato shop we returned to several times. It all made for a dreamy (and yes, sometimes chaotic) family getaway. But what stayed with me most were the simple moments: walking through the streets of Florence while the kids scooted ahead, watching their joy unfold with every spoonful of gelato.

And I was reminded of something: as parents, we have to be so intentional in teaching our children the importance of rest and the art of slowing down.

Especially for our black children, we have to model what it means to slow down, to be still, to be rather than do.

So many of us reading this, as adult black women, have had to do the work to rethink and reframe rest as a right, not a reward. Whether it was waking up to no alarms in our room, sinking into that bed, or taking our time over dinner and pausing to marvel at the buildings — it reminded me that this is what rest can look like. And this is what our children should expect, not have to earn.

Everyone parents differently — and Lord knows I don’t love parenting advice — but I did have a moment in Italy where I asked myself: Why do I push my kids into constant productivity? Sports clubs at the weekend, fitting in homework after school, mini projects where we can — none of it is bad. But intentionally creating moments of stillness, ease, and rest? That feels like a real act of self-care. And maybe even self-respect.

Those who know me well, know I’m still learning how to make space for rest in my own life and that’s why this summer was so meaningful. I truly believe rest is a way to undo the toxic version of the black excellence narrative — the version that pushes us to work ourselves to the brink without any pause to reflect, breathe deeply, or even be bored.

So I’m holding onto what Florence and the 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino gave me — a reminder of what’s possible, and the kind of life I want to build for myself and my favourite little humans.

 ***

This trip was gifted by 25hours Hotels