A mum quit her six-figure job to take a mid-life gap year - and says she's not "selfish" for jetting off and leaving her husband and kids at home.
Kym Wootton, 42, decided to leave her position as a chief administrative officer to spend a year writing a novel, going on breaks and being more "present" with her family.
The mum-of-two ended her 13-year stint at a consultancy agency in January 2023 and now spends her days writing, relaxing and meeting up with friends.
She says the break has allowed her to be more present with her two boys – Finn, 16, and Will, 13 – and husband, Mike, 49, a project manager.
The family have had to cut back on their spending as they are relying on Mike’s six-figure salary.
They eat out less, are more selective on what they spend on their sons' activities and are taking a road trip in the US – instead of going abroad for their family holiday.
Kym is now able to spend time investing in self-care and going on holidays with her girlfriends - while leaving her family at home.
But Kym doesn’t regret quitting her job and says she feels “amazing” and “light”.
Kym, a writer, from Boulder, Colorado, US, said: “I feel amazing and the best ever.
“I didn’t even realise how anxious I had been until I stopped working.
“I have this incredible lightness.
“I would have felt selfish before being away from my family.
“Now I can spend time reading, being lazy and restful.
“I'm much more able to roll with the stresses of everyday life.
“I used to think on a Sunday – ‘I didn’t do everything I wanted.’
“Instead, now I get to be in the moment with my husband and kids.
“I don’t want this to just be a pause and then just go back.
“I want to find out exactly what I want to be and do.”
Kym has wanted to write a book for the last 10 years and never managed to find time in between her nine to five job and being a mum.
She said: “I had this ache to be writer which was getting stronger and stronger.
“I just re-evaluated what was important.
“I realised we could get by on less money.”
Kym says her husband, Mike, was supportive from the beginning and the couple saved and budgeted for seven months before she quit her job in January 2023.
She said: “Work was a big part of my identity.
“Mike was really supportive.
“I’m so lucky – he hasn’t made me feel guilty.
“The boys were really excited.
“Before I was distracted all the time.
“I wasn’t being present and checking my emails.
“I haven’t had one moment of regret.
“The scariest thing was being nervous to feel lost.”
Now Kym spends her days making breakfast for her boys, spending a few hours writing, exercising and going for coffee and off on girls weekends.
She said: “I meet up with friends three times a week and have lots of girls' weekends planned.
“I used to go away maybe one or twice a year.
“I don’t get as frustrated or mad.
“When I went to the grocery shop the other day, I forgot my wallet and had to go back and get it.
“When I was working, I would have beaten myself up about it.
“Instead, I can laugh about it.”
Kym plans to spend the next year at least on a break and then hopes to go back to do something different.
She said: “When I go back, I want it to be something different.
“I want to be a successful author.
“I’ve learned to live on less, so I am going back I want to keep my ego in check.”
Kym encourages others her age to take a gap year like her to help them “find themselves”.
She said: “A traditional gap year after school helps you find out what you want to do – adults should be able to do the same.
“Even if you can have a gap month it will give you some perspective you didn’t even realise.
“I realise I am financially privileged.
“I feel really lucky.”
