A Weekend in Provence

Slow, sun-drenched days amid the olive groves in France’s stunning south.

As the late afternoon sun cast its golden rays over the vast vineyards of Provence, I retreated to my sun-lounger, nestled perfectly under an olive tree. My to-do list? To dive deep into my current read, to refresh my spoken French whilst conversing with staff and locals alike and to indulge in a chef’s selection dinner at le Jardin de Berne – Château de Berne’s Michelin starred restaurant.

It's hard to believe that a mere 48 hours earlier, I was seriously contemplating cancelling this trip, and that in another 48 hours I would be back in the whirlwind of full-time parenting and full-time career. But while many thought my idea of traveling to Europe for three nights with my best friend for my first time away from my 16-month old son (something that I, too, thought was a bit ambitious), I quickly realized that it was the best thing I could have gifted to myself.

In snowy January, on the heels of moving into a new home with my husband and son and preparing myself to re-enter the world of paid work, I had reflected on the past year of maternity leave. It was a life-changing year, filled with the most beautiful, precious moments, alongside frenzied days and sleepless nights. Without question, the great moments outweighed the challenges, but I recognized that mothers – myself included – do an incredible amount and I wanted to treat myself in acknowledgement of this. After a bit of thought, I realized that what I wanted the most was to travel again.

Remembering this decision that led me here, I pulled apart my pain au chocolat, watching it shed its golden-brown crust to reveal the soft, chewy interior. As I ordered a second café during our leisurely post-tennis breakfast, I reflected on how precious these moments are. Motherhood had taught me to savor and appreciate each day, knowing that time is fleeting and change is inevitable, but this can – and should – be applied to all areas of life. I used to begin ideating my next trip every time I travelled, but this marked a first where I truly slowed down to be present. As I took in a deep breath of the flower-perfumed air, I relished the moments of laughter and conversations about life with my best friend and truly savored each bite of my flaky pain au chocolat.

To be able to clear my mind of daily schedules and lists to prioritize what I wanted to do felt like such a luxury – something I had certainly taken for granted on previous trips. My mind flitted to back home – I texted my husband to check on how our son was doing and the familiar pang of ‘mom guilt’ crept in. I quickly caught myself and remembered that they were doing just fine and as much as I missed them, I deserved this time to reset and come home as the best version of myself. Which is exactly what I did.

Château de Berne is an idyllic 5-star Relais et Châteaux property in Provence, France. Spanning a vast 500 hectares of land, the 34-room & villa hotel boasts a 1-Michelin and Michelin Green Star restaurant (Jardin de Berne), organic vineyards and plenty of activities to fill your day with either relaxation or adventure (or both!).