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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The family have had to cut back on their spending as they are relying on Mike’s six-figure salary.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Kym is now able to spend time investing in self-care and going on holidays with her girlfriends - while leaving her family at home.<br /><br />But Kym doesn’t regret quitting her job and says she feels “amazing” and “light”.<br /><br />Kym, a writer, from Boulder, Colorado, US, said: “I feel amazing and the best ever.<br /><br />“I didn’t even realise how anxious I had been until I stopped working.<br /><br />“I have this incredible lightness.<br /><br />“I would have felt selfish before being away from my family.<br /><br />“Now I can spend time reading, being lazy and restful.<br /><br />“I'm much more able to roll with the stresses of everyday life.<br /><br />“I used to think on a Sunday – ‘I didn’t do everything I wanted.’<br /><br />“Instead, now I get to be in the moment with my husband and kids.<br /><br />“I don’t want this to just be a pause and then just go back.<br /><br />“I want to find out exactly what I want to be and do.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />She said: “I had this ache to be writer which was getting stronger and stronger.<br /><br />“I just re-evaluated what was important.<br /><br />“I realised we could get by on less money.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />She said: “Work was a big part of my identity.<br /><br />“Mike was really supportive.<br /><br />“I’m so lucky – he hasn’t made me feel guilty.<br /><br />“The boys were really excited.<br /><br />“Before I was distracted all the time.<br /><br />“I wasn’t being present and checking my emails.<br /><br />“I haven’t had one moment of regret.<br /><br />“The scariest thing was being nervous to feel lost.”<br /><br />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.<br /><br />She said: “I meet up with friends three times a week and have lots of girls' weekends planned.<br /><br />“I used to go away maybe one or twice a year.<br /><br />“I don’t get as frustrated or mad.<br /><br />“When I went to the grocery shop the other day, I forgot my wallet and had to go back and get it.<br /><br />“When I was working, I would have beaten myself up about it.<br /><br />“Instead, I can laugh about it.”<br /><br />Kym plans to spend the next year at least on a break and then hopes to go back to do something different.<br /><br />She said: “When I go back, I want it to be something different.<br /><br />“I want to be a successful author.<br /><br />“I’ve learned to live on less, so I am going back I want to keep my ego in check.”<br /><br />Kym encourages others her age to take a gap year like her to help them “find themselves”.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />“Even if you can have a gap month it will give you some perspective you didn’t even realise.<br /><br />“I realise I am financially privileged.<br /><br />“I feel really lucky.”
