Parenting doesn’t always look the way we expect
When I became a father, I imagined a life of bedtime stories, school pickups, and Sunday mornings in pajamas.
Things didn’t work out that way.
After the separation, we agreed on shared custody—she’d stay mostly with her mom in Florence, and I’d see her on weekends and holidays. But I live and work in Turin. So being a present parent suddenly meant becoming a frequent traveler.
It’s not the kind of travel people write blogs about. No sunsets in Bali, no “digital nomad” hashtags.
It’s train tickets booked late at night, long bus rides with a backpack full of storybooks and toys, and a constant awareness that your time together is short—and precious.
The emotional weight of unreliable logistics
For the first few months, I booked my accommodations the usual way. A rotating mix of hotels, apartments, last-minute deals—whatever I could afford.
But the more I traveled, the more I realized how emotionally draining it is when the place you stay doesn’t feel right.
There’s nothing worse than showing up to spend the weekend with your daughter and realizing your room is cramped, cold, or stuck above a noisy bar. It makes the time feel smaller.
And when you only have 48 hours together, every hour counts.
That’s when I knew I had to find something better—not just for me, but for her.
Why Bluepillow.com became part of my parenting routine
I discovered Bluepillow.com during one of those low points. I had just had to cancel a stay because the host forgot to mention the building was under renovation. My daughter was upset. I was frustrated.
I needed something fast, and a friend—another separated parent—suggested Bluepillow.
I remember thinking: sure, another booking site. What could be so different?
But it was different. It didn’t ask me to scroll through flashy listings or flood me with ads. It showed me what was available right now, with prices that were final—no hidden fees, no service charges appearing at checkout.
More importantly, it showed me places that actually worked for my needs. Small apartments close to the train station. Quiet B&Bs with family-friendly vibes. Spaces that felt like I could build a memory there, not just pass through.
Rewriting what “quality time” looks like
Over time, something shifted. I started using Bluepillow not just as a backup, but as part of how I planned our time together.
I’d look for places with a little outdoor space. A kitchen where we could cook dinner together. Enough room to play cards on the floor.
Those weekends became more than visits—they became rituals. She’d help me “pick the house,” as she called it. I’d let her choose the bed she wanted. We made our own little versions of home, over and over again.
And none of that would’ve worked if I had to worry every time about logistics, booking errors, or surprise expenses. With Bluepillow, I stopped worrying. I started showing up better, more present, and less stressed.
Not the travel I imagined—but the one that matters most
This isn’t glamorous travel. It’s not always easy. But it’s filled with meaning.
Each time I pack my bag, I remind myself why I’m doing this: to stay close, even from a distance. To show her that showing up matters, no matter how far apart life pulls us.
In a strange way, Bluepillow.com has become part of that story—a tool I didn’t expect, but now rely on. Because when your connection with your child depends on how well you move between cities, you start to value the platforms that make that movement easier.
If you’re parenting across cities, sharing time, and juggling roles, just know this: you’re not alone.
And when everything else feels like a compromise, finding a place to stay shouldn’t be.
Bluepillow helped me realize that—even when the distance feels huge, there’s always a way to stay close.