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Alright, alright, alright. So, Michelle Obama needed counseling after her daughters left home? Give me a break. I get it, empty nest syndrome is a thing. But seriously? Counseling? Seems a bit extra, even for a former First Lady.
The "Solution"
This article proposes city breaks with your grown-up kids as the antidote. A "cheaper than therapy" way to bond with your Gen Z offspring. Okay, I'm listening...sort of.
The author recounts her trip to Copenhagen with her 23-year-old daughter. Apparently, 48 hours of Scandi-chic, Michelin-starred restaurants, and questionable "fast food" (open-faced sandwiches, anyone?) is supposed to fill the void left by your fledglings. They cycle past the Little Mermaid, browse boutiques, and brave the icy harbor waters. The goal? To achieve peak "smugly Scandi, calm, relaxed and very happy." As detailed in My way of dealing with an empty nest? A city break with my daughter, Copenhagen offers a unique experience.
Look, I'm not knocking Copenhagen. It sounds…pleasant. But is it a substitute for actual therapy? Is a weekend of cinnamon rolls and designer pyjamas really going to address the underlying issues of loss, identity, and the existential dread of aging? I mean, let's be real.
The Illusion of Control
The whole premise feels…contrived. Like slapping a designer bandage on a gaping wound. A temporary distraction disguised as a solution. You're not actually dealing with your feelings; you're just curating an Instagram-worthy experience to mask them.
And this whole "Gen Z is too busy to visit" trope? It's insulting. It's not about them not having time; it's about the dynamic. Are you actually creating a space where they feel comfortable and want to spend time with you? Or are you just trying to buy their affection with a fancy trip?
The author even admits her worry is that her daughter might want to move to Copenhagen full-time, and then she'd see her even less. So, the city break is less about bonding and more about…controlling the narrative? About keeping her daughter within arm's reach? This trip to Copenhagen sounds more like a strategic deployment than a heartfelt vacation.
It's like trying to fix a broken engine with duct tape and WD-40. It might hold for a little while, but eventually, the whole thing is gonna fall apart.
The Scandi Smugness Factor
And don't even get me started on the "smugly Scandi" thing. This article oozes a certain brand of privileged detachment. Cycling around in billowing shirts, casually dropping £400 a night on a hotel room, and acting like you've unlocked the secret to happiness because you ate a cinnamon roll?
It's the kind of tone-deafness that makes you want to scream into a pillow.
Maybe I'm just being a cynical jerk, offcourse. Maybe I'm missing the point. But something about this whole "city break as therapy" concept feels deeply…hollow. It's like saying a new iPhone will cure your depression. Sure, it might provide a temporary dopamine hit, but it's not addressing the root cause.
So, What's the Real Fix?
Look, I ain't saying spending time with your kids is a bad thing. But let's not pretend a weekend getaway is a substitute for actual self-reflection and, you know, dealing with your damn emotions. Michelle Obama probably needed counseling, not another vacation photo op.