Why PTO Is Essential for Your Family

A Minnesota Dad’s Guide to Taking the Damn PTO Without Guilt, Drama, or Apologizing to Your Out-of-Office Email

Most parents think of PTO the same way they think of the “good snacks” in the pantry — you know you have it, but you feel weird actually using it.

Between the guilt, the pressure, and the “I’ll take a vacation when things slow down” lie we all tell ourselves, PTO tends to sit there untouched like a forgotten gym membership.

But here’s the truth — and I say this as a Minnesota dad, a travel advisor, and someone who “works through” the entire vacation:

Your PTO is essential for your family.Not optional. Not a luxury. Not something you earn only when the stars align.

As I write this I have a cruise in less than 2 weeks, there are a million pressures from work, family and other obligations weighing on me...but I am using the PTO.

1. Your Kids Don’t Want a Busy Parent. They Want a Present One.

When you look back someday, you’re not going to remember the emails.Neither will your kids.

But they will remember:

• waking up in a cabin in the Caribbean

• laughing at dinner

• mom or dad actually relaxing for once

• the time nobody was in a rush

Kids remember presence, not productivity.

Research backs this up:

55% of Americans don’t use all their PTO each year, and families who skip vacation time report higher stress and lower overall happiness.

Your PTO isn’t just for you — it’s for them.

2. Time Away Helps Your Marriage More Than Date Night Ever Will

Look, date nights are great.But time away?Time with no schedules, no chores, no sports carpools, no Target runs, no work calls?

That’s where connection happens.

Research shows couples who vacation together report higher relationship satisfaction and stronger long-term connection., seems like a no brainer.

Your partner doesn’t need another rushed dinner. They need a break with you.

PTO gives you that.

3. Your Mental Health Needs a Reset (Yes… YOU)

Parents love to say “I’m fine.” Yeah I say it all of the time, it is a convenient answer.

Meanwhile:

• stress is high

• sleep is low

• mental burnout is creeping in

• and work is slowly draining every last ounce of energy

Vacations reduce burnout, improve sleep quality, and increase overall well-being — even weeks after returning home.

Your family doesn’t need a martyr.They need a rested, recharged parent.

That’s PTO.

4. Your Job Will Replace You. Your Family Won’t.

Hard truth incoming.

If you left your job tomorrow, it would be posted online within 48 hours. Indeed. LinkedIn. ZipRecruiter. Take your pick.

But your kids?Your spouse?Your family?

Those people don’t get a replacement.

Your PTO is literally one of the few things that protects your time with the people who actually matter.

5. Your PTO Was Meant to Be Used (Not Stockpiled Like Canned Goods in a Blizzard)

You wouldn’t brag about never using your health insurance or never using your weekends.

So why brag about never taking PTO?

Unused PTO is essentially unpaid labor — and the average U.S. employee gives up about $3,000 in value EACH YEAR by not using it.

Saving PTO forever doesn’t help you.Using it does especially with your kids getting older by the minute.

6. Family Vacations Create Identity and Belonging

Every family has something that becomes its signature.

Maybe it’s camping.Maybe it’s football games. Maybe it’s cruises (my specialty). Maybe it’s road trips. Maybe it’s that beach you always go back to.

Whatever it is… family identity is shaped by shared memories.

PTO is the fuel that makes those memories possible.

7. Taking PTO Sets a Healthy Example for Your Kids

Your kids watch everything you do.

When they see you:

• setting boundaries

• taking breaks

• protecting your mental health

• prioritizing family over email

• choosing joy over hustle

They learn that life isn’t just about grinding until you crash and they learn balance.

8. PTO Helps Your Family Reset (Before the Wheels Fall Off)

Every family hits burnout points.

School stress. Work stress. House stress. Life stress. Teen stress.

Vacations — even short ones — act like a pressure release valve.

You come back:

• refreshed

• patient

• grounded

• positive

• more present

9. PTO Makes You Better At Your Job (Even Though Work Pretends It Won’t)

Let’s be real:Your company benefits when you use PTO.

Employees who take vacations:

• are more productive

• make fewer mistakes

• have higher morale

• have lower turnover

• avoid long-term burnout

PTO isn’t a liability.It’s an investment — and it makes you better at the job you think you need to protect.

10. Life Is Short… and Your Kids Are Only This Age Once

Someday your last family vacation will come and you won’t know it’s the last one until it passes.

Nobody wants to think about it…but it’s the truth about why  PTO matters.

Your kids only get one childhood.

Your family life won’t always look the way it does right now.

This time is fleeting — and PTO is the only mechanism that guarantees you get to slow it down long enough to enjoy it.

Final Thoughts: Your Family Needs You. Not “Busy You.” YOU.

Your PTO exists to give your family the best version of you — the version who isn’t exhausted, stressed, or burnt out.

Vacations aren’t a luxury. Trips aren’t selfish. Taking time off isn’t irresponsible.

It’s essential. For your marriage. For your kids. For your mental health. For your memories. For your life.

If you want help turning your PTO into an unforgettable family vacation — without guilt, stress, or hours of research — I’ve got you.

I’ll match you with 3 perfect vacations that fit your family, your budget, and your PTO schedule.

Take the damn PTO.Your family needs it.

You can email me at shannon@moderntravelpros.com

If you are ready to take the damn PTO, fill out my request form.