We spent a week at an all-inclusive resort to celebrate our anniversary — with our daughter and my mother-in-law

As the sun rose over the Caribbean Sea, I stepped out of my beachfront suite and settled into a lounge chair beside my private plunge pool, listening to the waves crash.

I snuggled up in my complimentary bathrobe and enjoyed my mandatory morning fuel — a coffee from the in-room Nespresso machine — taking in the calm of the first day of a weeklong vacation celebrating my 40th birthday and fifth wedding anniversary.

The views were serene. The atmosphere was peaceful. The company — to some — was unexpected. Next to me, wrapped in a similar bathrobe, sat my mother-in-law.

My husband and I wanted to take a trip to celebrate our anniversary, but didn't want to leave our daughter behind

Since having my 4-year-old daughter, traveling has taken a backseat to motherhood. In my 20s, I traveled as often as possible, from the gumless streets of Singapore to the iconic safaris of South Africa.

These days, my husband and I travel less often or choose to visit new countries with our toddler in tow. Although we're always glad to create these memories with her, we knew we wanted something different to celebrate my 40th birthday and our fifth anniversary.

Some people might have chosen to leave their kid at home so they could celebrate with a lavish party or intimate dinner for two. However, we didn't feel comfortable being away from our preschooler for a week in another country.

So, we brought her along and invited my mother-in-law with us to help keep an eye on our daughter and make sure we got some alone time.

The four of us headed on an all-inclusive vacation in Cancún, where we stayed in a two-bedroom enclave suite, complete with three beds, two bathrooms, and 1,570 square feet of shared, yet separate space.

Having that much room kept us from feeling crammed and confined, and with a living room in between the bedrooms, privacy was never an issue.

The arrangement granted us a nice mix of private and family time

We chose to stay at the Hilton Cancún Mar Caribe because it advertises itself as a family hotel. My husband and I spent days wading around the splash pool, rooftop pool, or plunge pool with our daughter.

We took advantage of the resort's dedicated kids areas and activities, including Beach Bunch — the kids' club complete with a playground, indoor playroom, and crafts. And at night, we attended the live shows.

Some days, we ate together at the family-friendly buffet, but on certain occasions, my husband and I dined "date-night-style" while our daughter and my mother-in-law had their own dinner or playdates back in the suite.

It was a great opportunity for them to enjoy quality time together while my husband and I celebrated our milestone anniversary.

My husband and I also relaxed together at the spa, delighting in a refreshing hydrotherapy session that included a sauna, steam room, cold plunge, hot tub, and sensory pool.

And even though my mother-in-law took care of our daughter and brought her to the kids' club, we made sure she had her own time alone at the spa as well.

Overall, we all had a great time together

During this trip, the old saying, "two's company, three's a crowd," came to mind.

And yes, there were times when it felt like we were staying at my husband's childhood home with his mother (or our daughter) occupying the space between us. Plus, some moments meant just for us became a group affair.

But then, we'd all look at the view of the beach while eating our in-room dining — that none of us had to prepare, on beds that none of us had to make, in rooms that none of us had to clean — and that feeling would dissipate.

Having my mother-in-law and kid on this trip was certainly unconventional, nontraditional, and maybe even downright weird to some. However, it granted us the opportunity to travel with some peace of mind.