08 Feb Why I’m Not Waiting to Travel with My Kids
When my kids were young, I used to joke that the only thing worse than traveling with toddlers was staying home with them. At the time we were living in England and all of Europe was tantalizingly close, so off we went (in diapers) to Dubrovnik, Avignon, and Bruges.
As hard as those trips were, they were also very empowering. Once you’ve traveled from London to Edinburgh on an overcrowded train with potty training toddlers and lots of luggage but no seat assignments, nothing scares you.
Ten years later, many of my friends are still putting off traveling with their kids until the time is right. I think the time to go is now. Here’s why.
Childhood is short
When you’re wading through times tables, stomach flu, and orthodontia, childhood can seem kind of endless. But it’s not. Consider my 8th grader. She still seems very young to me, but we have just five more spring breaks and summer vacations together before she’s off to college. That’s not very many. We also have a limited number of long weekends, full moons, and low tides left with our kids. I intend to make the most of them.
Kids love bragging rights
At 10 and 13, my kids are already on their third set of passports. Even though they don’t remember every trip, they like sitting down with me to make a list of all the countries they’ve visited. At last count, they were up to 20. This always leads to our favorite family debate: Where to next? Botswana is currently winning, with Venice a close second.
Travel is the glue
It seems kind of obvious, but relationships thrive on shared experiences. Mutual adventures – and sometimes mutual misadventures – are the glue that holds families together when other forces try to pull us apart. Our list includes the time we were served a chicken head in Hong Kong. And the gecko that dropped from the ceiling onto my daughter’s head in Mexico. And the spectacular demise of my husband’s aging swim trunks on a waterslide in Phoenix. Oh, how we laughed!
It’s your life too
Many parents default to theme parks, mass market cruises, and resorts with kids’ clubs when planning family vacations. If that’s what you like, go for it. If not, experiment a little. Just because your kids won’t remember (or deeply appreciate) a place doesn’t mean you can’t happily vacation there. As long as you’re willing to accommodate their tastes and interests with occasional detours to pools, parks, and petting zoos, kids can enjoy even very grown-up destinations like Quebec, Santa Fe, and Barcelona. A little ice cream and pizza won’t hurt either.
Ready to show your kids the world? Adventure Collection offers a wide range of Family Tours and Adventure Travel Packages across the globe!
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