Traveling With Kids: What You'll Love And What You'll Hate
I've had the pleasure of traveling more than a few times with my kids along with mixed feelings about the outcomes before, during and after our trips. At times, it takes me a few days to determine if we had a good or bad time.
Personal finance, home schooling and lifestyle blogger at Principles of Increase
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Why Traveling with Kids is the Best and Worst Thing You'll Ever Do
Family travel -- gotta love it. The pressure to make these beloved trips into "epic" family memories is unrelenting. You've spent time, money and other precious family resources to make this happen. The problem is that your trip, especially with kids, will be a radical departure from the images you've likely conjured up in your naive little mind. Instead of laughter and pure joy, there might be whining and vomiting. You'll want your children to be interested and grossly engaged in this new, unknown world. Yet be prepared as they dive into their cell phones while dolphins dive into the the ocean.
It's not all bad, though. For every moment you wish you had never booked this terrible idea of a trip, there will be an equally and perhaps even more magnificently redeeming moments. That's what makes family travel worth it. It's the ultimate reality show. The delicious uncertainty of what will happen adds to the adventure element of your travels all the more. Isn't that why you explore the world in the first place?
I've had the pleasure of traveling more than a few times with my kids along with mixed feelings about the outcomes before, during and after our trips. At times, it takes me a few days to determine if we had a good or bad time. Eventually, I realized, that I would have to adjust my expectations to be more intentional about being in the "vacation moment." This also helps me stay motivated around exposing my children to the world beyond our little neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Because, of course, on every trip you take, there's the temptation to say "never again." It can be that tough. But it's not all bad. I'll tell you what I mean.
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What You'll Hate
No Appreciation for Anything
Let's face it. It's very possible that your 10 year-old won't be able to understand that you paid sorely for this trip. They can't comprehend how you had to take off work, save for many months and forgo some of your favorite things to make this holiday possible. If you need to explain that to your child, do so (in the nicest non-ranting way possible) and don't harp on it throughout the trip. Their sense of appreciation for anything is likely extremely underdeveloped and will take time to catch up to yours. Focus on the experience and making memories they will appreciate later in life.
Eternally Needy
Your kids will be hungry approximately every 14-17 minutes. Our last trip out of the country was in an especially touristy area for a long time. (We went to the Dominican Republic for two and a half weeks.) When we do this again, I will be sure to load up on more snacks before we leave. I thought we'd bring just a few on the plane then shop for more locally. It was expensive to do that with the hungry kids I have. I mean, why do they need to eat every day?
Cranky & Temperamental
Kids are not adults. (Profound, I know.) Make sure you carve out down time so that your kids can rest. If there's lots of walking, be ready for lots of whining. If possible, have a plan B when your child decides that they can't go a step further. Bring taxi money just in case. Again, snacks can often waylay meltdowns, so have plenty on hand if possible.
Always There
Unless you are traveling with your full-time nanny, be prepared for the reality of being with your kids around the clock. I home school my kids, so I am used to it. My husband, who works outside of the home, had to adjust to life with us 24 hours a day during our last trip. Just a warning for those of you who send little Billy and Sally off to school, extended time with your kids can be overwhelming if you are not used to it. Though you may not exactly hate this aspect of the trip, it's okay to admit that you need a break from your children -- vacation won't be it, however.
Bizarre Wonder & Amazement
While traveling, it seems like my kids notice the strangest things. While I'm force-feeding them the appreciation of the local plant and fauna, they are studying how the waiters at the restaurants put silverware on the tables. I'm not sure what that type of observation will add to their interpretation of life but I'll take it. Instead of being fascinated by how a yellow squash-like fruit can produce the miracle we know as chocolate, they notice that lizards appear to be doing push-ups on trees nearby. Really?
Adaption Skills
Upon arrival, you may find that your children might be terribly unsettled and out of sync with their normal routine. The novelty of unfamiliar food, smells, new sights, people and languages may overwhelm their senses at first. Resist the urge to over-coddle them in this state and let their curiosity help them adapt. You'll be surprised at how quickly they'll become acclimated to their new surroundings.
Joy
There are some things your child will actually enjoy. I don't mean to sound like they will be total ingrates (but mostly they will be.) It might be the typical child favorites like the swimming pool or ice cream. It could also be something that catches you off guard like the chance to straddle dad's shoulders more than usual because of all the walking. Take whatever you can and hope it carries you over until the next whining session.
Delayed Onset Enjoyment
Though it might be difficult to see now, your kids will likely remember your family trips with fondness as they get older. The pictures you take and the fun stories you recall will cement those memories for your children until they settle in as nostalgia. As they say, "Wait for it..." Trust me, it will be totally worth it.
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