Before I had kids, I loved traveling spontaneously with no plan. I often boarded a plane that would take me halfway around the world with nothing but a backpack and a guidebook. Once I arrived at my destination, I dashed through as many sites as I could before moving on to my next stop. I often returned to my hotel late at night, happy and exhausted but ready to wake up early to explore more the next day.
Once I had kids, my approach to travel had to change. My spontaneous travel style with packed days no longer worked with kids who prefer predictability and play. It was a rough transition, but traveling with my children is now one of my greatest joys.
Here are four ways my kids have changed the way I travel for the better.
My children taught me to embrace slow travel
I prefer not to visit the same place twice because I want to see so much of the world. That often means trying to see and do everything in a limited time.
Before I had kids, my drive to do it all sometimes made traveling feel more like a quest to complete a checklist than an adventure. I often rushed through sites and skipped meals to fit in as much as possible.
My kids have shown me the value of slowing down. On a recent trip to Rome, my children and I lingered instead of dashing through the Colosseum. We spent time exploring and imagining what the battles that took place there so long ago were like. We laughed, wondering what we would look like in the togas worn by ancient Romans. We dove deeper and went to Gladiator School to learn how to train and battle like a Gladiator, something I never would have considered doing without my kids.
I also spend more time simply taking in a place. When we travel, my kids instinctively listen to their bodies and tell me when they need a break. This goes contrary to my innate desire to push on no matter how tired I may be. Taking my children’s lead often means that we miss some attractions or activities, but I’ve learned to enjoy the slower pace of travel my children have taught me to embrace.
My kids seek out local life in a way I never did
In the past, I considered travel a way to immerse myself in a new culture and try to have as many new and different experiences as possible. However, my kids have taught me that doing the same things you do at home somewhere new is worthwhile.
Playing soccer in Marrakesh with kids who call the city’s ancient Medina home was one of the best parts of my son’s trip to Morocco. Even though the kids didn’t speak the same language, they became friends, exchanging American Lemonheads for traditional Moroccan cookies and talking about their favorite soccer teams using a translation app.
Similarly, before kids, I rarely spent time shopping. Now, I follow my teenage daughter’s lead and explore shops and malls wherever we go. By indulging my daughter, I’ve discovered hidden, underground markets in India, found locally made sea-salt soaps in Jordan, and explored the incomparable Mall of Dubai. My kids have taught me the value of seeing how others around the world approach the same activities we enjoy at home and how that can lead to a genuine connection with a culture and its people.
I make more time for fun, ensuring I have more of a vacation than a trip
I travel because I enjoy seeing the world. However, before kids, I didn’t intentionally make time for fun. Now, I’m careful to seek out activities I know both my kids and I will enjoy. Not every minute of our trips has to be an educational or enriching experience.
Spending time running around the moat at the Tower of London and playing at the massive Princess Diana playground were key to ensuring my kids had the stamina to visit the city’s museums and historical sites. On previous trips to Istanbul, I didn’t bother stopping for street food, like Turkish ice cream served with flair, an experience that elicited tons of giggles.
Building in time for fun has taught me that I should make travel more fun for myself, too. Now, I try to schedule at least one activity that’s purely about enjoyment for myself, too. My definition of fun is a little different than my kids, but I’ve gotten a massage inspired by Mayan rituals in Mexico and spent time reading in a hot tub in Cairo. Before traveling with my kids, I would have considered these activities a waste of time.
I plan more
Before traveling with kids, I rarely made a hotel reservation or an itinerary before landing. My kids, however, prefer more predictability.
Although I miss the spontaneity of planning travel on a whim, more advance planning gives my kids and me peace of mind that we won’t miss out on any must-see sites. It also gives my kids a chance to give input on what they would like to see and do before it’s too late.
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