Before having kids, my husband and I were avid travelers, and we knew we didn’t want to stop after our son was born.
From Rhode Island to Mexico, we believed in the motto, “Have kids, will travel.” The same was true after the arrival of our daughter.
We decided to show them as much of the country and the world as we could … while working around school schedules.
Our trips haven’t always been smooth sailing, but traveling has built their resilience and helped them see more of the world
Our first cross-country flight with our son was to visit family in Boston when he was six weeks old. He slept the whole time, which made up for the trips to come.
When he was a year old, we struggled through turbulence and motion sickness as a family while on a warm plane ride to visit family in North Carolina. And when he was 2, he cried all the way home on a flight from Boston to Vancouver, Washington, because he was teething and I forgot to bring medicine.
I learned my lesson on that trip and knew to be as prepared as a Boy Scout on long trips with both of my kids years later, equipped with medicine, extra clothes, and things to keep them occupied.
Still, travel snafus are a given, even as they’ve gotten older. From mad dashes through Boston Logan International Airport to multiple-hour delays in Georgia and missed connections in Dallas, we’ve done our best to teach patience when traveling.
And it’s paid off. Over the last 21 years, my kids have been to five countries and 20 states. From artwork and architecture in Portugal and Mexico to historical artifacts and monuments across the US, our travels have enabled our kids to develop a global perspective that connects them with different cultures and diverse populations.
Doing so has allowed them to step out of their comfort zones, interact with different people, and embrace new experiences. The most interesting thing as a mom was watching them try new foods, from lobster in New England to pastéis de nata in Portugal.
Our adventures have prepared them to be confident, independent adults
My son now works as a chef in Arizona, 1,000 miles away from our home in Washington, and he’s traveled independently to Hawaii and Canada.
Meanwhile, our daughter has just finished her first semester of college in Los Angeles, another destination 1,000 miles away from home. As she studies for a career in scenic design (that we expect will take her all over the world), we know her travel experiences have prepared her for what is to come.
If there’s any advice I could give to new parents, it would be that experiences matter more than possessions. So, take trips, do things, and don’t be afraid that your kids are too young or too fragile.
Children are resilient and can learn to be adaptable, especially when they’re young. Sure, there are cranky, hangry moments — heck, I still get cranky and hangry when I travel long distances — but each adventure has provided bonding opportunities, educational moments, and the beauty of seeing parts of the world like no other.
And above all, we did it together. When their dad and I are no longer around, I’m confident they’ll say to each other, “Remember that time?” and that will make it all worth it.
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