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You've done a lot in your young life. You've
backpacked through Europe, trekked in the Peruvian Andes, explored the
Yucatán, and much more. Understandably, when you decide that it's time to
have a family, fear and indecision strike intermittently as you wonder, "will
I ever travel again?"
The answer is yes! You can and you will undertake
many more exciting journeys. You have an adventurous spirit, and becoming
a parent will do nothing to change that. There is no denying that things
will be different, but with a simple strategy, you can manage both your
family and your need to adventure.
In fact it's important that you include your kids in
your adventure travels for lots of reasons. It's a big part of you, and
they will love to see that side of Mom and Dad, and the other important
adults in their lives. It also sets an excellent example of healthy
lifestyle and appreciation of the outdoors. That which is instilled in
them early will stick! And it's a fantastic opportunity to expose your
kids to different cultures, languages, and ways of living.
The first step is acknowledging the real changes
brought on by parenthood and how they affect the type of journey you
choose. Once you accept that you will not be able to walk across the
Atacama desert or camp out during the worst of blizzards on these family
trips, you'll find a comfortable compromise. And the options are actually
wide open and numerous, depending on your passion and desires.
Once you've come up with a destination that will
accommodate the needs of the whole family, with a little creativity you
can make the most of the sporting and discovery opportunities in that
place. What can you do together with the kids that would be enjoyable for
everyone? What would you like to do as a couple or individually? How can
you share the responsibilities of parenting and still get in a half-day
outing? Or trade off days?
It becomes essential to prioritize your activities
based on what you want most. Very likely, you will no longer be able to do
it all. For some, this is a harsh reality, but with a little flexibility,
you'll enjoy the best of travels with the added advantage of doing it with
your loved ones!
Whether or not you get in any couple time without
kids will depend a lot on your philosophy and choices about travel. Again,
there are lots of good options. Many respectable hotels and local places
offer safe, high-quality babysitting services. If this is not your style,
you may consider inviting the grandparents to join you on the trip.
Another favorite for young families is traveling with friends in the same
situation and trading babysitting time with each other's kids.
Finding a good balance of quality family time, couple
time, and adventure exploration time is key. If you are a diver and you
travel to Cozumel only to use the hotel pool, you will never forgive
yourself. I'll never forget the time our kids went to bed at 7:00 pm after
a busy day in Sydney, and we found ourselves stuck in the room eating cold
delivery, longingly looking out over the harbor, and listening enviously
to the bumping bar down the street. Never again!
The good news is that there are ways around feeling
limited. If you are traveling with kids and can't go out without them,
make an effort to have a romantic dinner once they are in bed. If you are
in a place you can cook, make a special trip to buy nice food and wine and
use the time to catch up with each other. If you can't cook, try to get
room service and sit out on the balcony.
Maybe just getting a pizza and watching a good movie
on cable would be your preference at the end of a big day, but whatever
you choose to do, do it with thoughtful clarity so that you won't feel
trapped. Make it your choice, and be creative, so that you enjoy your
evening while you work around the needs of your children.
Experienced travelers with kids know that it always
pays to be prepared. For those of us who are not used to putting so much
thought and planning into a trip, this will be an adjustment. You can
still leave some room for spontaneity, but thoughtful planning and an eye
for the environment that suits the whole family will go a long way towards
making your trip pleasurable and smooth.
No matter where you stay or what you do, the single
most important factor for travel with kids is a positive and patient
attitude. You may have to remind yourself hundreds of times in a day that
this is your vacation and you are all here to have fun, but it is
essential that this be your paradigm. It is impossible to predict many of
the stressful situations you may encounter abroad, and children are
extremely sensitive to moods and feelings. They will rely on you to know
how to feel, and if you are having fun, they will too.
When you encounter a taxi driver who tries to rip you
off, or you get a flat tire, or you lose your passport, for everyone's
sake, it's a good idea to put one positive adult in charge of entertaining
the kids while the other resolves the difficulties. Under some
circumstances, everyone may be able to work together to remedy the
situation, turning a stressful time into a positive experience.
While each trip will be unique and every new place
will offer its own wonders and idiosyncrasies, you can travel with kids
and have a blast, too. Accept the necessary changes of this new stage in
your life as a parent, work together to meet everyone's needs, communicate,
and above all, stay positive. Your life of travels will only increase in
value when you go as a family. Buen viaje. |
