If there is one gift I would like to look back and say that I have given my children, it is the opportunity to travel.
I was extremely lucky as a child. My parents, living in Hong Kong, decided to make the most of it and take us on many exotic holidays, stopping off around the world on annual leave back to the UK. So by the time I was 10, I had been on safari in Africa, on the bullet train in Japan, on the beaches of Hawaii, to temples in Thailand and in street markets in Sri Lanka.
The travel bug stayed with me. Once I met The Doctor, we continued to travel. We took overnight trains from North to South Vietnam. We island-hopped in Greece and Inter-Railed around Europe. We drove across Europe in an ageing Golf with no airconditioning (interesting). We saw the sunset over the mountains of southern Sicily (below) on September 11, 2001, not realising that the world of aeroplane travel was about to change forever.
Then a few years ago we took sabbaticals, bought a round the world ticket and took off for far-flung places like Bolivia, Cambodia and Laos (Luang Prabang, below) that we knew would become less easy to visit once we started a family.
After you have kids, of course everything changes a bit. It's more tempting to stay closer to home, to self-cater, and of course you're not going to be staying in grotty hostels any more if you can help it. But, mindful of my parents who took two small children to some wild and wonderful locations, I'm still determined to travel with the family.
Yes, travelling with little ones can be a challenge. But I absolutely love taking my children to new places. Because I love seeing the world through their eyes. Because I can see them learning, experiencing, lapping up life. But most of all because I know that their childhood memories will be infused with these trips, that they will look back on their childhood and these experiences will stand out - paddling in a Norwegian lake (above), summer camp in America, sleeping on an overnight Amtrak train through the Deep South. That's, to be honest, a big part of the reason we moved to the US. That's why we'll nearly always opt for a roadtrip over a week in resort (however tempting that might be). And that's why I'll never say that it's too much work to take my children travelling.
This post is for Sticky Fingers: The Gallery.
11 comments:
Gorgeous pics. I agree, traveling certainly enriches little lives - I remember so much of the weird and wonderful trips abroad with my dad when i was little. Lovely post
It's never too much work to take the kids travelling, agreed. Although I have to say, it does rather depend on having the right mindset when you do it (which is the subject of a post all in itself...)
Since I grew up overseas like you did, it was years before I realized that 'traveling' was something not everyone did - at least not the way my family did. (In fact, I remember feeling a bit deprived when, upon returning to the US from Taiwan, I discovered that I was nearly the only child in my class who'd never been to Disney World - can you believe my cruel and thoughtless parents?)
What a wonderful gift and legacy you are giving your chidren! Looking forward to hearing about your trip to Canada!
That's a great attitude. It's so easy to get bogged down with all the "stuff" that accompanies travel with children. When really, do we really need the extra pushchair, clothes or game. Maybe so. :D
I think there's a difference between travelling and having a holiday. If you want a holiday to recharge your batteries, then going somewhere slightly wild with kids is not going to give you the rest you want. But if you're up for more of a challenge - a change rather than rest - then I agree, pack em up and head off to the wild blue yonder
I too was born to globetrotting parents and it gave me a lifelong love of travel. I've been so lucky to visit so many amazing places. I'm trying to do the same with my children and although they haven't travelled as much as I did, they've lived abroad, learned a new language and experienced another culture first hand. Can't be bad! Lovely photos
Elsie - thanks. Those memories are so vivid, aren't they?
PM - yes, definitely the right mindset. But I tend to try not to overthink it - just gets too stressful....
MsCaroline - yes, we never did Disney either. And when I got to boarding school, everyone in French lessons was talking about their camping holidays in France and I felt really left out.....
A Modern Mother - sometimes the more stuff you take, the more stressful it is. More to lose and leave behind!
HOM - agreed, although I think it's difficult to relax anywhere with small children, unless you go for a Mark Warner or similar type break. The nearest we got to that was our ski holiday where they were in ski camp most of the day. Ideally I would have both - expensive, though!
Wylye girl - mine haven't travelled as much as I did either. My parents were incredibly lucky, in those days my dad's company paid for all our air fares. But at least they are living in a different country and experiencing another culture.
Love that picture of you travellng - Is that the first picture I've seen of you? very glamorous and free! Anyway I know what you mean, love that we can show the kids the world. Though must say I find vacay with kids very tricky. We do the easy one at a Family Camp in Santa Barbara and the other really searching, challenging...(and bit more scrapping..)
Hi Nappy
If all the travel does get too much then I do recommend the resort thing - just for your own sanity more than anything. Just got back from our first summer week at Smuggs...husband already planning next summer hols there! Have a super time on the roadtrip.
Rhiannon
So envy your time abroad. As a family you'll have wonderful memories to look back on. We lived abroad when I was a child, and I remember so much more about the three years we were away than the far longer other years of early childhood. Have a great summer.
ALW - yes, pics of me are very rare on this blog but they do occasionally appear!
Rhiannon - glad to hear that, as we'll be there for a few days in August....the relaxing bit of the roadtrip, I hope!
angels - The time certainly does stand out - I can remember quite clearly arriving in HK as a three year old, for example.
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