Not too long ago we took a 6-day whirlwind of a family road trip. The impetus for the trip was that our daughter qualified for Cross Country Nationals hosted this year in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Yay, Ava! It was very important to her to be with her team for these races, and we thought it would be a great experience for her. So, with very little notice, it was time to plan a trip.
We decided that since we were going all that way, we might as well also see the little New Mexican village where my husband grew up, do some horseback riding, and learn to ski…….all in one 6-day trip. Of course, 2 of those days were spent in the car.
A few years ago, even just one year ago, this trip would not have happened. I would have been too terrified. Traveling with babies and toddlers was a nightmare for me. I’m not one who will travel at any expense, so the introduction of kids took it almost completely off my list of fun things to do……for awhile. Now that our kids are 7 & 5, it’s a little different.
They handled the driving beautifully. Sleeping in a new strange place was no problem. They’ll eat what we eat mostly, so that was easy enough. They don’t require diapers or strollers. It feels like we have moved on to a new chapter in family life…..traveling is fun.
Seeing them have new experiences is thrilling. I feel like I’m seeing things for the first time through the eyes of my children. Things I had been taking for granted are exciting again and I look forward to more trips in the future.
That being said, if you have a baby or toddler and have been led to believe that you are supposed to just be able to pick up and travel with ease, I am here to offer another perspective. For most of us, if we are being completely honest, traveling with little ones is NO FUN! I did it when I had to for family obligations, but I limited it as much as possible. There is so much stuff to take, and they are so different from the big people. The way they eat, sleep, play, and behave is different enough to make things too complicated. At home, we have our safety nets. We have baby-proofed, we have the food they eat, their beds, their toys, strollers, soothing gadgets, car seats, special blankets/pillows/lovies, all the stuff to help us find ease with little ones. When we travel, either the stuff comes with us, or we have to get creative and complicated. Either option requires extra work, and extra work equals less travel fun.
OR, you are one of the rare few who actually like to travel with your little ones. I have 2 friends who fit that description, and I just have to understand that for them, traveling is worth any hassle. I tip my hat to you.
But take heart, things change drastically as they age, and then traveling can be better than ever. Don’t feel bad if you need to stay home more for awhile. It doesn’t mean that you “can’t hang” or aren’t brave enough. It doesn’t mean that you are uptight or disorganized. Those who love you will likely understand that it’s a temporary state that most of us go through when we have little ones. It will change.
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